#Jetsun Milarepa

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

"I study my mind and therefore all appearances are my texts." ~ Jetsun Milarepa

[thanks Ian Sanders]

[umi-ananda]

Milarepa

"Accustomed, as I've been, to contemplating both nirvana and samsara as inherent in myself, I have forgotten to think of hope and fear." —Milarepa

[radical-revolution]

“One evening Milarepa returned to his cave after gathering firewood, only to find it filled with demons. They were cooking his food, reading his books, sleeping in his bed. They had taken over the joint. He knew about nonduality of self and other, but he still didn’t quite know how to get these guys out of his cave.

Even though he had the sense that they were just a projection of his own mind—all the unwanted parts of himself—he didn’t know how to get rid of them. So first he taught them the dharma. He sat on this seat that was higher than they were and said things to them about how we are all one. He talked about compassion and shunyata and how poison is medicine. Nothing happened. The demons were still there.

Then he lost his patience and got angry and ran at them. They just laughed at him. Finally, he gave up and just sat down on the floor, saying, “I’m not going away and it looks like you’re not either, so let’s just live here together.” At that point, all of them left except one. Milarepa said, “Oh, this one is particularly vicious.” (We all know that one. Sometimes we have lots of them like that. Sometimes we feel that’s all we’ve got.) He didn’t know what to do, so he surrendered himself even further. He walked over and put himself right into the mouth of the demon and said, “Just eat me up if you want to.” Then that demon left too.”

~Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living

*** Milarepa (often referred to as Jetsun Milarepa, meaning Milarepa the Revered One)

is the central figure of early Tibetan Buddhism. He was a Buddhist saint, a yogi, a sorceror, a trickster, a wanderer, and a poet. He is both folk hero and cultural preceptor, the embodiment of the ideal in Tibetan Buddhism.

The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, an extensive collection of stories and poetry from the life of Milarepa, is a central text of popular Tibetan Buddhism, in some ways comparable to the Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism and the New Testament within Christianity. His life stories and poetry are read devoutly even today to inspire determination in meditation and spiritual practice.

Milarepa’s father died when he was still a boy, and the land that should have passed to him was seized by relatives who treated the young Milarepa and his mother and sister as slaves. After several years of this cruelty and hard labor, Milarepa’s mother convinced the teenaged boy to study magic with a local sorceror in order to take revenge on their relatives. Milarepa was so successful in this purpose that, it is said, a great hailstorm occurred, destroying the house during a wedding ceremony, killing several members of the family. In the aftermath of this incident, Milarepa felt such guilt for his actions that he vowed to cleanse himself of the evil karma he had accumulated.

In his search for a pure spiritual teacher, Milarepa eventually met his guru, the Buddhist yogi and translator, Marpa, who was himself a disciple of the famous Indian Buddhist master Naropa. Marpa, seeing Milarepa’s great potential mixed with dark karma, put Milarepa through many years of severe trials and tests before he would formally accept Milarepa as a student.

Milarepa then spent several years meditating in seclusion in remote mountain caves, struggling, at times, against the demonic forces of the mind, until he achieved the ultimate enlightenment.

Rejecting the formalism of religious position and the endless squabbles of theological discourse, he adopted the life of a mendicant, traveling from village to village, speaking directly with the people he met, singing spontaneous songs of enlightenment and wisdom.

[a-chuffed-floating-panda]

A love in the eye of the hurricane: all characters & brief descriptions

Gods and Buddha knows I should have done earlier, but they let me continue as I've done up until now... (will be trying for all characters, but I am doing this myself and will inevitably miss something)

Jamyang= main oc (main smart bebi blorbo. Uma is her bison. Choejor 'Jamyang' Lhamo. She is more like her mother, being quiet and studious. A bit socially awkward-ch6. Frighteningly observant-ch6. Cries when Tashi cried because her sobs sounded so painful-ch6. Has created a small whirlwind and blew it into Gawa's face- mentioned in ch6. Bows to each Dölma statue in the smaller forests over the temple) She is good with the staff-ch9. Has transcribed words on bamboo leaves over to paper before with the help of a calligraphy book and dictionary before-ch9. Gawa calls her handsome and it throws her for a loop-ch10. Smart bebi blorbo is a year ahead in her studies and takes advanced staff classes.

She mopes when the festival is close to ending-ch11. Gawa's hugs send sparks across her skin, uh oh-ch11. Stubborn-ch12. Kind of obliviously offers to pick up painting so they can get better at it together-ch13. Jamyang mentions a rice cake restaurant, subtly pushing Tashi toward taking Choda there-ch14. Gets a sword made for Gawa-ch15. Choses a lotus flower for Gawa's tattoo-ch15. Not fond of the training robes given to her as a child, she preferred different robes and set a trend-ch15. Has a very ✨ moment while observing Gawa-ch15.

Disappears for a moment, Yara worries. Uma gets help-ch16. Has evaded inquires about her master ceremony for years-ch18. Has killed people as of chapter 19. A cuddly baby-ch20. From ch18 to ch20, the Western temple elders- the exception being Elder Sonam- hasn't spoken to her in months. Isn't fond of meat, likes sea food more-ch20. Hit with a moment of feelings, but ignores them-ch20.

Never expected to have her master ceremony when she found out she needed a firebender for her move and put it off for as long as possible to spite the elders, but Tsering does magic and she is allowed to have hers-ch21. Thinks Gawa is pretty, too-ch21. Doesn't like the Gelug nuns at the Eastern temple-ch22. Jamyang is aware that Yuna has a slight infatuation with her-ch22. Wants to figure out if she actually likes likes Gawa before doing anything-ch22 I have something I'd like to share, tracing someone's arrow is an intimate gesture-ch22. First mention of visit to Wat Tham suea-ch23. Jamyang is being very ✨ with Gawa after getting her tattoos, wanting to count her freckles- because she is doing a painting of her and can't get the freckles right-ch24. Gets seriously injured in ch25. Broke a total of 18 ribs-ch26. Sleeps better when there is someone else in the bed with her-ch28. Jamyang shovel talk-ch28. Drinks with Shaohao-ch28. Gets the palm tattoo on her right hand-ch29. Has another ✨ -ch30. She knows a total of sixty four Jetsun's at the temple-ch30. Has light freckles-ch33. Gets a scar by her eyebrow; it goes from her brow to her temple-ch34 Had a period of not speaking when she was three years old-ch35. Doesn't know why they shave their hair at the western temple-ch40. Can not see her self living her life with out Gawa in it, very ✨ -ch40. Insists on having a dating period with Gawa-ch40

“I’m ahead by almost a year in my studies and I’ve moved on to advanced staff classes, and I’ve done it by myself with minimal to no help at all.” See? She wasn’t a brat. There. - ch11. She doesn't move classes because she doesn't want to leave her friends behind and it never went well for the protagonists in the books when they moved ahead in classes-ch11

She is a kagyupa

First trip to the spirit world happens by touching a mural-ch13

"In her opinion, those she’d met here were better at non-judgement and had even more open minds than some of those she’d met back at the temples; For someone who could praise the works of Jetsun Milarepa, a known murderer before he found the dharma. They never talked about why he became a murderer, only speaking of the torture he went through by Marpa Lotsawa to clear his negative karma, and thus telling their students to never stray because removing negative karma was painful.

