Keep Calm And Carry On The Family Business

"BY SHANNON LOPEZ"

Not your typical sort of travelling folk, they are Hunters. The bane of every creepy, crawly, glowing-eyed monster that dares go bump in the night. As the name implies, "hunters" are (usually) humans who make it their business to track down and eliminate anything of a mystical persuasion, including, demons, ghosts, witches, vampires, shape-shifters, wendigos, etc.

THE ROAD SO FAR...To be a hunter is a life on the road. For a number of reasons, most hunters cannot or will not put down roots. Mobility is key. Constantly on the move, a hunter could be tracking a corpse munching ghoul in Wichita one day then have to beat feet to clear out a nest of vampires in Denver the next. The ability to put a town in their rear view mirror is also essential as the local law tends to mistake the decapitation of a supernatural man-eater for the cold-blooded homicide. This is often why a hunter tends to avoid visiting the same town twice.

While a hunter dedicates his or her life to protecting mankind, the tables can turn whereby the hunter becomes the prey. In the world of the supernatural, a hunter makes quite a few enemies and sometimes that demon they exorcised back to hell takes it personally. It will makes it its business to crawl their way back up from the fiery abyss to murder a hunter in their bed. This stark reality makes it difficult and unwise to linger too long in one place. No, for the average hunter, a house with a white picket fence is out of the question, its endless hours on the road and cheap sleazy motels with roaches on the walls.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: If a hunter expects to avoid becoming ghoul scat it's generally a good idea to maintain a strong mind and body. This includes and not limited to:

* A thorough understanding of mythology and lore (both world and local)
* Proficiency in various forms of martial arts (or general hand-to-hand combat).
* Expertise with both firearms and melee weapons
* Ability to read and pronounce Latin verses and incantations (knowledge of other dead languages is strongly encouraged).
* Access to research materials such as newspaper articles, journals, books, and other manuscripts (do not fear to use the local library!)
* Knowledge of federal and local police procedure (a fake FBI badge and a cheap suit can open a lot of doors in a supernatural investigation).
* A hearty dose of common sense! If you think it's a trap then it probably is. If you need back up then pick up the phone. Most hunters will set aside the lone-wolf mentality if it means getting a job done right.

WEAPONRY: (THE SHORT LIST)

"FIREARMS: "

* Shotguns with modified shells packed with rock salt are highly effective when used against creatures such as ghosts and demons. While it won't "kill" a ghost it can disrupt their manifested form granting a hunter valuable time to escape.
* A silver bullet from a handgun or rifle will put down a werewolf with ease when aimed at the head or heart.

BLADED WEAPONS:"

* Knives, axes, machetes, etc., can all be used to various effect, for example: the only way to kill a vampire is by decapitation (a wooden stake through the heart is like bringing a hotdog to a gun fight, useless). Blades made of or coated in silver, however, can harm or kill a wider range of beasts such as werewolves, shape-shifter, skin-walkers, fairies, and djinn.

THE ELEMENTS:

* Salt: Many cultures extol the virtues of salt as a purifying element. It is why every hunter "worth his/her salt" will carry a much of the stuff as possible. Demons and ghosts are incapable of crossing a salt line or circle and can in fact be harmed if they come into contact with it.
* Holy Water: It will burn a demon like acid, enough said.
* Iron: Did you ever wonder why old graveyards have an iron fence? It was believed that a wandering spirit or ghost could not pass through an iron barrier thus preventing them from harassing the world of the living. A hunter can use an iron rod against ghosts, demons, and other monsters.
* Fire: There are a few combinations to which fire can be applied:

- Fire: On its own it can kill creatures such as wendigos and rugarus.

- Fire + holy oil: can be used to trap or injure and angel.

- Fire + salt: when applied to the remains of a vengeful spirit will put it to rest once and for all.

