Novi Ligure

Escursione nei dintorni di Novi Ligure dopo una visita al centro storico e al parco del castello, alcuni tratti su asfalto



THE MIRACLE CONTEST
ON DI SE SNOW MOUNTAIN
Obeisance to all Gurus
0 NCE when the Jetsun with many of his disciples were on their way
to Di Se Snow Mountain from Bu Shen, the local deities of Di Se
and Ma Pam came out with a great retinue to welcome them. They
bowed down to Milarepa, and made offerings to him on a grand
scale. They welcomed him sincerely and pointed out the local medita-
tion hermitages, all of which were places distinguished in history and
legend. They also swore to protect his followers, and then returned
to their own abodes.
When Milarepa and his disciples reached the banks of Lake Ma Pam,
there came a Bon1 Priest called Naro Bhun Chon. This man, having
heard a great deal about Milarepa, and having learned that he was
coming to Di Se, went with his brothers and sisters to Lake Ma Pam
to meet the Jetsun and his disciples. Pretending that he did not know
who they were, the Bon priest asked, "From whence have you come
and where might you be going?" Milarepa replied, "We are going to Di
Se Snow Mountain to practice meditation. Our destination is a hermit-
age there." Tbe priest then asked, "\Vho are you, and what is your
name?"
"My name is Milarepa."
"Oh, in that case," replied the priest, "you are just like Ma Pam-it
has a great reputation in far-away places, but when one reaches it one
finds it not really so wonderful as reputed. Perhaps the lake is quite
marvelous, but it and the encircling mountains nearby are all dominated
by us, followers of Bon. If you want to stay here, you must follow our
teachings and sow your seeds [in Bon]."
Milarepa replied, "Generally speaking, this mountain was prophesied
by Buddha Himself to be a place of the Doctrine-holders. For
HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA
particular, it has great significance, for it was spoken of by my Guru
Marpa. You Bonists, who have been staying here so far, are indeed
very fortunate! If you want to remain here in future, you should fol-
low the teachings of my religion; otherwise, you had better go else-
where."
"It seems to me that you have a dual personality," said the Bon priest.
"From a far distance I heard that you were indeed great; but when one
comes close to you, you look small and insignificant. If you are really
the remarkable person that people say, you should not mind having :1
contest with me. We will see whose miraculous powers are superior.
The one who wins shall remain here and be considered as the legitimate
owner of the place, and the one who loses shall leave." Saying this, the
priest straddled the Ma Pam lake and sang:
The Di Se Snow Mountain [of the Himalayas] is
most famous,
But its summit is covered deep in snow!
The lake of Ma Pam is indeed well-known,
But the power of water breaks through it!
Milarepa's reputation is indeed most great,
Yet he is an old eccentric who sleeps naked.
From his mouth he chants melodious songs,
But he holds in his hands a metal staff.2
There is nothing great about him!
In our Bon religion,
The Immutable One is the Swastika-Body3 -
The Lord Ye Shin Dsu Pud, and other heavenly beings.
The fierce blood-drinking Deity with gaping mouth
Has nine heads, eighteen arms, and many miraculous
powers.
Yes, His Transformation Body has nine heads!
His sister is the World-Conquering Mother.
I, the Bon novice, am her disciple.
Look at me! See how I demonstrate miraculous power!
In reply, Milarepa seated himself above the lake and, without his
body growing any bigger or the lake any smaller, he appeared