That’s what Yara told her one time, at least."- Jamyang ch13

Her birthday is 28 may-ch15

Jamyang and Yara once appraoched Sister Tsering, holding up three fingers, asking which 'three' was right because they were holding up different fingers-ch16

She saw someones rebirth into Amitabha's pureland-ch17

She can play the bansuri flute

She is kinda ace-coded now that I think about it. She does probably fit somewhere under that umbrella

Yara= Jamyang’s identical twin sister that lives at the Eastern temple (she is more like her father, being outgoing and adventurous. Yara is an uncommon name among the four temples. Jamyang doesn't know, but her sister is named after the Yara Lhatse, a mountain peek North in the Druk's nest- mentioned in ch5. She is first seen in ch8 where she tackles Jamyang to the floor for a hug) Cries when she first meets her mother-ch11. Gives Jamyang a weird smile-ch12. Has the most colourful room at the Eastern temple-ch12. Yara is upset that Zopa can hug boys, but she can't-ch14. She has freckles-ch16. She has killed someone-ch22. Likes sweets-ch22. Was the first one to notice Jamyang and Gawa being together-ch36. Has a girlfriend-ch36

She is a kagyupa

flinches at the sight of weapons-ch13

Her birthday is 28 may-ch15

Her bison is Jjongie-ch22

She has a palm tattoo of the air nomad swirls, Rinzen has the same tattoo and it is a mastery tattoo, but the gelug nuns at the Eastern temple barres her from getting her arrows because of the palm tattoo-ch22. Yara gets her tattoos with Jamyang at the Western temple instead of the Eastern one-ch22

She is like 😍 with Jangmu-ch36

Jaya= Jamyang's best friend who decided to adopt her (the extrovert adopting introvert dynamic. Has two lemurs, Mingyur and Manan. Her bison is Moji) She is not great at brewing tea, but Jamyang doesn't tell her that-ch15. Gets her arrows off screen, tried to have it when Jamyang came back, but couldn't put it off longer- ch28 IT'S IN CHAPTER 28 REMEMBER THAT PANDA. Soten is her boyfriend-ch28. Has an interesst in sewing-ch34

"She agreed to that statement; remembering how Jaya got so concerned over Jamyang possibly hurting herself when she saw her recreate an action filled scene from a book she read, and then the concern boiled over into thinking that Jamyang wouldn’t learn to socialise correctly because of all the books she read.

At four winters and three moons, Jaya declared to her she’d adopted Jamyang and they were now siblings."- Tsering about Jaya, ch13

Sister Chomden= Main chef/Head chef

Hayma= a drukpa warrior nun from Taktsang and Tsering's girlfriend (incredibly green eyes and hair in a warmer shade of red. Highly keen sense of smell. Has a smooth voice Jamyang compares to milk tea, but she also puts honey in her tea, so her voice is sweet, too.)

Bankei= warrior monk, has fire nation amber colored eyes. Has a fire affinity-ch11

Ji bong= warrior monk. Has black eyes

Zoho= warrior monk, friend of Fuji. Has blue eyes (They're working on a blueprint of a hobby of theirs, mentioned in chapter 3. He startled so badly once that he threw a kunai at a nearby tree when he noticed her-ch7)

Amanthi= warrior nun and Sister Jetsun's girlfriend (Hazel-green and calm eyes. Hair a bright red, like flames, demanding attention. Jamyang describes her arrow as more blue-gray than what she's used to, a squiggly line followed the arrow's edges and she believes that there are letters tattooed on her arrow as well, but she can't tell. She has a tattooed letter inside her left hand. Has scarred, discolored hands and a healing injury in her left knee) Has the keen sense of foresight- confirmed in ch6. Uses battle fans-ch7. Has a large pink zigzagging scar up her arm that stops at her elbow-ch7. Has the unique skill of juggling pebbles like an earthbender-ch8. Has the kanji for 'earth' on her palm. Speaks the Miyako dialect-ch21

- “Whatever the others might say, none of us like killing.” Jamyang knew that. Anzan once got so upset when he found a nest of dead baby chicks that he cried. -ch20

The juggling pebbles like an earthbender is me trying to connect this current work to the other work I had been working on for two years before this idea almost tore everything apart

Has a fear of fire-ch11

has two children, Juro and Emi-ch19

Fuji= warrior nun, friend of Zoho (they're working on a blueprint for a hobby of theirs, mentioned in chapter 3) Has green eyes and asks about a standoff Jamyang had in ch7 with Monk Taiki.

Sanoh= warrior nun, braided Jamyang and Jaya's hair in chapter 3

Sister Pema= Caretaker and teacher at the Western temple, Lobsang's sister, aunt to Jigme. Believes for a moment that Tashi and Palden are involved- ch8

Lobsang=Brother to Sister Pema, father to Jigme. His bison is Oshiro-ch19. He is from Karbandi-ch21

Sister Jetsun= Caretaker and teacher at the Western temple. Amanthi is her girlfriend. (Sister Pema has described as dense in the past- ch6) Amanthi teaches her how to use battle fans-ch7. A four year old child gives her the shovel talk-ch13. Has gentle gray eyes-ch15. Her second name is Dronma; Sister Jetsun Dronma-ch23. Doesn't trust Aya-ch25. Uses spices-ch28

Jigme/'little Jigme'= a seventh month old baby

Sister Gyalwo= caretaker and teacher at the Western temple and Tsering's best friend. Has brown eyes and freckles (Has an infectious laugh- Jamyang mentions in ch5. Has two lemurs, Cho and Ishank. Jamyang mentions in ch5 that she has a certain look on the airball court and she's scary when she gets that look outside of the airball court) Grows her hair out completely in the front-ch11

Sister Tsering= caretaker and teacher at the Western temple, Gyalwo's best friend and Jamyang's main caretaker. (Is described by Jamyang as calm, slightly stern, but kind. Tsering is happier and emotes more around Hayma, something Jamyang isn't used to seeing yet, mentioned in chapter two) She is the younger sister to Taiki from the northern temple. Scolds Jamyang for something reckless she did in the past- ch6. Jamyang says she is 29 in ch7. She began teaching her class how to use their staffs when they were five years old, something the elders with the exception of Elder Sonam, was against-ch9- Grows her hair out longer int he front-ch11. Has gone through the rite at the lover's pass-ch11. Mochi is her bison.ch14. Encourages Jamyang to find more teachers-ch15. Looks at Jamyang fondly when she says she likes Gawa's hugs because it feels like sparks flew on her skin-ch17. Tsering was close to fighting the elders on Jamyang's behalf-ch23. Can make good dango-ch36

Dawa-ch29, is a part of Tsering and Hayma's relationship. She is a nomad, so she comes and goes (more mentioned in the Tsering-centric story) Dawa's bison is the one to push Jamyang off the temple edge-ch34

Sister Tashi= a nun from the Eastern temple (Jamyang doesn't like her. Fyi, the ‘Tashi’s’ from the Eastern temple will become a bit of a stereotype in this fic)

Brother Samten= monk from the Northern temple (Jamyang doesn't like him)

Aden Lhundup= a penpal and friend of Jamyang (Warrior monk novice. He is vague whenever the topic of training comes up when he speaks. "Jamyang knew that he currently trained with a wooden sword, spears, wooden staffs and a three-section staff, or as it was called there, a sanjiegun. And he trained in two other airbending styles, the third being the one that she’s being trained in"- ch2. Implied to be dense in ch3. Has a strong forehead, knocking out a burly general with a single headbutt- ch4. Can heal; his hands glow a dull gray- ch4) Was three years old when he first started learning how to use the staff-ch9. Gets his arrows when he's fifteen years old-ch17

Chokyi= Jamyang's classmate (described as "Who was an extremely expressive individual, happy often, a good airball player, struggled a bit with throwing balls the right way due to flexible fingers and gave great hugs, but was a bit slow when it came to picking up on others’ feelings and her own. She forgot herself sometimes, and she didn’t have that hug-o-meter that Sister Gyalwo had"- ch3. Likes Aden-ch3) Realises she likes Aden in ch17. Jamyang has caught Chokyi sneaking around and taught her how to do better-ch23

Kumbha= a bison prone to falling asleep often

Cintsha and Jannu= two red pandas (Gawa’s red pandas)

Sister Dohna= A young nun who's recently gotten her arrows as of chapter two (likes Monk Feng) She and Monk Feng have a moment in ch6 after a buildup in ch5

Monk Feng= A warrior monk (Thinks Dohna is pretty and likes showing off to her. He is twenty one. Is noted in ch5 to be of a strong build from training and a healthy diet) He and Sister Dohna have a moment in ch6 after buildup in ch5. Jamyang observes him and a group of monks carrying large boulders while running, yet their steps made no sound-ch7. Has opened a tea shop with Danan as of ch14. Teases Choda-ch14

Monk Danan= A warrior monk, aged seventeen and has a personality similar to Jamyang (but also a bit of a prankster) Jamyang observes him and a group of monks carrying large boulders while running, yet their steps made no sound-ch7. Has violet eyes. Has a water affinity-ch10. Is a good story teller, Jamyang could fall asleep to his voice-ch11

Panda's= Niji, Uzume, Kannon, Chuusei, Dal, Gohan and the one on her shoulders was named Tomoe, named after a famous female fighter. (These are flying pandas. Tomoe is Hayma's panda. Gohan is Amanthi's panda. Amanthi mentions in chapter 3 that pandas can use chi and they use their chi to heal damaged nature or to warm those they saw as their own. Jaya didn't know they could fly- ch6)