MAGIC, CHARMS, AND THE LIKE:

* Spells to summon or banish spirits, hex bags to curse or protect, and sigils/ wards to keep evil in or out. A hunter that doesn't use magic is fighting with a severe handicap. It's a shameful waste of a powerful resource that can get them and others killed.

It's not an easy life being a hunter. No place to call home and life expectancy is... well it's a special thing when a hunter can die of old age. A thankless job where the risk is high and the rewards are few. However, sometimes "saving people" and "hunting things" can be all the motivation certain people need.

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April Rituals And Magicks

April was the flash month of the Roman calendar, near January and February were other by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC. It became the fourth month of the calendar time (the time for instance twelve months are displayed in order) happening the time of the decemvirs about 450 BC, for instance it very was particular 29 days April is recurrently allied with the weather conditions of perfectly in the Northern hemisphere and autumn in the Southern hemisphere.This page serves as a jumping off intend for April holy days, spells, magicks, lore, rituals, superstitions and better-quality.State-owned Greatest ON THE MONTH OF APRIL: * April Magick * April Moon Names * Correspondences for April * April - Magickal Over and doneASTROLOGY AND Beginning Signs FOR APRIL:"(note: some of the dates determination be on both sides of with Movement and May)" * Hint at of the Honeysuckle (Mar 21 to Apr 19) * Sun in Aries (Mar 21 to Apr 19) * Hint at of the Poppy (Apr 20 and May 19) * Sun in Taurus (Apr 20 to May 20)CELTIC AND NORDIC TREE ASTROLOGY AND Signs FOR APRIL:"(note: some of the dates determination be on both sides of with Movement and May)" * Alder (Movement 18 - April 14) * Rowan Tree (April 01 to April 10) * Maple Tree (April 11 to April 20) * Willow (April 15 - May 12) * Walnut Tree (April 21 to April 30)HOLIDAYS, Carnival Being AND Delightful Being IN APRIL:"(note: dates off are for the time 2013)" * 1: Dyngus Day - Easter Monday (daytime varies) * 1: Egg Deafening Day (England) - Easter Monday (daytime varies) * 1: April Fool's Day / Loki's Day * 1: The Veneralia, the fair of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. * 3: Passover begins at day's end (daytime varies) * 4: Ching Ming - Burial chamber Approachable Day (China) - sometimes chute on April 5 * 4 - 10: Megalesia - Celebrates the fineness of the Sibylline oracles * 5: Female Venture Day, the fair Fortuna, the goddess of good ability * 6: Disorder Checkered Day * 8: Hana-Matsuri - Japanese Come into flower Celebration to decorate the Buddha's bicentenary. * 8: Geranium Day - England * 9: A-ma Celebration - Portugal and China * 10: New Moon * 12: Chhau Celebration - India * 12 - 19: Ludi Cereales * 13: Songkran - Thailand * 15: Fordicia, the fair of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess * 16: The formal meal day of St. Bernadette. * 19: Celebration of Ceres, a Roman bump goddess. * 20: Furukawa Matsuri - Japan * 21: Palilia (Parilia), the fair of Pales, the Roman goddess of sheperds and flocks. This is very the very well founding daytime of Rome. * 21: Sun enters Taurus * 22: Celebration of Ishtar * 22: Earth Day * 23: St George's Day * 24: Peppercorn Reserve - Bermuda (daytime varies time to time) * 25: Wealthy moon -- Ringlet Moon - Lunar Unheard of (unwarranted) * 25: The Robigalia, the fair of Robigus, a Roman bump god. * 28 - May 1 The Floralia, the fair of Foliage, Roman goddess of fertility and flowers. * 29: Tako-Age - Japan - Kite Flying Day * 30: May Day Eve - Walpurgisnacht * 30: BeltaneSPELLS, MAGICKS, AND RITUALS FOR APRIL: * Evaluate the Ringlet Moon * Cerelalia - Persephone's Yield * Cow Come into flower Travel over Dose * Day of Pales Help * Celebration of Ceres * Flora's Character Geniality Prayer Dose * Ishtar's Day * Farm animals Blessing Dose * Help for Floralia * Help for Fortuna's Day * Help for the Day of Venus * Agreeably Wealthy Moon Help * St. George's Day Blessing DoseGODS AND GODDESSES OF APRIL: * The Divine being Foliage * IshtarPrincipled FOR BELTANE:"(note: All the Beltane posts are included at home at the same time as in some traditions Beltane begins on the stand day of April - May Eve - entirely than May 1st)" * A Sprite Dose for Beltane * Beltane Cake Help * Beltane Hack Celebration * Faery Herbs and Their Ornaments * Huron 'Beltane' Hack Skip * It's May Eve * Threaten a Maypole for Beltane * The Beltane BlessingPrincipled FOR EASTER:"(Note: Easter frequently chute in April as well as exhibit. I storage space very included the Ostara posts as patronize pagans fancy to use Ostara rituals at Easter)" * A Lent Lucky charm * A Dose for Ash Wednesday * In the order of Ostara * An Altar to Ostara * An Easter Monday Bicaben * An Oestara Help * Pristine Eggshell Chalk Pattern * Pristine Help for Ostara * Russet Bunny Ostara Help For Undeveloped * Easter vs Ostara * Egg Ornaments * Eggshell Mosaics for Ostara * Eggshell Votive Candles * Eostra's Bunny * Sprite Beds From Ostara Progeny * Spiritual Progeny * Magickal Benchmark for Ostara Progeny * Magickal Egg Grounds * Threaten Eggshell Chalk for Ostara * Fresh-faced Dyes for Ostara Progeny * Inside Housekeeping for Oestara * The Pagan EasterRECIPES FOR Rations, Aggravate, Gathering AND MORE: * Be Sickly Find irresistible Cakes * Elderflower Fritters for Beltane * Farls * May Serpent Cake - for Beltane * Pure Simnel Cake * VarenekyFOR What A moment ago POSTED ON THIS Sphere AND NOT ON THIS Submit SEE: April Spells and Rituals

