Interesting-sounding book, Llun. Thanks for passing along the recommendation. I just *love* stories like this, of a person "leaving the monastery." That re-interfacing with the world is, to me, what spiritual practice is really all about.
One of the myths that intrigues me the most has to do with Tsongyong Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama. As you probably know, he was so controversial that he was finally murdered, by the Chinese, but quite possibly with the cooperation of his own followers, because they found him so embar- rassing. Well, one of the persistent myths about him is that he *wasn't* murdered, and in fact staged his own murder *so that* he could beat feet and get away from the life of being regarded as godlike, and find out what it was like to be a normal human being. It's not an out-of-the- question myth, because while he was the Dalai Lama he would spend his days presiding over the spiritual and secular affairs of Tibet, and then during the evenings he would spend his nights carousing in Shol-town, the red-light district of Lhasa. Carousing and writing beautiful poetry. Since I stole my screenname from him (his poetry was billed as having been written by the "Turquoise Bee"), when I first logged on here at FFL, I made a post that contained some of his poetry. It's still there, at message #50856. --- In [email protected], "llundrub" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > KATHMANDU (Nov 25, 2006): For eight years, Rashmila Shakya , now 23, > > was Kathmandu's "Kumari" or 'Virgin Goddess', the embodiment of an > > ancient tradition in Nepal. > > > > A Kumari's reign ends when she reaches puberty. She is then ritually > > divested of her exalted status and expected to return to "normal" life. > > > > Rashmila, the only Kumari to be a graduate, has travelled abroad and > > co-authored (with Scott Berry) a book, "From Goddess to Mortal." She > > spoke to Sudeshna Sarkar: > > > > Q: How does it feel to go from being a goddess to a graduate? > > > > A: I feel that I have lived two lives in one lifetime. When I was > > Kumari, I was regarded as a goddess. People had to do whatever I asked > > them to and, when I went out, everyone would come to gape at me or > > offer worship or take photographs. Which little girl would not like so > > much attention? > > > > When my tenure was over, I missed the attention. I began school at 12, > > when I was put in Grade II with five- or six-year-olds. In school, > > people knew I was a former Kumari and would gape at me. As I adjusted, > > I realised it was nice to be Rashmila. > > > > Q: You are the only Kumari to have written about your own experiences. > > How did that come to be? > > > > A: I was exasperated by the patently wrong and lurid stories > > circulated about Kumaris and I wanted to set the record straight. When > > I was living in Kumari Che (palace), Scott Berry's daughters used to > > visit me and play with me. Years later, they chanced upon a photograph > > of me as Kumari. > > > > Soon, we were back in touch. One day, Berry asked me what I would like > > to do. I said I would like to do something about the misconceptions > > about Kumaris, and he offered to co-author the book with me. > > > > Q: It must have been very painful adjusting to normal life after being > > a goddess... > > > > A: It was not easy, but my family supported me all through. In fact, > > my father (Surya Ratna Shakya, an archaeologist) agreed to let me be a > > Kumari only after resolving that, unlike most Kumaris, I would > > continue my education when I returned home. > > > > After my stint as Kumari, when I was feeling disoriented, my family > > took me to meet an earlier Kumari. She did nothing but experiment with > > make-up in front of her mirror all day long. > > > > She did no housework either, as her relatives thought it was below the > > dignity of a goddess. I knew I would die of boredom. My parents > > enrolled me in school and the pressure to catch up with my peers was a > > big help. > > > > Q: Since the Kumari system plays such havoc with a young girl's life, > > do you think it should be scrapped? > > > > A: Like Mt Everest, it is one of our prime tourist attractions. The > > most important issue is education. The earlier Kumaris were not > > educated and encouraged to stand on their own feet because there was > > no concept of educating women. > > > > However, things have vastly improved now. Kumaris are now tutored in > > the school curriculum by a teacher from a government school. > > > > SOURCE: Women's Feature Service, Times of India > > URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/560787.cms > > PURCHASE INFO FOR BOOK: > > https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no40963.htm >