In chapter 4 another panda is introduced, Ketu, and unlike the others his fur is brown

Cintsha is a brown coloured panda

Jampo is Jamyang's panda, a gift from Gawa when she turned nine-ch15. He is a brownish flying panda, likes fashion passively

Lore: Red pandas come from the spirit world, hence the red panda village-ch25

Assam= a bullfinch, social bird. He speaks in phwee's and phwoo's and he dances and whistles when he's happy; he decided one day with Matcha and Oolong that they were going to hang out on top of Jamyang's head. He can mimic Matcha's signature skill. Dances for Tashi to comfort her in ch6. Jamyang says to Tashi that he always comforts her with a song and dance on her windowsill whenever she's sad-ch6. Jamyang mentions that he can be quite 'parent-like'-ch6. Serenade's Tashi with song and dance-ch11. Isn't affected by loud noises-ch11. His red feathers have faded into a spotty pattern leaving behind odd bright spots-ch18. Is nine years old-ch21. Jamyang thinks he is turning into a spirit or is part spirit-ch21. Kinda quietly confirmed he is turning to a spirit-ch40. His whistle has turned scratchy-ch40

"-You could tell me, Sister Tsering, Sister Gyalwo, any of the visiting sisters and brothers and even Assam.” The last part was a bit of a joke, but he was good at keeping her secrets, few as they were. “Phowe!” He chirped as if saying ‘yes, that’s true!’ (Jamyang about Assam in ch6)

Oolong= Pine Siskin a solitary bird, a part of the trio of birds that hang out on top of Jamyang's head (Has a distinct zreet zreeet and husky tonal thrill he greets with) Have been dead for some time as of ch21

Matcha= A song thrush. A bit more social than Oolong, but not by much. A part of the trio of birds that hang out on Jamyang's head. (Has a flute-like whistle. Signature sound is a blurring the pitch when she sings in the lower tones. ) Have been dead for some time as of ch21

Gawa= Jamyang's future girlfriend (this is wifey btw. Jamyang thinks her eyes are very very pretty, so much so that she thinks a pair of jewels in the same colour followed her whenever she visited the earth kingdom. Still has baby fat on her face and Jamyang is often tempted to pinch her cheek-ch5) Is sad in ch6 and ch7 because Jamyang reminds her of a dead friend of hers. Was three years old when she first started learning how to use the staff-ch9. Has a minor fire affinity-ch10. Wants to learn how to use a multitude of other weapons: katana, changdao, nagamaki. Comes from an artistic family -ch11. She is a Nyingmapa-ch13. Jamyang notes that she is quite talented and seems like someone who'd get their arrows early-ch13. Has six bison(befriended a bison herd when she was younger-c15) Asahi is 'hers'-ch15. Admits to drawing jamyang whenever she has art block because she thinks about her often-ch19. Thinks Jamyang is pretty-ch19. Has seven names after her master ceremony-ch20. Stole a glider a went flying when she was four-ch20. Has a sense of foresight-ch20. Tattoos a hanuman yantra on Yara's left shoulder-ch22. Tattoos a red lotus flower on Jamyang's shoulder blade-ch22. She panics after realising she likes Jamyang -ch23. Shoots lightning as of ch26. Thinks Yutso is Hawt-ch26. Likes older people-ch26. Dölma is her cousin-ch28. Doesn't understand why the nuns at the Western temple shave their hair-ch40

Keiko is the dead friend that Jamyang reminds her of. Keiko died by sacrificing herself and taking a demon with her

Full name is Gawa Khandro-ch12

Gets her arrows when she is thirteen-ch15

Her father herds bison and yak in the mountains-ch20

her uncle is a carver

Feels guilt for getting Jamyang into her mission and possibly saddling her with negative karma-ch20

Gets slapped in the face by the world when she tattoos jamyang and realises that she likes her-ch22. This is one of the first sceners I imagined for this fic.

Has liked a character named Channarong before-ch28

Abbot Dorji= A retired warrior monk, currently teaching at Zixiao monastery and Yonggungsa temple somewhere in the Earth kingdom. (He travels to other temples to lecture. Highly published author. Jamyang notes in chapter 2 that it's unusual to see him in all black instead of his purple and gray grandmaster robes. He has a face that Jamyang can't read properly. There is an underlying something in his face that she can't pinpoint. He carries a sword with a black hilt that is painted with golden shimmering foxes. There are odd pieces of cloth attached to the hilt along with a bronze-gold bell and a red bell sewn on them, that heavily implies something. Jamyang has seen his sword twice, but never taken notice of the cloth or bells. His tattoos are blue-gray) His nickname is the soundless wind-ch19. Was a Komuso monk when he was younger-ch19. He had light brown hair and styled it in a ponytail when he was a teen-ch19

Ema= A classmate of Jamyang's. (Noted in chapter 3 to be good at surfing) She wishes to take her interest in surfing further-ch21

Pema= a classmate of Jamyang's

Nyima= classmate of Jamyang's (fiery/intense personality; ch3. Ghamo’s love interest) Jamyang looks forward to calling her Sister when they get their arrows- ch11. Ghamo and her are together as of ch29

Norbu= classmate of Jamyang. Is good with the staff. Her and Jamyang help their classmates when they need help-ch9. Is interested in the flying techniques used at Tanah lot, one includes a technique used for assasinations-ch21

Ngawang= classmate of Jamyang. First out of her class to get tattooed at fifteen-ch22

Ghamo= classmate of jamyang, (Nyima's love interest, creates pretty swirls and blows them into Nyima's hair-ch6) She and Nyima are mentioned to be together in ch29

Dolkar= classmate of jamyang (they exchanged opinions on books they have read, mentioned in ch3)

Sangye= classmate of Jamyang (first mentioned in ch7)

Amala= a teenager and apart of a friend group that Jamyang is familiar with (mentioned in ch6 to be concerned over Tashi, who have been spending less and less time with them) Uses some alternative techniques to see if Tashi likes her out of their friend group-ch9. Tashi doesn't like her. Is scared of birds because of an incident when she was younger-ch10. Knows everything between Tashi and Choda-ch14. Jamyang sends her a letter that has her laughing uncontrollably-ch14-ch16

Choda= a teenager apart of the friend group that jamyang is familiar with (current wish is to find love/love sick. Jamyang hears her over the current as she moans about love in ch5.) Jealous of Palden without knowing it- ch8. Is jealous of Palden-ch9 and ch10. Has gray eyes. Longing looks alert-ch11. Holds onto Tashi's sleeve and she doesn't shake her off-ch13. Is surprised with how receptive Tashi is to things she suggests-ch13. Longan is her bison-ch14. Choses a geometrical yantra and placed it on her shoulder blade-ch14. Gives it 15 years until Jamyang realises she likes Gawa-ch16 (She is correct) She is dense, Tashi compares her to Sister Jetsun and Chokyi-ch16. Fought Palden once-ch30. Lunges at Palden-ch31

Oblivious teenage angst and 'have they always looked at me like that?' moment. Seriously-ch13 (Jamyang and Yara spies through the open crack in the door during that moment)

Brief mention of characters she's kissed, "kind Lobsang from the Southern temple, fiery Miko from a trip to the fire nation and this sweet individual who wasn’t a boy or a girl from Ba sing se"- ch13

Used to refer to herself as rice cake when she was a child, now it's when she's trying to hype herself up for something. She still calls cute children rice cake-ch14

"A hug a day kept the seasonal cold away, and she would hug everybody in her line of sight. Yes, including the teachers. They needed hugs too and who says otherwise can go away."-ch16

Tashi= part of the friend group jamyang knows ("nice and open-minded Tashi, aged fifteen from the Western Air Temple" this is apart of the stereotype; the Tashi's from the Eastern and Northern temple are mean and strict while the Tashi's from the Western and Southern temples are way more nice and open-minded. Is implied in ch3 to have feelings for Choda) Is good with bison tricks, Jamyang mentions that she got the most applause the year before for doing a one handed handstand while holding onto her bisons horn-ch6. Struggles with something that has her getting little sleep- mentioned in ch6 to doze off in classes. Jamyang describes her as lovelorn in ch6. She performs with Jaya and Jamyang in ch6. Is a master candidate as of ch6. Bobo is her bison-ch14. Choses an alligator yantra and placed it on her back-ch14

