Martyn and amusing astrology. We become what we think. Alex Tenchoy

citizenship. He graduated from college and entered the Academy of Cinematography. Later he became a talented film-director and was famous in Hollywood. After his film about Queen Elizabeth he became a world-renowned film-director and a very rich man. But he never forgot his early years that he spent in the streets of Bombay. He regularly gave donations to the poor and homeless, to all those in need, thus hoping not to be reborn as a beggar in his future lives.

      I would like you, readers, to tell me honestly, from the bottom of your hearts. Are there many people among us who would be ready to assume the needs and troubles of someone completely unknown to them, without considering their our expenses, waste of precious time, inconveniences, psychological and moral difficulties on account of actions carried out against the law? Are there many people like Ama Chela?

      A test of Tengon’s2 will

      Phat! Loudly I blow the tibial Ganling3

      And whirl in Dharmadhatu’s4 dance of emptiness

      I’m the Lord of Tantra5 searching the fearlessness.

      amsara6 and Nirvana7 merge in my consciousness.

      This is a story about the famous Yogi, the monk Tengon, who was a great master of Chod8 practice. Of course, not at once did he become a Chod master; for Tengon, the way to perfection was not easy. Although now old and young people know about the famous feats of Tengon, there was a time when nobody had heard of him. He was the second son of shepherds in Aga and according to tradition, he was sent to a master of Chod, Shining Chogyaltsen9, to study. Tengon’s teacher used a big Damaru10 during his practice, and when the weights tied to the sides of the drum beat the taut snake skin, sparks would appear. Nobody could explain this wonderful phenomenon. People said that it was a blessing from the radiant Guru11 Padmasamhava12, which Tengon’s teacher had received after spending 30-years as an ascetic, in retreat. Once Guru Chogyaltsen gave Tengon an order to practice on the shore of the Aga13 river. It was a special retreat to test his endurance, during which he would chant without pause for food, drink or other needs for 3 days. Like all future warriors, he would be tested by demons who would attempt to harm him during any rest or meal.

      Three days before the full moon, the test of young Tengon began. By the full moon he would be primed to destroy any personal impurities. He sat on the shore of the beautiful Aga river which flowed with emerald-pure water and was lined by curving banks as graceful in harmony as a Dakinie14 goddess.

      The divination dice predicted success: the beginning of his retreat coincided with the day of Pelginyam15, a day good for any undertaking; and he felt young, full of energy for great deeds. He was determined to achieve Siddhi16, in order to help all the people on the earth. To sit on green soft grass was a pleasure, with which any skillful carpet manufacturer could not compete and certainly, one could not produce such a natural scent. A light wind refreshed Tengon and carried away his melodious prayer. The sun shone cheerfully in the endless blue sky, and millions of beams were reflected as gold patches of light on the surface of the water. The first day passed easily, and Tengon thought that this task seemed a mere trifle. He was full of pride “I’m so formidable, my mere appearance here has dispersed all the local spirits” – he thought. With a frown and a haughty gaze, Tengon imagined himself all-powerful. Only one thing annoyed him, that his Teacher-Guru did not see him as the “Incomparable Tengon”, at the peak of his greatness and power.

      After draining his energy through daydreaming, by the end of the second day, he began to wear down. Now he felt thirsty and wished to sleep. He wondered why he should burden himself with any such paltry practice if he were so powerful. He only needed to find a way to explain his invincibility to his Teacher.

      Such were his confused ramblings and by the end of the second night, Tengon’s speech was unclear. He had begun to hallucinate; he imagined that all the harmful spirits of the earth were united against him, and surrounded him from different directions, desiring to tear him to pieces. Tengon shook his head, trying drive them off so that he would not be conquered by somnolence. Tengon dreamed of a time when, upon finishing this retreat, he would sleep the whole day, even three whole days. The opportunity to sleep for some hours, accessible practically to everyone, seemed to him to be the greatest happiness. He began to count the time until the end of his retreat. But it stubbornly did not pass quickly. It seemed as though time had paused and the retreat continued endlessly.