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Genesis 31 5

Good morning, gang!

I'm enjoying having a quiet, unrushed Monday morning, with no major agenda for the day! :) I'm excited to study this chapter this week, because it is so pivotal to our understanding of why the world is so out of whack, and how that applies to our Christian walk. It portrays a loving, gracious God, who is longsuffering with rebellious people. We see the ultimate consequences of disobedience, while also learning about His provision for our redemption.

Commentators may disagree about where the problem started with Eve, but we can see immediately the cunning of the serpent (Satan) who sows seeds of doubt about God's Word, when he asks Eve, "Did God really say...?" His number one tool in his arsenal is the manipulation of God's Word. Satan knows God's Word. We know from the temptation of Christ (Matt 4), that Satan can quote it just fine - although he prefers to misquote it. Here he asks Eve, "Did God really say,'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" He wants to make God seem like a kill-joy (when we know that Satan is the true joy-robber). God had actually given Adam and Eve free reign to eat of ANY tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve makes her first mistake here, by engaging in dialogue with Satan. Don't even go there, folks! He is crafty and has had 1000's of years to study man. He knows our weaknesses only too well! Even Michael the Archangel refused to argue with the devil in his own strength, but rebuked him in the LORD's name (Jude 9). So, don't try to go mano-a-mano with him!

Eve, in her eagerness to put down Satan's argument and "defend" the faith, goes one step farther than God did: "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " Here Eve does the thing that we all tend to do, and certainly something organized religion has done for centuries - she ADDED to the Word of God. We might agree that not even touching the tree might prevent temptation (although it had no effect here with Eve, did it?) however, her adding that one simple rule turned to disaster. Jon Courson says in his commentary, "The Word of God is incredibly profound. But it is also amazingly simple." When Eve added that little bit to God's simple command, we see the beginning of legalism! Courson says, "Adding to the Word always leads to bondage, bitterness, and backsliding. Our intent might be to try to prevent ourselves or others from getting too close to forbidden fruit, but in reality, our rules and barriers only burden people and ultimately cause them to forget the whole thing and walk away from God." I would add that the other danger is that people become so proud of their "holiness" in keeping these man-made rituals and regulations, they lose their dependence on grace and think they can do it themselves...

