Aprica

Aprica- Alpe Valcheola - riserva naturale pian di Gembro - monte Belvedere ,
escursione tardo autunnale già con neve e ghiaccio nelle zone in ombra, per il resto abbastanza semplice e breve, con poco dislivello, I sentieri più irti sono all' inizio e alla fine, nel salire e scendere da Aprica, il rimanente è su strade sterrate e stradine




The Tale of Red Rock Jewel Valley
A youth, I studied Buddha's teaching;
A man, I lived alone in caves.
Though demons, ghosts, and devils multiply,
I am not afraid.
The snow-lion's paws are never frozen,
Or of what use would it be
To call the lion "King"-
He who has the Three Perfect Powers.31
The eagle never falls down from the sky;
If so, would that not be absurd?
An iron block cannot be cracked by a stone;
If so, why refine the iron ore?
I, Milarepa, fear neither demons nor evils;
If they frightened Milarepa, to what avail
Would be his Realization and Enlightenment?
Ye ghosts and demons, enemies of the Dharma,
I welcome you today!
It is my pleasure to receive you!
I pray you, stay; do not hasten to leave;
We will discourse and play together.
Although you would be gone, stay the night;
We will pit the Black against the White Dharma,32
And see who plays the best.
Before you came, you vowed to afflict me.
Shame and disgrace would follow
If you returned with this vow unfulfilled.
7
Mila~pa arose with confidence and rushed straight at the demons
in his cave. Frightened, they shrank back, rolling their eyes in despair
and trembling violently. Then, swirling together like'a whirlpool, they
all merged into one and vanished.
"This was the Demon King, Viniiyaka33 the Obstacle-Maker, who
came searching for evil opportunities," thought Milarepa. "The storm,
too, was undoubtedly his creation. By the mercy of my Guru he had
no chance to harm me."
After this, Milarepa gained immeasurable spiritual progress.
This story relates the attack of the Demon King Vinayaka; it has
three different meanings, and hence may be called either "The Six
Ways of Thinking of My Guru," "The Tale of Red Rock Jewel Va
THE JOURNEY TO LASHI
Obeisance to all Gurus
ONCE, when the great Master of Yoga, Jetsun1 Milarepa, was staying
in the Jewel Valley hermitage, he thought, "I should obey my
Guru's order to go to Lashi Snow Mountain and practice meditation
there," and set out for that place.
Milarepa approached Nya Non Tsar Ma, the gateway to Lashi
Snow Mountain, where the people of Tsar Ma were holding a drink-
ing party. In their talk, someone asked, "Do you know that at the
present time there lives a great yogi called Milarepa? He always dwells
alone in the snow mountains, in remote and uninhabited places, ob-
serving an ascetic discipline which none except the perfect Buddhist
can attain. Have you ever heard of him?" While they were thus prais-
ing the Jetsun, Milarepa arrived at the door. A beautiful girl named
Lesebum, decked with rich ornaments, greeted him there, asking, "Who
are you and where do you come from?" "Dear hostess," Milarepa re-
plied, "I am the Yogi Milarepa, who always dwells in unknown places
in the mountains. I came here to beg food." "I will gladly give you
some," said the girl, "but are you really Milarepa?" He replied, "There
is no reason why I should lie to you." The girl, delighted, immediately
rushed back into the house to spread the news. She called all the rev-
elers, saying, "You were talking about that celebrated yogi who lives
so far away. He is now standing at the door."
Everyone rushed to the door, some making obeisance to the Jetsun,
others asking him various questions. All became aware that he was the
actual Milarepa. Then they invited him in, paid him great respect
and reverence, and gave him food.
The hostess, a rich young girl named Shindormo, extended her hos-
pitality to the Jetsun, and asked, "Revered one, may I ask where you
are going?" Milarepa replied, "I am on my way to Lashi Snow Moun-
tain to practice meditation." The girl then said, "We hope you will
grant us the boon of staying in Dreloon Joomoo and blessing this