Has brown hair and hazel brown eyes

Got four new names after her master ceremony and has six names after getting her tattoos-ch20

Ceba= part of the friend group jamyang knows (good at math. Is concerned about Tashi who has been spending less and less time with them-ch6) Has caught onto something happening between Tashi and Choda-ch14

Chesa= Part of the friend group jamyang knows (first mentioned in ch7) Has caught onto something happening between Tashi and Choda-ch14

Dawa= part of the friend group Jamyang knows (first mentioned in ch12)

Khandro= part of the friend group Jamyang knows, briefly mentioned in ch29

Sister Jamyang/blorbo oc namesake= a bison herder (mentioned in chapter 3)

Aika= fire breathing bird/Suzaku (Gawa mentions of a Suzaku hybrid with a long neck, like the eel-swan, and the Ho-oh or Fenghuang, ch4) Spends a lot of with the bison and teaches them how to screech. Can comfort, she comforts Tashi-ch11. Has a short moment in ch17. Her mother is called Imka-ch18

Elder Yeshe= Western temple elder (Implied to be strict "She had clacked her beak loudly at her, the sound strikingly similar to Aden’s Sanjiegun, and she had glared Jaya down with such an intensity that Elder Yeshe would be proud." - first mention in ch4)

Opame= a novice from a temple built over water (Tanah lot. Jamyang mentions it being a bison rider from the Wudang mountains. "Opame came from one of the smaller temples. It was a bison ride from the Wudang mountains and their temple was structured on big poles in the ocean."- First mentioned in ch4. She is described to wear light pink robes. Has black hair-ch5. Would be good at bison polo "Jamyang knew that if Opame was offered the chance, she would be great at bison polo"- ch5. She taught Jamyang how she would sneak out of the temple using the natural mist that surrounded her temple-ch7) Helps Gawa with the Hidden blades-ch32. A referee during her first visit at the Northern temple accused her of cheating at bison polo-ch36

Anzan= Warrior monk novice and Gawa's best friend (first mentioned in ch4. Explained how he would shrink his presence down to the size of a lemur to sneak out to look at the storms during monsoon season) Was three when he first learned how to use the staff-ch9. HE HAS GREEN EYES! GREEN! I knew it!!! He is quite chill with Jamyang's impromptu staff lessons-ch10 Has a staff with the inscription 'the iron body with a soft heart.' Has boyfriends-ch30. Miyagi is his boyfriend-ch31

A note I will add here, is that this is the first time Jamyang kind of questions the gender separations of the temples. "The idea was weird to her, boys and girls in the same temple? Gawa had said that all of them learned the same things: women learned to use weapons, men learned to use weapons, women learned to heal and men learned to heal. And all of them had teachers within different lineages so they could gain a different view on life, so why separate?"

Torokawa= A fire nation village close to the Western temple

Michiko's uncle= Unnamed at the moment, owns a koala sheep farm

Michiko= A friend of Norbu and Dolkar (implied to be easily distracted in ch4. Some clumsiness implied in ch5; her foot catching on Uma's saddle. Asks how to jump off the tower edge and over to the other one. “Um, so do I just propel myself down or what? How does that work?”- ch5. Notices that Jamyang has held herself back from pinching Gawa's cheek “That one has been sitting for a long time, hasn’t it?”- ch5) In a discussion with Norbu and Ngawang about spiritual enlightenment-ch29

Izumi= a friend of Michiko, Norbu and Dolkar. Amber eyes (Is mentioned in ch5 to have steered a bison in the past and having crashed the bison while landing. The landing being so abrupt that a person was thrown off. Got impatient in ch5 and dragged her friends with her to the Western temple) In a discussion with NOrbu and Ngawang about spiritual enlightenement-ch29

“YOU WENT TO THE TEMPLE ALL ON YOUR OWN?! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE FOR LYING TO ME YOUNG LADY!” - Izumi's mother, ch11

Takumi=friend of Izumi and Michiko (mentioned to have gotten such a high speed while sliding off a bison's tai that he was out for an hour- ch5. Volunteers for a performance in ch5) Shaohao, Takumi and Aden have their arms around each other while singing loudly to the music-ch29

Oshima= Friend of Izumi, Michiko and Takumi. Quite stoic personality wise. Nodding his head to the music and smiling-ch29

Prince Shaohao= Son of Yosor, nephew to Gonryu. Has never met a pair of twin before - ch8. Insisted on being like the air nomads when he visited the temple, saying no to meat, joining the classes, meditating, wearing big robes so he would look like them-ch9. Ketu, the panda, takes a liking to him- ch9. Helps Akar rinpoche tattoo the arrow on Jamyang's forehead-ch22. Sees Amida buddha-ch40

Taiki= nomadic monk from the northern temple. Gyalwo's boyfriend. Also Tsering's older brother (they are at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to studying; Tsering being the studious one and Taiki struggling more. Is only inches taller than Tsering. They both have the same face when they're listening to someone, and they have the same smile with his smile lines being more pronounced than Tsering)

Adlartok= a man from the northern water tribe, Gyalwo and Taiki's boyfriend

Abbess Isa=Mentioned in chapter 5

Sister Zopa/Elder Zopa= Yara's caretaker at the Eastern temple. She knows about Tsering's relationship with Hayma-ch13. She is someone Tsering knows to not express herself outwardly often-ch13. Knows someone named Higa-ch13. Has history with Abbot Dorji and Suzume-ch37

Elder Tenzin= Elder from the Southern temple, has a beard (teaches the fire nation kidlings how to harness their breath so they wouldn't exhaust themselves while doing something excruciating-ch5)

Abbess Bennu= first mentioned in ch5, has a bison named Arun. Older, and observant. Kind of like the one teacher you can't lie to-ch7. She knows that Jamyang figured out why Tashi is distancing herself from her friends. Has so dark brown eyes that they appear black

Sonam Ema= a student of Monk Fang, first mentioned in ch7, second name dropped in ch18. As of ch18, when jamyang is sixteen, she says she got her arrows two years ago-ch18

Monk Fang= a teacher and warrior monk. Has brown eyes. Knows wing chun, Jamyang mimics a stance she saw him do in ch9

Palden Dölma= a zen nun, extremely proficient with the staff. She wears the standard gray robes and wears a brown rakusu around her shoulders. The brown rakusu signaling her authorisation to teach. Her arrow is gray, a similar shade to the moon. A striking feature she has are her blue eyes. "A striking feature of hers was her blue eyes, bright and ice-like, vividly reminding her of Adlartok."- Jamyang in ch7. Jamyang dry introduced her to Tashi(15) in ch7 in hopes of getting Tashi some support. Has experienced the same thing Tashi is going through, only that the person she liked was told that she liked them by someone else. She is an honorary member of the 'cheer Tashi up' group. She has teeth marks on her neck when she heals Jamyang finger-ch9. Gives Jamyang cold brewed jasmine tea while Jamyang thought she was more of a gray tea person instead-ch11. Can lift a person off their feet and throw them in a direction by waving her hand-ch16. catches jamyang spying on Tashi and Choda-ch19. Has jamyang sneak into a house-ch23. Has a frightening yell that Jamyang finds scary-ch23

Palden teaches mathematics and medicine at her temple, and is one of the youngest to do so. Jamyang admires her a lot

She was two years old when she first started learning how to use the staff-ch9

has a brown panda, miso- ch23

Priest Wenzi/'the daoshi'= A book deliverer for Zixiao monastery. Has the same lanky statue that the major of torokawa has, but is more outgoing personality wise.