After questioning God's Word, Satan questions God's motivation, suggesting that God only wants them to stay away from that tree, because He knows they would then become godlike themselves - having His knowledge and His immortality. Again, this is the same argument he uses today to keep people from experiencing the fullness of God's love and blessings. He suggests that the fulfillment of human potential is to become God, and He makes God out as the bad guy, someone who wants to restrict your personal freedom and potential. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) God offers us the abundant life - a life of fellowship with Him, a life of fulness of joy. Satan wants you to focus on restrictions.

I love the advise Courson offers his own children: "If you think sin is fun, if you want to eat from the tree of forbidden fruit, first look to another tree - the tree of Calvary - and you'll see what sin will ultimately do. It will crucify you. And if you think God is holding something back from you, look at that tree again, and you'll see Him with outstretched arms, nails piercing His palms, proving to you unequivocally that He loves you passionately."

The defense against Satan's wiles? Know God's Word and don't add to it! Trust that His "No" is only because His "Yes" is so much better!

Have a great day!

Source: theartofastralprojection.blogspot.com

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The Bad Witch And Pagan Magic

I'm very satisfy to advertise that The Bad Witch's Blog has become an link of the online magical store Pagan Pull.

Pagan Pull is a family-run work-related based in north Devon that sells everything from athames and besoms to pirouette bells and Zen oracle cards. Some part of a set of staff is a pagan and specialises in contrary areas such as herbalism, crystal healing, kitchen witchery, insight, meditation and mythology.

Its website www.pagan-magic.co.uk/shop/not solo offers a fat and diverse coverage of items for sale but afterward includes a Index of Gloomy sector with spells, recipes, rituals, lore and makeup on all sorts of full of character subjects, which are free to abrade.

Peculiar an link of Pagan Pull won't fake the kinds of things I unwind about on my blog or its trademark, but it command mean I can give connections to spells or items on the Pagan Pull site that I have faith in are full of character or viable.

Innovative benefit for me is that if you agree to buy a product from Pagan Pull timetabled a call on A Bad Witch's Blog, as a consequence I earn a negligible part of the calculate approximately you pay. It won't price you any outstanding to buy the item, but it command help endorse A Bad Witch's Blog operational.

If you stow any comments or questions about this, oblige give up a abide by beneath.

Links:

www.pagan-magic.co.uk/shop/

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/finding-right-cards-for-yule.html

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How To Choose A Spiritual Life Coaching Specialist

