Spiritual_Stories6a

ASANGA & THE DOG
(continued)

Once more he went into retreat for yet another
three years, but to no avail. Thoroughly disenchanted
this time, he left the cave Once more, but encountered
a man who filed down large pieces of iron to produce
fine needles for his living. Thinking that if someone
was prepared to take on such a laborious task just
to earn a little money, then surely he could exert
himself for the great goal of enlightenment, Asanga
went back to his cave once more. Another three
years, however, gave no result. After a total of
twelve years in the cave, Asanga had still not had
even a dream of Maitreya Buddha, much less a
clear vision. This time he left for good in complete
disgust.

On leaving the cave Asanga saw a very sick dog
suffering from maggots eating its flesh. The dog
was still alive, but crying pitifully from the pain.
Asanga felt strong love arise for the mangy animal
and compassionately he wanted badly to help remove
its suffering. But Asanga could see that removing
the insects would kill them, and so he cut off a
piece of his own flesh for them to live on. He then
realised that even pulling them off with his fingers
would cause harm, so he decided to lick them off
gently with his tongue. As he knelt down to put his
tongue into the festering, maggot-ridden, raw flesh
of the poor dog, the animal suddenly appeared as
Maitreya Buddha. Surprised, and then a little upset,
Asanga demanded to know where Maitreya had been
all the time that he was trying so hard to see him
while in retreat. Maitreya replied he had been in
Asanga's cave for the entire twelve years. He pointed
to where Asanga had, unknowingly, spat on his robe.
Maitreya explained that Asanga's heavy negative karma
had prevented him from seeing him. However, the single
act of powerful and genuine great compassion had purified
all his negative karma and the obscuration of his delusions.
This had brought Asanga instant high realisations enabling
him to perceive all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Like Asanga, any Bodhisattva with great compassion is
the object of offering, prostration and respect because
he is the servant of all that live. If you were to ask, 'What
is the essence of Lord Buddha's teachings?', the answer
must be compassion and great compassion, because they
are the foundation of all living beings' happiness and the
basis of enlightenment. All Buddhas (the enlighten ones,
those gone beyond suffering) have gained their attainments
through great compassion, and have then taught the Dharma
(teachings on attaining realisations).

( Edited Excerpt P 552 Path To Enlightenment In Tibetan
Buddhism by Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita
Publications, melb Aust '94.)