There was once a Rimpoche, or holy teacher, in the High Kingdom - and he had
the supreme knowledge and was on the verge of achieveing the next enlightenment.
he and his teachings were famous throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom
- he was noted as a wise and gentle, compassionate man. And one day, he was visited
by an enlightened Holy Woman from another kingdom, who wished to test his wisdom and
understanding, because she wanted to send two of her best pupils to study with the
Rimpoche.
So, the rimpoche served her with tea, of the finest to refresh her after her
journey. And found a brocade robe of the finest, whilst her travel-stained
robe was cleaned by the apprentices. And after they had taken tea together,
she began to ask him questions about the three sciences, Cosmology, Mathematics
and Sensual Love. And he could answer the questions of cosmology very well, the
orientation of the various guardians and their houses, the relationships between
the outer and inner planets, the method of raising a mandala from a plane into
space and so on. And he could answer the questions on mathematics very well, of
the calculation of tithes and levvies, of the prediction of the movements of the
moon and of tides and of the days of the month and the hours of the day.
But, he said, being a celibate, he was unable to answer the questions regarding
the science of sensual love. At which the holy woman departed, saying that she
could not have confidence in her pupils having a fully rounded eduacation and
training, but that she would ponder the matter and return some time in the future.
Now the Rimpoche felt aggrieved at having been questioned by a woman, a
non-celibate who appeared to feel that he was inferior. He felt that he was indeed
superior to this woman. But, he recognised these feelings for what they truly
were, the influence of a wrathful manifestation and thus an obstacle to be
overcome. And he pondered the matter at length, and withdrew into himself to
send his spirit walking. Far and near he walked, until at last he came to a
neighbouring kingdom where the Rajah lay close to death. Although his courtiers
and viziers still attended the body, unknown to them, the Rajah's spirit had
departed this plane some days earlier. So the Rimpoche sent his spirit into the
Rajah's body, and animated it. This was much to the delight of the courtiers
and viziers, for although the Rajah had been in many respects a dull man, he had
always tried to be fair and loving, and he was loved in return. So, when he
miraculaously recovered, there was rejoicing and feasting.
And the Rajah visited the seers and diviners, and discoursed at length with them
about the portents for the coming harvest and the protective actions which
should be taken now and later. And, little by little, the diviners and seers
noticed that the Rajah was better informed on these matters than he had been,
and that his decisions would help the kingdom to prosper as never before. But,
they were so overjoyed at his recovery that they made no further comment.
The Rajah visited his treasurers and discoursed at length the levvies which would
be needed for the winter and for the support of the many monks and nuns. And he
gave advice on the number of workers who would be needed to maintain the irrigation
ditches and the roads. And, little by little the treasurers noticed
that the Rajah was better informed on these matters than he had been, and that
his decisions would help the kingdom to prosper as never before. But, they were
so overjoyed at his recovery that they made no further comment.
And the Rajah visited his wives and his concubines. And he showed them his love
in many ways. And he stayed with his wives through many a night, and with his
concubines through many an afternoon. And he confirmed the accuracy of many things
of which he had read in the ancient texts. And, little by little, the wives and
concubines noticed that the Rajah was better informed on these matters than he
had been, and that he was more attentive and eager than he had ever been,
bringing delight as never before. But, they were so overjoyed at his recovery
that they made no further comment, in public at least, although they kept their
own counsel as women do.
But the Rimpoche's body was in a deep coma, and his pupils and apprentices
became worried. They soon discovered that his spirit had departed, and they
set the most skilled amongst them to tracking down the whereabouts of the
spirit. After many days they determined that the spirit was in the Rajah's body
and the sent emissaries to try to persuade the spirit to return. But whether
the spirit had forgotten its past, or whether it was enjoying cetain aspects of
its new life too much, is not recorded. What is recorded is that the emissaries
returned and the Rimpoche's spirit did not. So, they send the most skilled
singers to the Rajah, and they performed some of the Rimpoche's own chants, some
of the most powerful chants. And soon, the spirit decided that it must depart.
So the Rajah called his favourite wives and concubines, his most trusted seers
and diviners and treasurers, and said that he must soon give up his life. And
he called the eldest son of his favourite wife to hime, and nominated him as his
heir. And he instructed the treasurers as to the forthcoming seasons and ensured
that his son understood enough about matters to take over and to learn
more of the subject. And he instructed the diviners and seers as to the raising
of a new mandala and to the throwing of some sacred cakes at the next holy day,
and ensured that his son understood enough to take over and to learn more of
the subject.
And he made provision for his wives, to take orders at the local
nunnery and to study for their souls' and spirits' sakes in this incarnation and
those to come. And for his concubines, he made sure that his son understood
enough to take over and to learn more of the subject. And there was much
sadness, but everyone recognised that all good things must come to an end, and
that the kingdom would be far more prosperous, and far better governed, than if
the Rajah had never fallen into the coma. And so the Rajah's body rendered up
its life and for many days prayers and chants and sutras were said, but the
kingdom was indeed better governed, and all were happy, not least the concubines.
And the Rimpoche returned from his spirit walking, and awoke, to the rejoicing
of all concerned. Now, his closest pupils and apprentices kne the truth of the
matter, of course, but for the others, they only knew that, in the same way that
the Rajah had fallen into a coma, so had the Rimpoche, and that now he was
restored. So the treasurers of the monastery said that, when the Rajah had
awoken, he was wiser and better informed. And it was indeed true, they found
that the Rimpoche was even more able to fathom the complexities of the treasury,
and he was able to commission a new statue with the savings he made by eliminating
wastage which ahd not been detected before. And the diviners said
that, when the Rajah had awoken, he was wiser and better informed. And it was
indeed true, they found that the Rimpoche was even better able to construct
chants and determine the complexities of mandalas never before seen.
And in the winter, the Holy Woman returned. And as the Rimpoche's
attendants prepared tea and rice and dumplings, as they prepared brocade robes for
the Rimpoche and his guest, as they smelled the holy incenses, they talked, as people
do, of what had been said of the Rajah by his concubines. And the Rimpoche and the Holy
Woman spent many afternnons together in discourse. And also they spent many
nights together. And what passed between them then, is not recorded. But what
is recorded, is that ever after, the Rimpoche was agreed that men and women are
equal in all matters. And what is also recorded, is that the Holy Woman agreed
that the Rimpoche had been able to satisfy her on all of the outstanding
matters. And always thereafter, she sent her finest pupils to the Rimpoche,
who, she agreed, provided them with a fully rounded education.