By Allyson Burke Many a people lose their nature by working from autonomous in moderately than inside out. The personality you find yourself in and the background ring-shaped may be a partition to the triumph you can turn out. Magical life coaching mandate can really pressure your triumph. Not specifically strength be dominant to reconnect with the organize but moreover touch everything in your organism and the spirit. Live through a on purpose life that is honor to make a pressure in the world. Manifesting the life you thirst or considered opinion out what you can reach is a within turn out. You deem the wideness to good deed firmness from within your capacities. Achieving clear imply and effecting pressure is at all if you specifically look for nest egg from the experts. The trainings are designed to utter people to understand their focus live through and capabilities. Introduce somebody to an area get to understand and formalize folks attitude that topic to them. Trade with untied knowledge and discoveries can agree with their experiences and assertion irritating living. A life that is prompted with ferocity, purpose and power is within your capabilities. Manage polite knowledge to assertion fun living. Luxury yourself by consulting these experts. Tell old patterns and learn new elements within you that can make the convert amongst achievers and waste. Metaphysical lessons allow individuals. It connects a inhabitant with the inner wisdom and fresh assert. Nearest and dearest who sphere these lessons curb every in a trickery way. The mind makes individuals understand that they are creators in their own information. The over and done lessons effort to chance your fresh hard. They circumscribe and spell out your power that is unseen in the illusions of the back up. Tiers of emotions and the power of attraction are some of the strong show lessons educated by the specialists. Observe your actual self and be in front of how to use it to principle moments. Your ambiance and considered opinion are tools satisfactory to help reach surmountable imply and vocabulary. Treatment and coaching could do with be at odds but are all totally unplanned in one way or another. Education assists individuals to be whole, creative and good at your job. Treatment is solemn for people to last what they or else deem. A tidy up strength all told outlet on your fresh perceive and try as a lot as at all to remove you from a in the same way as tradition. It is professional partnerships with the aim of back up you reach melanoma in your mad dash in a special way. Possible beings mix up proper nourishing to panel optimistically acceptably different trees draw water, supply and sun. Days in affluence relies on how a lot you deem renowned self conviction and augur. The advance are considerable. Collect in advice with your biographer and hoist how you warn with him. Previous choosing the firmness spiritual life coaching therapist, do some satiated poll. Stage with a professional who understands your mad dash path and beliefs. One and all is entitled to assertion life and all the good bits and pieces it offers. Because a tidy up strength help you learn some bits and pieces, a spiritual trainers strength enable you reach the maximum in your capacity. The polite strength make sure that you bud holistically in organism, sensitivity and organize. You strength become the a lot compulsory pressure on earth. Forcefully the Author: Read in addition about Ruling A Delightful Magical Life Coaching Established visiting our website.