Dache= a monk from the Jonang choeling monastery. First mentioned in ch8

Elder Sonam= first mentioned in ch8, elder at the western temple. She is kind of the odd one out among the elders(explained in the other works with her as the main character). Has a worn sutra scroll-ch12. Jamyang goes to her for wisdom- ch12. Is surprised that Jamyang noticed her-ch31. All her prayer beads are red, made from sugi wood, no one else at the western temple has red prayer beads-ch31. Isn't upset at the mention of a fight, curious, a bit concerned, but not angry-ch31. Is confirmed to be a warrior nun-ch32. Can use sound based illusions by simply snapping her fingers-ch32. Confirmed to be the Ghost-ch35. Has a scarily good mastery of the teleportation technique-ch35. Compared to 'being the wind' while Abbot Dorji moved 'with the wind'-ch35. Became the Ghost to take revenge for her friends-ch35. Has true battle precense-ch35. Is someone you can judge her character on based on grip alone-ch36. She embodies the samurai spirit of Kushidera temple-ch36

"The friends she made always whispered with wide eyes if Elder Sonam came from Kushi temple or Enryaku-ji, a signature characteristic of the warrior monks and warrior nuns living there were red threngwa, just like the ones Elder Sonam had. One even suggested she might come from Kofuku-ji, one of seven grand temples that Jamyang currently did not know of."-ch31

I can not for the life of me remember if I said she has brown eyes or not

Namthöse is an alias-ch36

Elder Phuntsok= first mentioned in ch8, elder of the southern temple

“He and Elder Phuntsok look similar.” - Tashi, ch13. Heavy implication that he has a brother

Kokoro/koko-chan= friend of Palden, mention in ch9. Platonic kisses for the win-ch9. Jamyang essentially says she would like her to be her cool wine aunt that's three hours late to parties-ch11

“Since I already have a friend with controversial wisdom, then you’ll be the ani with controversial wisdom.” She said and patted her shoulder. 

“Squ-caw!” 

“Is that okay?” 

Kokoro is a character that links to the other work I'd been writing on for two years before this one. Levitating red hair, murderous aura, chains coming out of her back? Can you guess what I am linking her to?

Sister Dalha= a caretaker and teacher at the western temple. A teacher for the older students to be specific - first mention in ch9. Shaohao flies a bison under her guidance. Her bison is named Momo

Sister Lhamo= a caretaker and teacher at the western temple. A teacher for the older students- first mention ch12. Was pregnant when Jamyang was a child-ch32

Unnamed nun=mentioned in ch9. Is from Palden's temple. Has her hair split into two braids that Jamyang finds pretty. She is teaching the other nun wing chun moves. It is implied that they are together

Unnamed nun2=Mentioned in ch9. Is from Palden's temple. The other nun is teaching her wing chun. It is implied that they are together

Eastern Sister Nyima= Nomadic nun from the Eastern temple, left because of an incident with her teacher. Likes Palden- first mention in ch10. She and Palden have a casual relationship-ch12. Knows how to use poison and has taught Jamyang how to use them-ch19. Crafted and gifted a blow gun to Jamyang on her twelfth birthday-ch24

Yutso= Jamyang and Yara's mother. Jamyang recognized her immediately, despite not knowing her-ch10. Yutso has the same calm brown eyes that Jamyang and Yara have. Jamyang struggles to read her face-ch10. Has a crooked ring finger-ch10. Jamyang notes that Yutso seemed hesitant to approach Tashi and Palden-ch11. Jamyang also is surprised that her mother walks in the same way Palden taught her so that she could sneak around-ch11. Has long arms; Jamyang wants to have long arms like hers so she could give the best hugs when she got older-ch11. Is not angry that Jamyang is learning how to fight, she encourages it-ch11. Her name means turquoise lake, was extremely calm as a baby just like an untouched lake-ch11. Uses long senbon; Jamyang calls them long needles-ch12. Is aware that Gawa likes Jamyang-ch26. Her first name is Kalden-ch32. Jamyang sent her into a fit of laughter once when she said she only traveled to Taktsang because Gawa was there-ch40

She is a healer, among other things

"Sister Tsering was usually very composed with her emotions; reminding her of the nun she’d see the times she went to the infirmary because of the seasonal cold.

That nun was even calmer, though, and Choda often felt like she was in the presence of an enlightened being whenever she was at the infirmary. "- Implied to be Yutso, Choda-ch14

Rinzen Nawang= Jamyang and Yara's father, name dropped in ch18. He is not a monk, but he is an airbender-ch18. He suffers from sickness-ch18. Is a swordsman and deliveryman-ch18. Has black messy hair-ch18. He has tatoos on his palms instead of arrows-ch18.

Those palm tattoos are jamyang's first introduction to what Gawa is researching, just an fyi. "If they do, then it’s based on old tribe tattoos, they’re still common to see on people living in the Ryeong’s caves. Traditionally, they symbolise some sort of dual mastery, like lava, mist or heat, if you get what I’m saying. Xie says I can add lightning onto that list, but I’m not sure"- Gawa's letter, ch18

Tsewang= a small child with stubby legs that Jaya befriended during the smoke festival-ch11. Baby gets visit from her favourite child-ch13

Penden= friend of Gawa. First mention in ch13

Master Shiyi= A traveling teacher and a yantra tattoist. She tattoos people for donations to fund her travels. She sensed the relationship between Tashi and Choda from the other side of the island-ch14

Akechi= An apprentice of Master Shiyi. Carries a wooden sword. He will hunt down certain individuals for her if she senses something interesting-ch14

Suzume= first mentioned in ch13. A mysterious character that is connected to Abbot Dorji and Zopa

Higa= an old retired warrior monk with a tree stump replacing the lower part of his left leg. Tashi compares him to a ronin-ch14. Zopa is friends with him.

Yu= a red badgermole (technically kind of not a badgermole because they have eyes?? but like, badgermole) first mentioned in ch14

Xie= mother druk, first appearance in ch13, name drop in ch14. Is old enough to have known a previous life of Sage Bhuti, 'Chizu'-ch21. One of her hatchlings is named Raiju-ch25. Can shoot lightning-ch26

Abbot Kraisee= abbot at Wat tham suea- first mentioned ch14. Is a teacher of Palden

Wangmo= a child Tashi(15) befriends-ch14

Tora= a child Tashi(15) befriends-ch14. Is a friend of Gawa, they share the herd-ch16. has scarily accurate foresight-ch16. Has disheveled hair and black eyes-ch24

Unnamed healer in small forest temple= mentioned in ch14, puts a brace on Tashi's nose after she broke it

Surya= a teen Choda befriends-ch14. They whisper to her every time they catch her staring-ch14. has sent teasing looks to Jamyang when she applied clear gel to her new tattoos-ch20

Deki= a teen Choda befriends-ch14. They whisper every time they catch her staring

Sister Diki= first mention in ch15, implied to be strict

Sage Bhuti= an old monk from a forgotten reincarnation line that has a connection to the avatar and Raava (that lore comes from fragments of those who came before). He is name dropped in ch15. Gawa is researching his reincarnation line-ch15. Gives Jamyang the wisdom of never swinging with anger and hatred, only swing with the utmost calm mind or compassion and pray for them to have a good rebirth-ch21. People think he is a reincarnation of the white tara while others think he is a reincarnation of the medicine buddha-ch34. Has the title of Kyabje-ch34

"His presence was that of a strong wind, and she repeatedly touched her hair during the meeting because she would feel something tussle around with it, only to find it untouched. Her fingers would twitch in her lap, holding back the urge to touch her hair after Gawa said the room was wind proof.

She left with the feeling like she wasn’t supposed to have met him. It was difficult to describe the feeling, but the closest she could compare it to was finding an old book or scroll with secrets long thought to be lost."- jamyang ch15 on first meeting sage Bhuti

Has the ability to change/have a past life take over and physically change into the person-ch21. Ahnah is a previous life of Sage Bhuti, having live four hundred years prior to Jamyang-ch21

The animals around the druk's nest are fond of him-ch21

His first life was a woman-ch21

Hui is a previous life of his-ch34. Earthbender and Imaq's lover

Abbess Zeya=First mentioned in ch15 during Gawa's tattooing

Abbot Wang Jing= First mentioned in ch15 during Gawa's tattooing

Jamphel= friend of Gawa first mentioned in ch15

Jalus Gewa/Gewa= Gawa's mother, name dropped in ch16. A famous thangka painter and airbending master. Knows Gawa likes Jamyang-ch26

Aya= a demon that has lived over six thousand years, name dropped in ch17. Started as a curse within her clan that later developed into how one should cultivate compassion-ch17. The other temples see it as a blessing to meet her-ch17. Is an ancestor to Kokoro-ch17

Aya is also another hint to what I'm trying to link this to

Outright stated that Aya is an Uzumaki with red hair, chains and 'everything'-ch25

Had two children when she was still human. Taro- ch25

Otsune is an important characer to her-ch26. Her chosen sister from the Sumiran clan. Had an actual younger sister named Ozaki-ch26. Kiku and Chūkyo-ch27

Dorjee Yonten Kelsang/Dorjee= a demon monk first present at Gawa's ceremony-ch17. He wears robes that were commonly worn 400-500 years ago Gifts Gawa a thought to be lost fighting style 'The dawn of the moon'-ch17. Jamyang knows who the monk is-ch18. Monk Samten wants to have his murals destroyed, but meets opposition from Elder Rabten, Monk Samdhup and their students-ch18. Had a student named Tsewang-ch18. Befriended a ryeong once-ch18. Was in love once, a monk named Pasang from the Southern temple-ch29

- “You’ve probably heard of me.” She had. A disgraced monk who killed his students and spared the youngest. Excommunicated and never heard of again. Jamyang read some scrolls he’d written. She found them behind a secret compartment at the very back of the great library-ch18, Jamyang.

