I was reflecting this morning on how certain things seem to reach out to me from beyond time and space. They are so deep, so closely connected to me, indeed, they seem to be me in a sense, in the sense that I cannot separate or distinguish between them and me.
For example, some dharma words or names I come across resonate so deeply that they seem to come from within, not without, nor even within seems close enough.
In Machig Labdron’s life story, when she receives major empowerment, at a certain point she rises off the floor, displays a great array of deities and dakinis, and flies out through the walls of the building! In her namthar (her spiritual life story), it is said that she lands at the Tree of Serlag.
The tree of Serlag
This Tree of Serlag is a name, a tree, which has stuck in my mind ever since the first time I read her biography, resonating, echoing, on and on. The name itself seems delicious, and delightfully rolls around my mind like rolling food rolls around in ones mouth.
What is this tree, this place, that is said to be terrible to behold, a dark place inhabited by powerful nagas, and spirits? What visions does it conjure up, for those unprepared? Machig overpowered the Naga and his display of demons with the power of her samadhi. The scene seems so vivid … the empowerment, her leaving through the walls themselves, and the tree .. that tree!
The lama who gave Machig the empowerment was called Kyoton Sonam Lama … another name that reaches in so deep. I dreamt of him one night, a powerful dream, which lingers in memory to this day.
How is it that these names are embedded so deep in my consciousness? How do they resonate so, where other words don’t? What karmic connection is there, from past lives, with this place and people? It reminds me of stories where disciples first encountered the names of their future gurus, like when Gampopa first heard the name ‘Milarepa’, or when Naropa heard the name ‘Tilopa’. Such reactions were stirred up in them, never to be quelled, with the connection resonating even beyond Enlightenment itself.
One eternal chant
Chanting the words of my Sadhana (my deity practice), the words seem to echo down from beyond any reference point, as if all beings chant them together, always have, always will … one eternal chant … enveloping all … expressing all.
These connections seem so deep, they reach out beyond time itself. So deep, that they’re inside, outside, all around … they are my very being. Where do I start, and where do I end? Identification with this body and mind is lessoned, and other vistas open up, connections … no … more than that … inseparability. No beginning and no end …. interconnected …. interpenetrating.
How fortunate indeed
Resonating, Ripples ….. How fortunate indeed to open to what is.
How fortunate indeed to have precious teachers and gurus.
How precious indeed this lifetime, this opportunity, this chance to attain Liberation, and help all beings recognise their true home, which they never left …. just forgot.
