The Thousand Year Maiden

 

Chapter 2       Wisdom Firing Set Prairie Ablaze

 

2.5. The Thousand Year Maiden

 

As mentioned before, in Chanxiang Woods, Khyungpo Naljor met one of the most important gurus in his life: the Wisdom Dakini Sukhasiddhi.

 

When talking about Shangpa Kagyu, we have to briefly introduce the Dakini Sukhasiddhi. In the teaching of Shangpa Kagyu, noble Guru Sukhasiddhi has same status as Niguma. She has deep causes with Shangpa Kagyu and countless people have achieved through her blessing. The Essence of Dakini Six Dharma of Sukha was transmitted by her. By this dharma, persons of insight can achieve in 8 months of retreat. In addition, she has promised to help sincere disciples to achieve and when met with sincere prayers, gives her utmost to ensure that they are answered.

 

Like Niguma, Sukhasiddhi achieved the rainbow body without the tribulations of diligent meditation. She still dwells in this world today, unliving and unceasing. Her experience of achievement is greatly inspiring and of very deep secret meanings.

 

Dakini Sukhasiddhi was from the liquor market of Western India and was near sixty when she attained enlightenment. She raised 3 sons and 3 daughters. Her house was one of four bare walls and her life was one of poverty. Though sometimes in danger of starvation, she never strayed from the course of benevolence; though her body was not close to the workings of Buddhism, her heart had been following the path to enlightenment.

 

In her house, the remaining grain was barely enough to feed a mouse. Reluctant to eat it, she stored it away in a container. One day, her husband and children went begging for food to lay their table. Unexpectedly, a monk came, sallow and thin as a rail, seeking alms. Although Sukhasiddhi herself suffered from the pangs of hunger, compassion compelled her to offer all of the remaining food to the monk. After a day’s wandering with no reward, her husband and children, fighting starvation, returned home. Empty-handed and unhappy, they wanted to take out the stored grain. Sukhasiddhi replied that she had already given the grain as and offering to another. On hearing this, her husband and children, half crazed with hunger, became infuriated and would have beat her. Sukhasiddhi ran out of home and went to a western area near a temple of Master Padmasambhawa and made a life by begging. Sometimes she would be successful, but she could not bear to eat it all. Never allowing herself to be more than half full, Sukhasiddhi saved the extra food to make alcohol and survived by selling alcohol. Gradually, she had extra profit and opened a liquor shop. Two young girls often came to buy alcohol. As the days went by, Sukhasiddhi asked, “Who do you buy the alcohol for?” The two answered, “for Mahasiddha Virupa.” At that time, Mahasiddha had already achieved the everlasting rainbow body and was widely acclaimed. Once Sukhasiddhi heard the name, she developed and unwavering confidence. From then on, she no longer charged the girls, but sent the alcohol as an offering to their master.

 

Mahasiddha Virupa was a monk in India’s Nalanda Temple. Not long after learning “Dakini Vajravarahi”, he swiftly attained the merit of 6th stage Bodhisattva. He was good at Mahamudra, and is honoured as the 2nd generation root guru of the Sakyapa lineage. In India, he was a Jigong like character, liking to drink alcohol and using woman as the career handprint. Monks in the temple found his actions heretical and gathering together, expelled him. The Mahasiddha fled, and on his journey of escape encountered a wide river. With no money to pay the boatman’s fare, he pointed at the river, and the river stopped flowing. The river bed appeared and the Mahasiddha crossed unperturbed. He wandered to a place and drank in an alcohol shop. When the owner asked him to pay for the alcohol, he did not have any money. The master dipped his finger into the wine and drew a line on the table, saying “when the sun passes this line, I will pay you.” However, the sun stopped in the sky for 3 days and 3 nights. The king himself became petrified, and realised that there was a holy person in the city. The king found the master, paid for his alcohol and worshiped him as guru. In that country, there were many religious persons who were not Buddhists. One day, the king invited the non-Buddhists to a banquet, and also invited the Mahasiddha. At the banquet hall, the non-Buddhists forced the Mahasiddha to worship their god. The Mahasiddha smiled and bowed, and the statue crumbled, its followers also broken into four pieces.

 

Virupa once self-transfigured into a stone statue in the grass, his right hand in the Shengshi seal and holding water in his palm. The water never ran out, and anything painted with it turned into gold. The king therefore accumulated gold in tens of thousands. Generating gold in this way for three days, the beggars too became rich. The neighbour countries heard of this, and sent soldiers to steal the stone statue, only to find that the water holding palm had closed into a fist. The soldiers struck the statue in their anger, but the statue remained unscathed while the soldiers’ arms were broken.

 

 At that time, most kings paid homage to other religions, only the king of Yemabana protected Buddhism. One day, non-Buddhists encouraged their protectors, the kings, to send troops to attack the country of Yemabana. All war elephants were of exceptional aggression and had sharp blades bound to their noses. Virupa asked for an elephant, and let it drink the water with which he washed his feet. On drinking the water, the elephant trumpeted and reared, like a heavenly god, breaking the formation of the enemy troops.