Kosuke= a little boy, son of Yuka, name dropped-ch17

Yuka= the demon that attacked Jamyang in ch16, mother of Kosuke

Dudjom Gyaltso/Gyaltso= a monk two years Jamyang's friend groups senior from Chagri, first mentioned in ch17

Pasang and Gaden= two monks from the Southern temple first mentioned in ch17

Shu= a ryeong that Gawa befriended, named dropped in ch18. He has golden horns, longer than Xie's-ch18. Calls Jamyang hatchling in ch29

Kyo= Earth dragons, ch18

Akar Rinpoche= a reincarnated teacher, a monk. Name dropped in ch18

Elder Garma= Western temple elder, milder version of Elder Yeshe-ch18. Instead of raising the seven hells, she's just disappointed

Elder Maya= Western temple Elder, more accepting, like Elder Sonam. Jamyang can't read her well-ch18. Rougher voice than the others-ch18

Sonam Dechen= Gawa's friend, full name dropped in ch18

Taki= Aden's friend, first mentioned ch18

Congsan= a place in the earth kingdom-ch19. Elder Sonam has horrible history there, mentioned in her own works

Tamagushiku= a blacksmith name dropped in ch19. Yutso gets her senbon from her and Jamyang went to her to get her staff modified-ch19. Fits jamyang for her first set of armour-ch24

Jinhae= a village 1.7km away from Tamshing-ch19

Chi= the child Gawa rescued on the mission that went side ways-ch19-20. He has green eyes. Jamyang meets him again-ch37. His best friend is a rinpoche from Jiming Linggu named Ngodup-ch37

Haoyu=Chi's father-ch20

Omu= the village Jamyang briefly stop at to gather supplies in-ch20

Yuna= the person that Jamyang brought the meat skewers from for Chi-ch20. Named dropped in ch22. A year older than Jamyang, and was an only child. Has a slight infatuation with Jamyang, which she is aware of-ch22

Elder Jungney= Eastern temple elder, name dropped in ch22. She is riddled with guilt seriously, has a past with Elder Sonam, that is touched upon later and in the Sonam-centric works. Her first name is Jampa-ch36

Jetsun Chesa= a toddler that has lived through her second winter, caretaker is Sister Jamyang-ch23

Unnamed woman= Jamyang sneaks into her farm house and listen as her husband yells at her-ch23.

Hanzo= is name dropped in Aliteoth in ch24, but he is also mentioned in Tsering's story as well. (Hanzo of the Hattori clan, resides at Senso-ji temples in the fire nation)

Panda village in the spirit world= ch25 (the fact I came up with something like that while sleep deprived is astounding to me) It is rare for someone to find the village in the spirit world-ch25. Red pandas use old airbending-ch27

Plump red panda=Bom, nicknamed Bommie-ch26

Guru Fēngmǎn= literal 'Guru Plump'-ch26. Jamyang referes to him as Guru panda-ch27. Referes to the lōng as gentle protectors-ch30

Lōng and Lóng: These are two different creatures-ch27

Dölma= Gawa's cousin-ch27 first appearance. Name dropped-ch28. Has such good eyes that she can catch the smallest of facial twitches/very difficult to lie to-ch28. Slight aro coded? Little desire for relationships-ch28. There is a 6 year age gap between her and Gawa-ch28

Soten= Jaya's boyfriend-ch28. He is from Karbandi, mainly a non-combatant temple, but he has studied at Kinkaku-ji and Senso-ji-ch28. Has studied many fighting styles but refrains until every opportunity for peace has been tried-ch28 Jamyang describes him as having an attractive face-ch28

Dao Guang= A 'chosen' one if I can use simple terms. Born eight hundred years prior to jamyang's time, had dreams about the Lóng and eventually became one of the first to become a non-airbending monk at Jiming Linggu-ch30

Master Luang= master from the northern temple two thousand years before Jamyang's time-ch30

High nun Avidya=A high nun of the Western temple two thousand years ago before Jamyang's time-ch30. Kinda hinted to have been another 'chosen' one. Hiding a Lóng and its egg-ch30

Sonam Jetsun= named dropped in ch30 by a drunk Jamyang. Her karmamudrā partner-ch31 QPR with Jamyang-ch30. Soft light gray eyes, round face, black hair and a freckle under her eye-ch31. Think the most stereotypical nun you can think of. Jamyang is the only one to call her sonam-ch32. Is aware that Jamyang likes Gawa-ch32 Chakra and chi sensitive-ch36

Torma= briefly mentioned in ch31, nun and healer.

Dorje= a toddler Tsering saddled Jamyang with taking care of-ch31

Gaden=a toddler Tsering saddled Jamyang with taking care of-ch31

Tenzin=a toddler Tsering saddled Jamyang with taking care of-ch31

Tashi=a toddler Tsering saddled Jamyang with taking care of-ch31

Chesa=a toddler Tsering saddled Jamyang with taking care of-ch31. A confident toddler-ch36

Hanjo= Head priest of Kushidera temple-ch32

Wise Priest Seigyo= an old priest of Kushi temple-ch32

Gyomei= mentioned-ch33

Honyo= mentioned-ch33. Married to Hanjo-ch33

Roshi-san= mentioned-ch33 Dango maker from Kushi temple-ch33

Dudjom= A nomadic monk and white lotus member-ch33 Was an information leak on Sonam's second to last mission-ch33

Scholar Kipu= first mentioned in ch33. From the Southern temple-ch33

Sister Dedan= A nun from the Eastern temple-ch33

Jigme= first mentioned in ch33. Messy black hair, gray blue eyes, gash on his shoulder, index finger on his right hand is crooked-ch39

Mikoto= first mentioned in ch32

Ashina= name dropped in ch35

Jangbu Tsewang= the baby Sonam Jetsun gave birth to-ch33

Anong= a nun from Tirta Emul. Husky voice. First mentioned in ch34 and name dropped in ch35. Show's interest in Sonam Jetsun-ch35. Is Tai/thai.

Yukio=a young boy mentioned in ch34

Shugi/Shugo= someone briefly mentioned in ch36. Stated to be from Tamshing

Haru rinpoche= first mentioned in Aliteoth ch36. But has more of a role in The regrets of a monk with being the child Sogen takes care of

Sogen= first mentioned in ch36. Is the main character in the regrets of a monk

Ngodup= is a young Rinpoche from Jiming Linggu, first mentioned in ch39. Hinted to have been a firebender in a past life-ch40. Chi calls him Pabu

Unnamed monk/nun= first mentioned in ch40. Is a member of the white lotus order and they spy on Ngodup when he is at the Eastern temple, trying to collect intel on him for the order-ch40. They ultimately fail and Yutso uses them to test poisons-ch40

Amrita= a nun Shaohao plays airball with-ch40 (Shaohao is on the losing side) Jamyang knows twenty other nuns with that name-ch40

hg

(From the left: Jamyang, Yara, Aden. Credit to: previously pastenofdraw now under chashimii_ on instagram)

(From left to right: Hayma and Tsering. Credit to @dl4draws here on tumblr)

(Tsering sketch: credit to @thyinum here on tumblr)

(From left to right: Gawa, Jaya. Credited to Archivanture on Twitter/X) Trivia: Jaya’s bald moment happened when she tried to help Jamyang with something when they were younger and her hair ended up covered in tree sap when Jamyang got a detail wrong.

