35Kuchipa

Kucipa was from a low caste family and earned his living by working in the fields. One day, a tumor began to grow on his neck. It became so large and painful that he went to lonely places so that no one could see him. There, he met the holy Nagarjuna. Kucipa took faith in him and greeted him, then asked for teachings to free him of torment he was experiencing due to previous karma, as he was unhappy due to the pain.

After confirming Kucipa’s sincerity to practice, Nagarjuna initiated him into the Guhyasamaja tantra and gave him the instructions on the Developing and the Perfecting Stages. Kucipa followed Nagarjuna’s instructions carefully, and the tumor eventually disappeared. Nagarjuna then asked if he was happy now that the tumor was gone. In reply, Kucipa said he was happy, and so Nagarjuna gave these instructions:

Pain and pleasure arise from the being and non-being
When free from the notions of these two extremes,
How can there be pain and pleasure?
Existing things themselves are empty of inherent nature.

Kucipa came to excellent realization and obtained the siddhi of Mahamudra without mental constructions. For 700 years he worked for the benefit of living beings, and when the time came, he went to the realm of the Dakas with 700 followers.

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