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Queen Mallika

At the time of the Buddha, a daughter was born to the foreman of the guild of garland-makers in Savatthi. She was beautiful, clever and well behaved and a source of joy to her father. One day, when she had just turned sixteen, she went to the public flower gardens with her girl-friends and took three portions of fermented rice along in her basket as the day's sustenance. When she was just leaving by the city gate, a group of monks came along, who had come down from the monastery on the hill to obtain almsfood in town. The leader among them stood out; one whose grandeur and sublime beauty impressed her so much, that she impulsively offered him all the food in her basket. He was the Awakened One. He let her put her offering into his alms bowl. After Mallika - without knowing to whom she had given the food - had prostrated at his feet, she walked on full of joy. The Buddha smiled. Ananda, his attendant, who knew that the fully Enlightened One does not smile without a reason, asked therefore why he was smiling. The Buddha replied that this girl would reap the benefits of her gift this very same day by becoming the Queen of Kosala. This sounded unbelievable, because how could the Maharaja of Benares and Kosala elevate a woman of low caste to the rank of Queen? Especially in the India of those days with its very strict caste system, this seemed quite improbable. The ruler over the United Kingdoms of Benares and Kosala in the Ganges Valley was King Pasenadi, the mightiest Maharaja of his day. At that time he was at war with his neighbor, the King of Magadha. The latter had won a battle and King Pasenadi had been forced to retreat. He was returning to his capital on the horse that had been his battle companion. Before entering the city, he heard a girl sing in the flower gardens. It was Mallika, who was singing melodiously because of her joy in meeting the Illustrious Sage. The King was attracted by the song and rode into the gardens; Mallika did not run away from the strange warrior, but came nearer, took the horse by its reins and looked straight into the King's eyes. He asked her whether she was already married and she replied in the negative. Thereupon he dismounted, lay down with his head in her lap and let her console him about his ill-luck in battle. After he had recovered, he let her mount his horse behind him and took her back to the house of her parents. In the evening he sent an entourage with much pomp to fetch her and made her his principal wife and Queen. From then on she was dearly beloved by the King. She was given many loyal servants and in her beauty she resembled a goddess. It became known throughout the whole kingdom that because of her simple gift she had been elevated to the highest position in the State and this induced her subjects to be kind and generous towards their fellow men. Wherever she went, people would joyously proclaim: "That is Queen Mallika, who gave alms to the Buddha." (J 415E) After she had become Queen, she soon went to visit the Enlightened One to ask him something which was puzzling her. Namely, how it came about that one woman could be beautiful, wealthy and of great ability, another be beautiful but poor and not very able, yet another although ugly, be rich and very able, and finally another be ugly, poor and possess no skills at all. These differences can constantly be observed in daily life. But while the ordinary person is satisfied with such common place terms as fate, heredity, coincidence and so on, Queen Mallika wanted to probe deeper as she was convinced that nothing happens without a cause. The Buddha explained to her in great detail that all attributes and living conditions of people everywhere were solely dependent on the extent of their moral purity. Beauty was caused by forgiveness and gentleness, prosperity due to generous giving, and skillfulness was caused by never envying others, but rather being joyful and supporting their abilities. Whichever of these three virtues a person had cultivated, that would show up as their "destiny," usually in some mixture of all of them. The coming together of all three attributes would be a rarity. After Mallika had listened to this discourse of the Buddha, she resolved in her heart to be always gentle towards her subjects and never to scold them, to give alms to all monks, brahmans and the poor, and never to envy anyone who was happy. At the end of the Enlightened One's discourse she took refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and remained a faithful disciple for the rest of her life. (A IV, 197) She showed her great generosity not only giving regular alms, but also by building a large, ebony-lined hall for the Sangha, which was used for religious discussions. (M 78, D 9) She exhibited her gentleness by serving her husband with the five qualities of a perfect wife, namely: always rising before him, and going to bed after him, by always obeying his commands, always being polite, and using only kind words. Even the monks praised her gentleness in their discussions about virtue. Soon she was to prove that she was also free of jealousy. The King had made up his mind to marry a second chief wife and brought a cousin of the Buddha home as his betrothed. Although it is said that it is in the nature of women not to allow a rival into her home, Mallika related to the other wife without the slightest malice. (A VI, 52) Both women lived in peace and harmony at the Court. Even when the second wife gave birth to a son, the crown prince, and Mallika had only a daughter, she was not envious. When the King voiced disappointment about the birth of a daughter, the Buddha said to him that a woman was superior to a man if she was clever, virtuous, well-behaved and faithful. Then she could become the wife of a great King and give birth to an almighty Ruler. (S 3,16) When the daughter, Princess Vajira, had grown up, she became Queen of Magadha and thereby the ancestress of the greatest Indian Emperor, Asoka, who ruled Magadha 250 years later. After Mallika had become a faithful lay devotee of the Buddha, she also won her husband over to the teaching. And that happened in this way: One night the King had a succession of sixteen perturbing dreams during which he heard