76Nagabhodi

Many years ago, Nagarjuna was residing at the Suvarna Vihara. Every night a feast was provided for him and served upon plates of purest gold. One day, a Brahmin saw the gleaming golden service and decided to steal it. Yet before he can devise a plan, a golden chalice came flying out of the house and landed in his hand. Thinking it’s his luck; he took it and retreated hastily. The same thing happened when he planned to steal at night, and at the 3rd time, all the remaining plates came racketing out the door and piled at his feet.

Nagarjuna then said “My wealth is yours, no need to steal anything… stay as long as you like, and when you’re leaving take whatever you want.” Astonished, the thief had supper with the saint. The conversation they had settled tall the thief’s doubts and awakened his faith and implicit trust in the guru. In the end, all he took with him was the guru’s golden instruction on how to meditate upon greed and find the path to self-liberation.

For 12 years he practiced, but an enormous horn grew of the top of his skull. Nagarjuna then appeared to him and gave him further instruction which made Nagabodhi realize the emptiness of the nature of being. Deeply absorbed in this awareness, within 6 months, his red horn disappeared and attained liberation.

Nagabodhi was appointed the successor and master of the lineage of Nagarjuna and was to remain on Sri Parvata Mountain to work selflessly for all sentient beings until he received the revelation of the arrival of Buddha Maitreya.

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