Tuesday, March 17, 2020

16th Mahasiddha Medhenapa… Medhina / Medhini (thang lo pa): “The Man of the Field” of the 84 Mahasiddhas.

Medhina was a low-caste man from Saliputra. One day while laboring in the field, he suddenly stopped and stood there. A yogin came along and asked if he would like to get away from this pain and suffering through Dharma. Medhina showed much interest and so the yogin gave him instructions on the Developing Stage and the Perfecting Stage, and then set him to meditating. But the thought of plowing the fields interrupted him, making Medhina lose his desire to meditate. He went back to his guru and expressed his concern, where upon his guru gave him instructions that were more consistent with his thoughts.

Mendhipa continued meditating accordingly to his guru’s instructions for 12 years, and having stopped various kinds of worldly conceptions, he obtained siddhi. He ascended a tree which grew 7 talas up into the sky.

Mendhipa worked for the benefit of beings in Saliputra and then went to the realm of the Dakas in this very body.