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Gampopa
'Magnificent
Dream'
One
night, Gampopa fell asleep for a short while, and had a series of vivid
dreams of unusual intensity and clarity. The next day, he went in a state
of great excitement to report his dreams to his guru, Milarepa:
Oh, wondrous
Jetsun, cotton-clad,
Yogi who practices with incredible discipline,
Like the ornament on a crown, like a wish-fulfilling gem,
You are the renowned Mila, venerated by all sentient beings.
The beauty of your name fills the ten directions.
Hearing
your name for the first time
Filled me with joy and inspiration.
I travelled, following the stars of the Pleiades in the east.
Not caring what hardships I had to endure,
With great sincerity, I set out in search of you.
Like
in the story of Sadaprarudita, the Ever-Crying Bodhisattva, (note
1)
Throughout the trials of my journey
I cried out with a yearning heart,
'Oh, when will I meet you, Jetsun Guru?'
When I reached a place one and a half days journey from here,
My body and prana grew so weak that I nearly died,
And I lay in the road like a discarded stone.
But because
of my intense devotion and unvanquished will,
Like that of the Bodhisattva Sadaprarudita,
Who met his guru, Dharodgata at Gandhavati in the east,
I was able to complete my journey
And meet you, Jetsun Guru, my father,
At the wondrous place called Fortune Hill.
When I first
saw you I got goose bumps,
And my hair stood on end in delight.
No words could describe my joy,
As my longing to see you was at last fulfilled.
Although I had little illusory wealth to offer you,
I had great disgust for samsara,
I had fear of the endless toil of birth and death,
I had renounced all worldly dharmas,
And from the depths of my being, I desired only to practice, to meditate.
You accepted
me, Jetsun Guru,
And embraced me with your compassion!
I have not forgotten this kindness,
It is branded in my mind.
Please, my Jetsun Guru, always remember me,
And embrace me with your compassion!
Lord Guru, please listen now to your servant,
Who has something to report to you this morning.
At dusk
last night I recited the yidam's mantra.
At midnight I prayed to you, Jetsun Guru.
Later, I practiced the meditation on life prana.
Then, just before dawn, I fell asleep,
And free from my ordinary habitual thought patterns,
These wondrous dreams arose:
I dreamed
I wore a white long-pointed summer hat.
On its brim, the hat was trimmed with multicoloured silken tassels,
Adorned with vermilion fur along its edge,
And with a vulture's feather at the point.
I dreamed
I wore stainless new blue-green boots,
Well cut, with four rings and studs of brass,
And fastened with two straps with rings of silver.
I dreamed
I wore a white silk shirt,
Embroidered with pearls and golden thread,
And a beautiful design of vermilion dots.
I
dreamed I wore a sash around my waist
Made of cloth from Mon, (note 2)
Embroidered with various fine multicoloured flowers,
And fringed with tassels and garlands of pearls.
I dreamed
I wore around my neck,
A cape of white uncut kid's felt,
Fastened with silver jasmine-style ornaments.
I
dreamed I held in my right hand
A long strong staff of sandalwood,
It's handle, golden filigree lattice-work,
Inlaid with seven precious stones.
I dreamed I held in my left hand
A vajra skull-cup, filled up
Brimful with golden amrita. (note 3)
Then I felt, 'I want to use
This as my personal drinking cup'.
I dreamed
of multi-coloured tsampa bags,
Filled with two loads of white rice.
Then I thought, 'I will use
This for my Dharma provisions,'
And slung them over my right shoulder.
I dreamed
I wore a black antelope's pelt,
With head and all four hooves intact.
I then said, 'I want to use
This as my meditation mat,'
And slung it over my left shoulder.
Looking
to the right I saw
A beautiful golden grassy meadow,
Where many sheep and yaks were grazing.
Then in my dream I strongly felt,
'I want to watch them like their shepherd.'
Then looking
to the left I saw
A meadow covered with beautiful turquoise-blue grass,
Filled with many kinds of coloured flowers,
And many beautiful women who bowed to me.
In
the centre of this meadow,
In a garden of countless lovely yellow flowers,
Grew a huge golden lotus,
Where I sat in bodhisattva posture. (note 4)
I dreamed that before me a water fountain flowed,
Behind me a brilliant white aura shone.
My body emanated blazing flames of fire,
And from my heart, sun and moonlight radiated.
These were
the wondrous dreams I dreamed.
I know not if the omens were good or bad.
Oh, lord of yogis, knower of the three times,
Please tell me what you make of this.
Notes:
Note
1 : Sadaprarudita - The story of Sadaprarudita searching for his
guru is related in the last chapters of the Prajnaparamita Sutras.
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Note
2 : Mon - Mon is a place on the border of Tibet and Bhutan.
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Note
3 : Amrita - Nectar, elixir of immortality. Blessed liquor used
sacramentally during tantric ritual. Amrita symbolizes poison transformed
into wisdom. It also helps to break through one's dualistic notions of
pure and impure.
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Note
4 : Bodhisattva posture - The meditation posture where the legs
are loosely crossed, with the left leg drawn up close (symbolizing control
of sexual energy), and the right leg slightly out in front (symbolizing
readiness to act for the benefit of sentient beings).
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