(An older Aika with her hatchlings. Credit to: Archivanture on Twitter/X)

(From left to right: Gyalwo, Taiki and Adlartok. Credited to Cassual craft on Reddit)

(Character: Yutso. Credited to @dl4draws here on tumblr)

(Character: Abbot Dorji. Credited to @bellwethers here on Tumblr)

(Temples. Credited: Archivanture on X/Twitter)

(Chapter 29. Credited: Archivanture on X/Twitter)

(Chapter 38. Credited: @dl4draws here on Tumblr)

dd

[mahayanapilgrim]

The Guidance of a Qualified Teacher

To progress, we need the constant guidance of a qualified teacher. As we report to them the progress of our meditation and describe our experiences, he may say,

"You should relax more," or on the contrary, "Be more vigilant." It is important at this time to rely upon a teacher's instructions. When the great Gampopa had many spiritual experiences, he explained them to Jetsun Milarepa and was thus able to avoid deviations and continue to progress.

Once you've been introduced to this nature of the mind, you should achieve stability and confidence in recognizing it, so that the mind remains in that state of simplicity without wavering.

If we allow water to remain still without agitating it, it becomes limpid and transparent; but if we stir it up with a stick, mud rises and the water becomes turbid. Likewise, leave the mind in a state of natural clarity, without interference, so that awareness remains calm and clear.

~ Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

[butterclaw]

Jetsun Milarepa

[lamathanka]

Milarepa, the Yogi.

.

.

.

.

.

#Milarepa #yogi #Jetsun #Buddhist #disciple #Tibetan #siddha #Kagyu #meditation #Hundredthousandsongs #thangka #lamathankapaintingschool #thankapainting #samadhi #sadhana #visualization #bodhicitta #dhamma #sangha #himalayanart #livingheritage #heritage #mindfullness #compassion

[putah-creek]

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation. Jetsun Milarepa

[ani-tsultrim-wangmo]

The young tulkus must not indulge in receiving offerings from an early age. Didn't Jetsun Milarepa say, "Tainted offerings are the razor of the life channel of liberation, so if you over-indulge, this life channel will be severed." The actual way to sever the life channel is through these impure offerings. In order to partake of the iron balls of impure offerings, you must have the cast iron teeth of accomplishment through generation and completion stage practice, as well as the training of a bodhisattva.

~ Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche

年輕的祖古們不能從小就沉迷於接受供養。至尊密勒日巴尊者不是說過嗎，“污穢的供品是解脫生命通道的剃刀，所以如果你��度放縱，這生命通道就會被切斷。”切斷生命通道的實際方法是通過這些不清淨的供養。想要享用鑄鐵球般不清的供養，你必須通過成就的鑄鐵牙齒完成生圓二次第的修持，以及菩薩學處的修持。

~ 怙主法王如意寶

[minowly]

[umi-ananda]

[radical-revolution]

"Outwardly, most of the great siddhas of India looked like unimpressive beggars. Their lives were not filled with conspicuous deeds of grandiose charity. But inwardly they had realized emptiness, and their minds were constantly overflowing with love and compassion for all beings.

In Tibet, too, Jetsun Milarepa was the same. He never made grand offerings or performed a lot of meritorious deeds for everyone to see. Yet Milarepa is considered foremost among all the enlightened yogins of India and Tibet, and has been able to turn the minds of countless beings all over the world toward the Dharma, because he completely cast off all self-clinging and realized emptiness.

If you remain unable to master your own mind, to have studied many scriptures and to have met many spiritual masters will be of no real help to you. You run the risk of becoming like the monk Good Star, who was exceedingly learned, but ended up finding fault with the Buddha himself.

What matters most is the strength of your compassion."

~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

From: "The Heart of Compassion"

[quotedelight]

To attain buddhahood we must scatter this life’s aims and objects to the wind. — Jetsun Milarepa

[mahayanapilgrim]

The Song of the Twelve Deceptions

98

Worldly affairs are all deceptive;

So I seek the truth Divine.

Excitements and distractions are illusions;

So I meditate on the non-dual Truth.

Companions and servants are deceptive;

So l remain in solitude.

Money and possessions are also deceptive;

So if I have them, I give them away.

Things in the outer world are all illusion;

The Inner Mind is that which I observe.

Wandering thoughts are all deceptive;

So l only tread the path of wisdom.

Deceptive are the teachings of expedient truth;

The final truth is that on which I meditate.

Books written in black ink are all misleading;

I only meditate on the pith-instructions of the whispered lineage.

Words and sayings, too, are but illusion;

At ease, I rest my mind in the effortless state.

Birth and death are both illusions; l observe but the truth of no-arising.

The common mind is in every way misleading;

And so l practice how to animate awareness.

The Mind-holding Practice is misleading and deceptive;

And so I rest in the realm of reality.

~ Jetsun Milarepa

[vajranam]

Milarepa

The story of how Jetsun Milarepa followed Marpa of Lhodrak.

In the region of Ngari Gungthang, there lived a rich man by the name of Mila Sherab Gyaltsen. This man had a son and a daughter, and it was the son, whose name was Mila Thopa-ga, "Mila Joy to Hear," who was to become Jetsun Milarepa. When the two children were still small, their father died. Their uncle, whose name was Yungdrung Gyaltsen, appropriated all their wealth and possessions. The two children and their mother, left with neither food nor money, were forced to undergo many hardships. Mila learned the arts of casting spells and making hailstorms from the magicians Yungton Throgyal of Tsang and Lharje Nupchung, and brought about the death of his uncle's son and daughter-in-law together with thirty-three other people by making the house collapse. When all the local people turned angrily against him, he caused such a hailstorm that the hail lay on, the ground as deep as three courses of a clay wall (about 3 meters).

Afterwards, repenting his misdeeds, he decided to practise Dharma. Taking the advice of Lama Yungton, he went to see an adept of the Great Perfection by the name of Rongton Lhaga, and asked him for instruction.

"The Dharma I teach," the Lama replied, "is the Great Perfection. Its root is the conquest of the beginning, its summit the conquest of attainment and its fruit; the conquest of yoga. If one meditates on it during the day, one can become Buddha that same day; if one meditates on it during the night, one can become Buddha that very night. Fortunate beings whose past actions have created suitable conditions do not even need to meditate; they will be liberated simply by hearing it. Since it is a Dharma for those of eminently superior faculties, I will teach it to you.”

After receiving the empowerments and instructions, Mila thought to himself, "It took me two weeks to obtain the main signs of success at casting spells. Seven days were enough for making hail. Now here is teaching even easier than spells and hail-if you meditate by day you become a Buddha that day; if you meditate by night you become a Buddha that night-and if your past actions have created suitable conditions, you don't even need to meditate at all! Seeing how I met this teaching, I obviously must be one of the ones with good past actions."

So he stayed in bed without meditating, and thus the practitioner and the teaching parted company.

“It is true what you told me," the lama said to him after a few days. “You really are a great sinner, and I have praised my teaching a little too highly. So now I will not guide you. You should go to the hermitage of Trowolung in Lhodrak, where there is a direct disciple of the Indian siddha Naropa himself. He is that most excellent of teachers, the king of translators, Marpa. He is a siddha of the New Mantra Tradition, and is without rival throughout the three worlds. Since you and he have a link stemming from actions in former lives, go and see him!"

The sound of Marpa the Translator's name alone was enough to suffuse Mila's mind with inexpressible joy. He was charged with such bliss that every pore on his body tingled, and immense devotion swept over him, filling his eyes with tears. He set off, wondering when he would meet his teacher face to face. Now, Marpa and his wife had both had many extraordinary dreams, and Marpa knew that Jetsun Mila was on his way.

He went down the valley to await his arrival, pretending to be just ploughing a field. Mila first met Marpa's son, Tarma Dode, who was tending the cattle. Continuing a little further, he saw Marpa, who was ploughing. The moment Mila caught sight of him, he experienced tremendous, inexpressible joy and bliss; for an instant, all his ordinary thoughts stopped. Nonetheless, he did not realize that this was the lama in person, and explained to him that he had come to meet Marpa.

“I’ll introduce you to him myself," Marpa answered him. "Plough this field for me." Leaving him a jug of beer, he went off. Mita, draining the jug to the last drop, set to work. When he had finished, the lama's son came to call him and they set off together.

