Alex Wilding

These are figures who put a strong stamp on the thinking and practice of the Vajrayana, especially in Tibet. The historical details about these Mahasiddhas are sometimes a bit hazy, and many of the stories we have are quite short, don't have a lot of detail in them. There are different lists of the 84 Mahasiddhas.

These are figures who put a strong stamp on the thinking and practice of the Vajrayana, especially in Tibet. The historical details about these Mahasiddhas are sometimes a bit hazy, and many of the stories we have are quite short, don't have a lot of detail in them. There are different lists of the 84 Mahasiddhas.

Some different Mahasiddhas have shared names and some names have applied to more than one Mahasiddha. So that's all a bit confusing, but the general thrust of what the 84 Mahasiddhas represent is fairly consistent. They represent a willingness to step outside of convention in order to really and truly practice in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Some different Mahasiddhas have shared names and some names have applied to more than one Mahasiddha. So that's all a bit confusing, but the general thrust of what the 84 Mahasiddhas represent is fairly consistent. They represent a willingness to step outside of convention in order to really and truly practice in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Their stories do demonstrate how any circumstances can, if only we can rise to them, be circumstances for attaining enlightenment. A small fraction of these Mahasiddhas were rich and powerful, but many of them follow the more popular Buddhist pattern of riches to rags and then onward to enlightenment. This is, after all, very much what the Buddha himself did two and a half thousand years ago.

Their stories do demonstrate how any circumstances can, if only we can rise to them, be circumstances for attaining enlightenment. A small fraction of these Mahasiddhas were rich and powerful, but many of them follow the more popular Buddhist pattern of riches to rags and then onward to enlightenment. This is, after all, very much what the Buddha himself did two and a half thousand years ago.

The Mahasiddhas themselves lived, roughly speaking, in the later part of the first Christian millennium. One of my favourites is the story of Lakshminkara, the Mad Princess. She was born, as you might guess from that title, as a princess, and was given a good education, including in religious matters, including the tantras and so on.

The Mahasiddhas themselves lived, roughly speaking, in the later part of the first Christian millennium. One of my favourites is the story of Lakshminkara, the Mad Princess. She was born, as you might guess from that title, as a princess, and was given a good education, including in religious matters, including the tantras and so on.

She was promised in marriage, in one version that I read, this was when she was about seven years old, to a prince of Sri Lanka. A few years later, as a teenager, she was sent with her royal party and significant wealth to marry her prince.

She was promised in marriage, in one version that I read, this was when she was about seven years old, to a prince of Sri Lanka. A few years later, as a teenager, she was sent with her royal party and significant wealth to marry her prince.

Due to some mix-up, the party arrived late at the royal palace, and the astrologers of the place said that the day was not auspicious, so the party had to wait outside for another day.

Due to some mix-up, the party arrived late at the royal palace, and the astrologers of the place said that the day was not auspicious, so the party had to wait outside for another day.

As it happened, while they were waiting, a hunting party returned from the hunt, and she was quite upset to see the leader of the hunt spattered in blood, carrying the dead animal that had been caught casually across his shoulders. she realised that the huntsman was in fact her betrothed. At this point, it seems that her thinking amounted to something very much like, No!

As it happened, while they were waiting, a hunting party returned from the hunt, and she was quite upset to see the leader of the hunt spattered in blood, carrying the dead animal that had been caught casually across his shoulders. she realised that the huntsman was in fact her betrothed. At this point, it seems that her thinking amounted to something very much like, No!

She gave all her dowry, jewels and the rest of her wealth to her servants and sent them off. Nevertheless, she was taken into the palace, where she shut herself in her room, covered herself in ashes and threw things at anyone who tried to approach her. Since she was now perceived as mad…

She gave all her dowry, jewels and the rest of her wealth to her servants and sent them off. Nevertheless, she was taken into the palace, where she shut herself in her room, covered herself in ashes and threw things at anyone who tried to approach her. Since she was now perceived as mad…

the wedding was called off, and at some later stage she was able to escape to live in cemeteries and dark, deep parts of the forest, where she was assisted, and I suppose that also means, to some extent at least, fed, by a cleaner of the royal latrines. Eventually, as it is said, she achieved city. Her assistant was the first person to whom she gave empowerment,

the wedding was called off, and at some later stage she was able to escape to live in cemeteries and dark, deep parts of the forest, where she was assisted, and I suppose that also means, to some extent at least, fed, by a cleaner of the royal latrines. Eventually, as it is said, she achieved city. Her assistant was the first person to whom she gave empowerment,

And when at some later stage the king, that is to say the father of her former fiancé, her former betrothed, sought her teachings, she declined, but assigned him to the latrine cleaner. As far as I know, he accepted that assignment, and that, I think, speaks rather well for him, don't you think?

And when at some later stage the king, that is to say the father of her former fiancé, her former betrothed, sought her teachings, she declined, but assigned him to the latrine cleaner. As far as I know, he accepted that assignment, and that, I think, speaks rather well for him, don't you think?