chapter 13
the initiation
The
gong was a
summons to morning
prayers .
44
monks attended , about
half women .
An
hour of chanting
and meditation began
the day .
A
very exciting day .
A
woman monk about
50 approached Mia .
-----------
Monk
Greetings , please come
with me .
----------
A
room about 13 feed square ,
Plastered brick
walls , needing repair .
with
a warm fire-place
built into the
wall .
A
tea pot and
stand to the
left .
A
stack of wood
to its right .
And
a wonderful window
with incense burning
on its ledge .
And
sitting on the
floor was another
weathered monk about
30 .
----------
Monk
Please sit down
there .
My name
is Jampa and this
is Dawa
.
We will
do our best
to teach you
Tantra .
Mia
Nice to meet
you both .
I hope
to not disappoint
you .
Jampa I
have been instructed
by Lama Di Rinpoche ,
to make
you a Priestess
in 4 months.
This is
a very short
time .
You must
have brought much
with you ,
from your
last incarnation .
Dawa I will
accompany you to
Lhasa ,
I will
be your assistant .
there I
will help with
purifications , āsanas and mantras .
Jampa I
will teach you yantras , visualizations ,
among other things.
When you
get sleepy , tell
us .
We will
take a break
and exercise .
Dawa I
will lead āsana and
mantra through the
day .
You will
need to memorize
the mantras .
Jampa Dawa , put
the tea pot on
the fire .
Now let us
begin .
------------
Jampa That
tea pot over there on the fire ,
was crafted
by someone .
It was
made for a purpose
.
What if
you were not
made for a
purpose ?
What if
there is no
god or reincarnation ?
What if
there is no you
?
There is
no evidence for
them .
To
be precise , zero
evidence .
Beliefs are
empty of essence .
I tell
you ‘ eschew
beliefs ‘
Revel in
this moment .
In the
next 4 months
we will practice
Tantra .
We have
a purpose .
We 3
will strive to
attain higher levels
of awareness .
We’ll seek
the pure light .
We’ll evolve
our experience .
Mia
But I have
so many beliefs .
Jamba
Of course . Culture
and DNA have
structured our brains
and minds .
We are
very predisposed creatures .
Let’s not
worry about that
stuff .
We will
practice chants , āsanas ,
visualizations , and meditations .
Now let’s
relax and enjoy
some tea and
biscuits .
--------
Mia
So Dawa
, how
long have you
been a monk ?
Dawa For
9 years . It
is such a
privilege to be
here .
M
I’m sorry to have
to take you
away .
D
It’s time for me to
do something for
people and Tibet .
M
You are aware
that I’m half
spy and half
Priestess .
D
Yes , I find
that very fascinating .
I’m looking
forward to our
adventures .
M
Hopefully one of
them won’t be
prison .
D
Yes , but I’m
not afraid .
------------------------
cinmayas bhavatum vṛne
I choose
to-be conscious
forgetting to
remember