83Samudrapa

There lived a pearl diver in the land of Sarvatira, estranged from his family. He sustained himself through the sale of pearls he found in the ocean. There was a day he was despaired because he failed to find a single pearl to earn money for food.

As he wandered to the cremation ground dejectedly and ranted about his unfortunate state, the yogin Acintapa met him there. The yogin heard Samudra’s fate and gave him advice. The yogin pointed out that all sentient beings in samsara are bound to suffering due to one’s past karma. The yogin further made it clear to Samudra that he had endured severe pain in his past life and in his present life he would continue to suffer, without even a moment of bliss.

Samudra begged the yogin to show him the path out of suffering and he received an initiation from the yogin in return. He was given instructions of the four boundless states of mind and the four internal joys. Samudra took the instructions to heart and meditated for three years. At the end of his meditation, he attained siddhi and was known as the Guru Samudrapada. He then worked selflessly to benefit the others with his realization and attained the Dakini’s Paradise with eight hundred disciples.

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