47Rahula

Rahula was born in Kamarupa into a low caste family. When he became an old man, he was severely ill treated by his family. He was very unhappy and began to think of his next birth, so he went to a cemetery where he met a yogin and shared his tale. Upon listening to the old man’s tale, the yogin then asked shouldn’t he be practicing the Dharma as provision for death? In reply, Rahula said “O guru, give the Dharma to me. Even though I am old and without wealth, please give me the Dharma.” And to that phrase, the yogin replied:

The natural mind is without old age.
Your nature is not dependent on wealth
If, with devotion, you are able to practice the holy Dharma,
I will take care of you.

The yogin then gave Rahula initiation which transfers spiritual powers, and these instructions:

Eclipse the concepts of which you have taken hold
By the Rahu of non-dual experience.
At the great bliss at the top of your head,
The profound seed-point will arise.

By the continuous integration of emptiness and bliss,
You will overcome the enemies, the skandhas.
The qualities of the Buddhas will arise,
And lo, there will be unceasing wonders.

The old man received these instructions and practiced it for 16 years, gaining the siddhi of Mahamudra. He trained living beings in Kamarupa, and having narrated his experiences, he went to the realm of the Dakas in this very body.

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