 

To convert the king of another country, the Mahasiddha used god magic to arrive that the king’s bed in the night. Woken, the king became terrified, and ordered servants to tie Virupa and throw him into the river. However, the king found the Mahasiddha still at his bedside. The king ordered servants to throw Virupa into the fire, but the Mahasiddha returned happily to the king. The king ordered executioners to cut off Virupa’s head, but the axe broke of its own accord. The king forced Virupa to drink tens of cups of poisonous alcohol, and saw the Mahasiddha become even more spirited, red light shinning from his face. Only then did Virupa introduce himself. Losing composure, the king kowtowed in regret, and worshiped the Mahasiddha as guru. From then on, most non-Buddhists converted to Buddhism and Virupa became famed throughout the lands.  In the Sakyapa that was yet to come, there is dharma transmission of the Mahasiddha.

 

On hearing the name of Virupa, Sukhasiddhi’s confidence was sealed, offering sincere prayers alongside her alcohol. The Mahasiddha knew her for a disciple of insight by his god ability. One day, he asked his consorts “where is the alcohol from?” The consorts replied, “it is provided by an old lady in the alcohol market, she has faith, but regrettably, she is old.” The Mahasiddha laughed, “no problem, bring her here today” The consorts thus went to the liquor shop to let her know. Sukhasiddhi was elated when she heard this, and followed the consorts to the place of the Mahasiddha, who gave her the empowerment of Hevajra. After the bottle empowerment, secret empowerment, and wisdom empowerment, Sukhasiddhi, in her old age, achieved the merits of the illusory body within several hours. She became an enchanting young maid as beautiful as the flowers, unliving and undying, looking on gold with same value as manure, seeing everything as equal between heaven and earth. She pledged then her help for disciples to achieve.

 

Guru Khyungpo Naljor went to India for the second time. After making offerings of gold to all gurus to receive the lineages of their dharma, he asked, “is there any other achiever who can be my guru?” All the saints praised Sukhasiddhi. Khyungpo Naljor asked where she could be found. They answered: “in the western Chanxiang Wood. Worship sincerely and you will see her.” Khyungpo Naljor’s confidence increased greatly and went to Chanxiang Wood with 500 liang of gold. He looked around and could not see the Mandala, so he worshiped sincerely, praying with her name. Suddenly, colourful lights shone, and heavenly music sounded, fragrance and blessed light covered the earth. He looked above and saw Dakini circling the seven layers of heaven and Daka encircled in waiting. In the stately Mandala of unimaginable beauty, there was a maiden of 16 years or so, like a heavenly being, surveying, and displaying all kinds of beautiful gestures. Khyungpo Naljor knew that she was Sukhasiddhi. He offered gold and prayed for instruction. The Dakini smilingly approved. Colourful lights shined down and a piece of cool happiness entered the heart of Khyungpo Naljor. He prayed to the Dakini to show charity to the living beings and transmit superior dharma. The Dakini transmitted to him the four empowerments of Hevajra and the Six Dharma of Sukha and many mantras. Descending to earth, she taught him in person, using her wisdom of happiness and emptiness to help her disciple achieve. For many years following, the Dakini shadowed Khyungpo Naljor to bless his swift achievement. Since then, there are many gurus in Shangpa Kagyu that have received help from the Dakini Sukhasiddhi.

 

In the ‘Associated Permitted dharma’ for the Five Golden Dharma of Niguma transmitted by Jianggong Guru, there are rituals for making offerings to the Dakini Sukhasiddhi. Meditating according to the dharma appropriately, blessing from the Dakini herself will be granted and attainment will be swift.

 

      According to Guru Khyungpo Naljor, “predestined disciples who worship sincerely, after 7 days or 100, will surely see the Wisdom Dakini face to face.”

Whenever I read the biography of Sukhasiddhi, my faith is always increased, and my passion stirred. One day, in a flame of ardour, I made a poem for her. The words may not be refined but my feeling is sincere. I do not change it because of my laziness, and I put it below, just for reference:

 

    Extraordinary Dakini, Honourable Sukhasiddhi

    Traversing through a thousand years, whose achievement bridges past and present

    Without trials of diligence and courage, the rainbow body was instantly achieved

    Without meditation there is no achievement, sincerely pursue honourable guru

    Honourable guru has great virtue, mother too has mercy

    Who once with life preserving grain, gave offering to a passing monk

    One giving encompassed fortune and wisdom, infinite merits full

    Though begging food in the noisy market, Bodhi-chitta was not lost

    After achieving the rainbow body, the natural heart yet remained

    Frequently acting as handprint mother, granting virtue and wisdom to the sentient

 

    I pray Dakini, for thy great blessing to be upon me

    Inspire in me great wisdom, grant in me great ability

    Instigate in me great strength, sympathise in me great compassion

    All sights are Buddha kingdoms, all sounds are mantra

    Greed and anger disappear like smoke,

    Ignorance and arrogance do not arise of themselves

    Envy, like dew on the grass, vanishes under heat of sun

    Nurture the wideness of my heart, make my mouth clear

    That empty wisdom will arise with the heart

    And Zen happiness not leave my body

    Mother pray protect me, as a shadow follows form

 

