Buddhism : Critical Concepts in Religious Studies, Vol. VI

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ON THE HISTORY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF THE 'DAS-LOG

sgron and Glingbza' Chos-skyid's messages, do not exaggerate what is
in them. Say Mm;is with your body, speech and mind. Although you
explain karma to others, if you don't calculate your own, knowing that,
it is sinful. If you look at them exteriorly, they are mm;i-pas; if interi-
orly, they are like parrots. The first kind of mm;i-pa need not be
ashamed when he comes before me.
Give this message to mantrists! Although you dwell in the gate of
the profound mantric dharma, practice lama, tutelary and qiiki!JI.
Always renounce evil intentions, sending curses, black magic. Do not
let enemies of the doctrine harm the object of the ten virtues, but liber-
ate their consciousnesses to the dharma-sphere. Do not do harmful
deeds, either rough or soft, but practice mantras. Send thread-crosses
against demons (sri-gnon). Apply yourselves to virtue, putting an end
to the work of harmful demons ... Do not establish lineages, but take
upiisaka 's vows. For those who practice hellish deeds, for those
mantrists who cultivate curses, magic and evil thoughts, try not to be
ashamed when you come before me.
Give this message to laymen! Respect your parents, give supporting
gifts of food and drink to elders and servants. Even though you do not
practice divine religion, keep your intentions perfectly pure. Don't beat
your animals, but protect them as if they were your sons. Apply your-
selves to virtue and give up theft, robbery and hunting. If you look at
them exteriorly, they are laymen; if interiorly, they are like cannibal-
demons (srin-po) ...
Give this message to women! Women, the increasers of worldly life
and being, give service to the Three Gems and give charity to the poor
and the blind. Give generous hospitality to your guests. Revere your
husband with a good heart. Since a bad husband will take retribution,
be kind. Don't let your cattle starve, take care of them. If you look
at them exteriorly, they are women; if interiorly, they are witches.
Such woman as the first kind need not be ashamed when they come
before me.
Give this message to beggars! Not having perfectly done charity in
your former lives, you're now poor and indigent. Say Mal}is nicely.
Renounce theft, robbery, hunting and killing. Try to beg and live in
whichever place is best. Do not say bad and deprecatory things or
gossip. If you look at them exteriorly, they are beggars; if interiorly,
they are rich thieves and bandits. Such beggars as the first kind need
not be ashamed when they come before me.

In Byang-chub-sengge's biography, we find the most systematic presentation, as
the 'das-log went on to propound a special system for the worship of
A valokitesvara through the use of votary flags which appears to have gained
some fame in Eastern Tibet. The biography includes the causes of death, the

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