When Mila was brought into the lama's presence, he placed the soles of Marpa's feet upon the crown of his head and cried out, "Oh, Master! I am a great sinner from the west! I offer you my body, speech and mind. Please feed and clothe me and teach me the Dharma. Give me the way to become Buddha in this life!"

"It's not my fault that you reckon you're such a bad man," Marpa replied."I didn't ask you to pile up evil deeds on my account! What is all this wrong you have done?" Mila told him the whole story in detail.

"Very well," Marpa acquiesced, "in any case, to offer your body, speech and mind is a good thing. As to food, clothing and Dharma, however, you cannot have all three. Either I give you food and clothing and you look for Dharma elsewhere, or you get your Dharma from me and look for the rest somewhere else. Make up your mind. And if it's the Dharma you choose, whether or not you attain Buddhahood in this lifetime will depend on your own perseverance.”

"If that is the case," said Mila, "since I came for the Dharma, I will look for provisions and clothing elsewhere.”

He stayed a few days and went out begging through the whole of upper and lower Lhodrak, which brought him twenty-one measures of barley. He used fourteen of them to buy a four-handled copper pot. Placing six measures in a sack, he went back to offer that and the pot to Marpa. When he set the barley down, it made the room shake. Marpa got up.

"You're a strong little monk, aren't you?" he said."Are you trying to kill us all by making the house fall down with your bare hands? Get that sack of barley out of here!" He gave the sack a kick, and Mila had to take it outside. Later on he gave Marpa the empty pot.

One day Marpa said to him: "The men of Yamdrok Taklung and Lingpa are attacking many of my faithful disciples who come to visit me from U and Tsang, and stealing their provisions and offerings. Bring hailstorms down on them! Since that is a kind of Dharma too, I will give you the instructions afterwards."

Mila caused devastating hailstorms to fall on both these regions and then went to ask for the teachings.

“You think I'm going to give you the teachings I brought back from India at such great cost in exchange for three or four hailstones? If you really want the Dharma, cast a spell on the hill-folk of Lhodrak. They attack my disciples from Nyaloro and are always treating me with downright contempt. When there is a sign that your spell has worked, I shall give you Naropa's oral instructions, which lead to Buddhahood in a single lifetime and body."

When the signs of the success of the evil spell appeared, Mila asked for the Dharma.

"Huh! Is it perhaps to pay honour to your accumulation of evil deeds that you are claiming to want these oral instructions that I had to search for, never considering the risk to my own body and life-these instructions still warm with the breath of the dakinis? I suppose you must be joking, but I find this a bit too much. Anyone else but me would kill you! Now, bring those hill people back to life and return to the people of Yamdrok their harvest. You'll get the teachings if you do-otherwise, don't hang around me anymore!"

Mila, utterly shattered by these reprimands, sat and wept bitter tears. The next morning, Marpa came to see him. "I was a bit rough with you last night," he said."Don't be sad. I will' give you the instructions little by little. Just be patient! Since you're a good worker, I'd like you to build me a house to give to Tarma Dode. When you've finished, I'll give you the instructions, and provide you with food and clothing as well.”

"But what will I do if I die in the meantime, without the Dharma?” Mila asked. “I’ll take the responsibility of making sure that doesn't happen," Marpa said. "My teachings are not just idle boasting, and since you obviously have extraordinary perseverance, when you put my instructions into practice we will see if you can attain Buddhahood in a single lifetime." After further encouragement in the same vein, he had Mila build three houses one after the other: a circular one at the foot of the eastern hill, a semicircular one in the west and a triangular one in the north. But each time, as soon as the house was half finished, Marpa would berate Mila furiously, and make him demolish whatever he had built and take all the earth and stones he had used back to where he had found them. An open sore appeared on Mila's back, but he thought, "If I show it to the Master, he will only scold me again. I could show it to his wife but that would just be making a fuss." So, weeping, but not showing his wounds, he implored Marpa's wife to help him request the teachings.

She asked Marpa to teach him, and Marpa replied, "Give him a good meal and bring him here!" He gave Mila the transmission and vows of refuge.

"All this," he said, "is what is called the basic Dharma. If you want the extraordinary instructions of the Secret Mantrayana, the sort of thing you'll to have to go through is this... "and he recounted a brief version of the life and trials of Naropa. "It'll be difficult for you to do the same," he concluded.

At these words Mila felt such intense devotion that his tears flowed freely, and with fierce determination he vowed to do whatever his teacher asked of him. A few days later, Marpa went for a walk and took Mila with him as his attendant. He went south-east and, coming to a favorably situated piece of ground, he said, "Make me a grey, square tower here, nine storeys’ high. With a pinnacle on top, making ten. You won't have to take this building down, and when you've finished I'll give you the instructions. I'll also give you provisions when you go into retreat to practise.”

Mila had already dug the foundations and started building when three of his teacher's more advanced pupils came by. For fun, they rolled up a huge stone for him and Mila incorporated it in the foundations. When he had finished the first• two storeys, Marpa came to see him and asked him where the stone in question had come from. Mila told him what had happened. "My disciples practising the yoga of the two phases shouldn't be your servants!" Marpa yelled. "Get that stone out of there and put it back where it came from!"

Mila demolished the whole tower, starting from the top. He pulled out the big foundation stone and took it back to where it had come from. Then Marpa told him, "Now bring it here again and put it back in. " So Mila hauled it back to the site and put it in just as before. He went on building until he had finished the seventh storey, by which time he had an open sore on his hip.

"Now leave off building that tower," Marpa said, "and instead build me a temple, with a twelve-pillared hall and a raised sanctuary.”

So Mila built the temple, and by the time he had finished, a sore had broken out on his lower back.

At that time, Meton Tsonpo of Tsangrong asked Marpa for the empowerment of Samvara, and Tsurton Wange of Dol asked for the empowerment of Guhyasamaja. On both occasions, Mila, hoping that his building work had earned him the right to empowerment, took his place in the assembly, but all he received from Marpa were blows and rebukes and he was thrown out both times. His back was now one huge sore with blood and pus running from three places. Nevertheless, he continued working, carrying the baskets of earth in front of him instead.

When Ngokton Chodor of Shung came to ask for the Hevajra empowerment, Marpa's wife gave Mila a large turquoise from her own personal inheritance. Using it as his offering for the empowerment, Mila placed himself among row of candidates but, as before, the teacher scolded him and gave him a thrashing, and he did not receive the empowerment. This time he felt that there was no further doubt: he would never receive any teachings. He wandered off in no particular direction.

A family in Lhodrak Khok hired him to read the Transcendent Wisdom in Eight Thousand Verses. He came to the story of Sadaprarudita, and that made him think. He realized that, for the sake of the Dharma, he must accept all hardships and please his teacher by doing whatever he ordered.

So he returned, but again Marpa only welcomed him with abuse and blows. Mila was so desperate that Marpa's wife sent him to Lama Ngokpa, who gave him some instructions. But when he meditated nothing came of it, since he had not received his teacher's consent. Marpa ordered him to go back with Lama Ngokpa, and then to return. One day, during a feast offering, Marpa severely reprimanded Lama Ngokpa and some other disciples and was about to start beating them. Mila thought to himself, "With my evil karma, not only do l myself suffer because of my heavy faults and dense obscurations, but now I am also bringing difficulties on Lama Ngokpa and my Guru's consort. Since I am just piling up more and more harmful actions without receiving any teaching, it would be best if I did away with myself."

He prepared to commit suicide. Lama Ngokpa was trying to stop him when Marpa calmed down and summoned them both. He accepted Mila as a disciple, gave him much good advice and named him Mila Dorje Gyaltsen, "Mila Adamantine Victory Banner."As he gave him the empowerment of Samvara; he made the mandala of its sixty-two deities clearly appear. Mila then received the secret name of Shepa Dorje, "Adamantine Laughter," and Marpa conferred all the empowerments and instructions on him just like the contents of one pot being poured into another. Afterwards, Mila practised in the hardest of conditions, and attained all the common and supreme accomplishments.

The trials that Milarepa had to undergo before receiving the teachings from Marpa, as well as being a purification of past Karma, an accumulation of merit and a psychological preparation, also had a bearing on the future of his lineage, each detail having a symbolic significance which, by the principle of interdependence would affect Milarepa’s own future and that of his disciples.

~H.H. Patrul Rinpoche from the text Words of My Perfect Teacher.

[lamathanka]

Milarepa, the Yogi.

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