    Pray dakini, come in person

    Cover thy disciple with light, protect all living beings

    The Five Golden Dharma of Niguma be preached widely with the wind

    Shining in all directions like the sun, light every home like the moon

    Filling the earth like water, shaking the sky like thunder

    Pray mother direct thy child, that its heart will not be affected by the 8 winds

    Mother thou art the sun in bright spring, I am the green blade’s heart

    Mother thou art the ocean’s tide, I am the tumbling wave

    Mother thou art the great universe, I am the tiny stars

    Mother thou sing’st the GREAT WIND SONG, I am dandelion

    From my heart I would emulate thee, offering my body and heart

    The great sun may decay, yet this heart will not change

    First, I pray that light may shine everywhere,

    That in heart and thought I am linked always to thee, honourable mother

    Second I pray that mother might smile, so fortune and mercy are entitled to my body

 

    Third I pray for mother to appear in sky, and Zen happiness to shower like rain

    Leaving suffering and unclean ground, reaching happiness and rising tranquillity

     Peaceful winds carry fragrance, sounds of the superficial world are renounced

    Wash away all delusion, wake those who yet dream

 

The significance of Sukhasiddhi’s story is more profound than the story itself, and gives us much inspiration. From the worldly point of view, Sukhasiddhi was very old before her enlightenment, without meditation and achievement. Her appearance was no different to that of an ordinary old woman, however, her morality was equal to that of the Buddhisava. She bore the danger of insult and injury, and gave the last remaining food in her home to a monk. Her status has long transcended this world and reached the status of Buddhisava.

 

One day, I spoke with my son Chen Yixin about the artist Van Gough. My son said, the achievement of Van Gough was certain, because he was great in character. He said, once, Van Gough was cold and hungry, having gone without food for several days. He had only a few dollars, and these he could not bring himself to spend. However, seeing a young girl shivering in the cold wind, Van Gough gave her all his money and regretted that he could not do more to help her. My son said, simply from his character, he is great, even if he could not paint, he would still have been great.

 

I deeply agree.

 

Not long ago, a youth in a big city read my DA MO JI, and came to my hometown to support education. He asked me, “is it difficult to be great?” I replied, “No. When you see beggars shaking in the cold wind, if you can give all of your money to him, or give him your clothes without any reluctance, attachment or arrogance, like pious child to their mother, then you will be great. If you do this for your whole life, you will become a great Buddhisava.”

 

Truly, Buddhisava is a spirit. It has nothing to do with god magic or social status, or image. When you have the spirit to benefit living beings, you are Bodhisattva.

 

Sukhasiddhi had the heart of benefiting living beings before meeting the Mahasiddha Virupa, though her body was in the world, her heart has directly transcended the tenth stage. She needed only karma. When she met guru with ample faith, outside cause and inside reason were both complete. That is why she was able to achieve rainbow body in one night — like a canal completed by water entering ready dug channels, like the falling of a ripe melon.

 

Amongst sentient beings, there are many who are kind and sincere, but most of these have inverted the priorities, sending out their hearts, which should be pointing inwards for reflection, to look for so called “great dharma”, or to pay homage to so-called “dharma kings”, or to rush to frauds. Not long ago, there were a group of frauds on internet, claiming they could bring amrita from the Buddha kingdom, and have cheated people of tens of millions of dollars. Sincerity and charity certainly are good, but to build a tower, the foundations must first be laid. The first thing they should do is to be a good person, working hard, getting rid of all attachments, and washing away greed and anger. All this is required before further achievement is possible. If you have the character of Sukhasiddhi, even without a noble guru, you can achieve by only chanting the name of the Buddhas. Since the establishment of the Pure Land branch, there are countless who have achieved. Without working hard on one’s own heart, even meeting a superior guru, it is hard to transcend the black world. Tipoda had great fortune, being born in the same time and clan as Buddha, and showering in the original dharma dew, but he still went to hell and received great retribution. Therefore, the major thing is the cultivation of the heart. If you want to achieve, you must first cultivate the heart.

 

Because of the two Dakini gurus, Niguma and Sukhasiddhi, Shangpa Kagyu has greater warmth than other lineages. In every seat of yoga, I can always feel them looking at me with a mother’s eyes. They blessed me to grow from a lonely would be artist into a writer, and allowed me to transform from a child deep in the hell of life and death to a ring in the chain of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. I have clearly felt their great pulses. That is the cool light which can wash off frustration and soil, making my soul bigger and bigger. In many very tranquil moments, they became vibrant, either staging life’s story to give me inspiration, or smiling at me to inject benevolence. I even forget that they have achieved the rainbow bodies of ultimate Buddhahood and look on them only as my mother. Like an infant, I grow and laugh under their care. Everytime I see an old lady in the cold wind on the streets of Liang Zhou, I always saw the Dakinis smiling from her tattered clothes. Yes, many times, they are inseparable from living beings. Certainly, you also can see them too, when you look upon every sentient being, including the mosquito and the fly as your mother. My guru certainly will smile back at you. That smile is as splendid as spring flowers.