Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche strongly encouraged Lama Karma Drodhul to request that Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche tell the stories of accomplished tantric practitioners (siddhas) from Kham, Eastern Tibet. Photo of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso, from a trip Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche made to Nepal last ear.
Traleg Kyabgön Rinpoche once remarked that there is nothing like these accounts of Siddhas of Ga.
A Bouquet of Utpalas: Brief Accounts of the Lives of Siddhas of Ga, whom my guru actually met or whose stories he heard from trustworthy sources, set forth here as medicine to restore faith.
Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche strongly encouraged Lama Karma Drodhul to request Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche to tell the stories of accomplished tantric practitioners (siddhas) from Kham, Eastern Tibet. Most of the holy beings whose lives are recounted here began as ordinary people like us, and were not recognized emanations of buddhas or bodhisattvas. This book clearly demonstrates that we can, through diligence, achieve the same result.
Beautifully recorded by Lama Karma Drodhul, these are stories of siddhas that Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche actually knew.
SEE YOU THERE!
SIDDHAS OF GA: Remembered by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, written by Lama Karma Drodhul, translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso, published by KTD Publications.
BOOK SIGNING: Saturday, May 18, 2013; 1:00 pm (during the Khenpo Gangshar teaching) at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Woodstock NY
Photos courtesy Lama Karma Drodhul; from his Facebook page.
EXCERPT FROM PAGES 31-33: Droril the Yogini
Droril was a yogini from Rima.
Through the unchanging faith and devotion in your heart
For the supreme deity, the great treasure of nobility of heart,
And your repetition of his six-syllable heart-essence,
You revealed the heart of everything. Yogini, I bow to you!
This yogini was from Rimar in Kham. She was called Droril because her hair was whiter than a conch, and she usually bundled herself in an outer garment of white felt.
Droril means “wheat-colored and round.” As she worked constantly as a shepherd, she never learned to read. However, she continuously recited the MANI with stable
faith and trust, and eventually recited more than three hundred million. Her brother recited one hundred million and had a good practice.
When Droril herded her sheep in cold weather she would recite MANIs on the mountain slopes and then, imagining a fence surrounding her flock, would blow air in their direction. She would say, “Through the compassion of Arya Avalokita, they’ll be fine.” Then she would sleep through the day, without checking on the sheep even once. The sheep would never stray from the area she had blessed for them as pasture. In the evening she would imagine summoning them to her, and they would follow her home.
When the weather was fine she would circumambulate the mountain’s peak while reciting MANIs. At that time my kind guru was about ten years old, and loved to accompany her when she tended her flocks. He told me that there were several reasons for this. As she was a bodhisattva who had perfected love and compassion she was loving to all beings, including him. In addition, because she blessed her sheep they were protected from all harm, including the predation of wolves. They therefore did not require much actual shepherding, so accompanying her was free of stress. Also, although he had barely enough clothing to survive the weather, she would let him lie down to sleep inside her outer garment.
Because she used her mala so much, its cord was always breaking. He often helped her restring it with yarn. She cured the blindness of both humans and animals simply by blowing on them; her benefit of others was not inconsiderable.
It is said in authoritative sources that those who complete one hundred million MANIs will grow a new tooth even if they are advanced in age; accordingly, she grew three. They were as bright and white as a conch; everyone who saw them was amazed and inspired. I have heard from others that she passed away while sitting up with her palms joined in prayer. It is said that in these times of decadence and short lives it is better to accumulate a spark of merit than a mountain of learning. I have never heard of a source of merit greater than meditating on the single deity Avalokita and reciting the single mantra of six syllables.
Unfortunately, most people are like me; they neglect the accumulation of merit in favor of elevated, empty words about the view, meditation, and conduct while abandoning their bodies, speech, and minds to mediocrity. This is our worst problem, both for this life and for the future. I have not seen this do anyone any real good, only bring about their ruin and that of others.
Through the virtue of writing this may beings in the six states
Rely upon the six syllables, the king of mantras;
Purify the six kleshas that cause rebirth;
And reach the state of Vajradhara, the sixth buddha.