gruesome, unfathomable sounds from four voices, which uttered: "Du, Sa, Na, So." When the King woke up from these dreams, great fear seized him, and sitting upright and trembling, he awaited the sunrise. When his Brahman priests asked him whether he had slept well, he related the terror of the night and asked them what one could do to counteract such a menace. The Brahmans declared that one would have to offer great sacrifices and thereby pacify the evil spirits. In his fear the King agreed to that. The Brahmans rejoiced because of the gifts they would surely reap and busily began to make preparations for the great sacrifice. They scurried about, building a sacrificial altar and tied many animals to posts, so they could be killed. For greater efficacy, they demanded the sacrifice of four human beings and these also awaited their death, tied to posts. When Mallika became aware of all this activity, she went to the King and asked him why the Brahmans were so busily running about full of joyous expectation. The King replied that she did not pay enough attention to him and did not know his sorrows. Thereupon he told her of his dreams. Mallika asked the King whether he had also consulted the first and foremost of Brahmans about the meaning and interpretation. He replied that she first had to tell him who was the first and foremost of Brahmans. She explained that the Awakened One was foremost in the world of Gods and men, the first of all Brahmans. King Pasenadi decided to ask the Awakened One's advice and went to Prince Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Monastery. He related to the Buddha what had taken place in his dreams and asked him what would happen to him. "Nothing," the Awakened One replied and explained the meaning to him. The sixteen dreams which he had were prophecies, showing that the living conditions on earth would deteriorate steadily, due to the increasing moral laxity of the kings. In a meditative moment, King Pasenadi had been able to see future occurrences within his sphere of interest because he was a monarch concerned with the well-being of his subjects. The four voices which he had heard belonged to four men who had lived in Savatthi and had been seducers of married women. Because of that they were reborn in hell and for 30,000 years they drowned in red-hot cauldrons, coming nearer and nearer to the fire, which intensified their unbearable suffering. During another 30,000 years they slowly rose up in those iron cauldrons and had now come to the rim, where they could once again at least breathe the air of the human realm. Each one wanted the speak a verse, but because of the gravity of the deed, could not get past the first syllable. Not even in sights could they voice their suffering, because they had long lost the gift of speech. The four verses, which start in Pali with "du, sa, na, so," were recognized by the Awakened One as follows: Du: Dung-like life we lived, No willingness to give, Although we could have given much, We did not make our refuge thus. Sa: Say, the end is near? Already 60,000 years have gone Without respite the torture is In this hell realm. Na: Naught, no end near, Oh, would it end! No end in sight for us. Who once did misdeeds here For me, for you, for both of us. So: So, could I only leave this place And raise myself to human realm, I would be kind and moral too, And do good deeds abundantly. After the King had heard these explanations, he became responsive to the request of the compassionate Queen and granted freedom to the imprisoned men and animals. He ordered the sacrificial altar to be destroyed. (J 77 "> The King, who had become a devoted lay disciple of the Buddha, visited him one day again and met a wise and well-learned layman there. The King asked him whether he could give some daily Dhamma teaching to his two Queens. The layman replied that the teaching came from the Enlightened One and only one of his immediate disciples could pass it on to the Queens. The King understood this and requested the Buddha to give permission to one of his monks to teach. The Buddha appointed Ananda for this task. Queen Mallika learned easily in spite of her uneducated background, but Queen Vasabhakhattiya, cousin of the Buddha and mother of the crown-prince, was unconcentrated and learned with difficulty. (Pac 3) One day the royal couple looked down upon the river from the palace and saw a group of the Buddha's monks playing about in the water. The king said to Queen Mallika reproachfully: "Those playing about in the water are supposed to be Saints?" Such was namely the reputation of this group of the so-called seventeen monks, who were quite young and of good moral conduct. Mallika replied that she could only explain it thus, that either the Buddha had not made any rules with regard to bathing or that the monks were not acquainted with them, because they were not amongst the rules which were recited regularly. Both agreed that it would not make a good impression on lay people and on those monks not yet secure, if those in higher training played about in the water and enjoyed themselves in the way of untrained worldly people. But King Pasenadi wanted to avoid blackening those monks' characters and just wanted to give the Buddha a hint, so that he could lay down a firm rule. He conceived the idea to send a special gift to the Buddha to be taken by those monks. They brought the gift and the Buddha asked them on what occasion they had met the King. Then they told him what they had done and the Buddha laid down a corresponding rule. (Pac. 53) One day when the King was standing on the parapet of the palace with the Queen and was looking down upon the land, he asked her whether there was anyone in the world she loved more than herself. He expected her to name him, since he flattered himself to have been the one who had raised her to fame and fortune. But although she loved him, she remained truthful and replied that she know of no one dearer to herself than herself. Then she wanted to know how it was with him: Did he love anyone - possibly her - more than himself? Thereupon the King also had to admit that self-love was always predominant. But he went to the Buddha and recounted the conversation to find out how a Saint would consider this. The Buddha confirmed his and Mallika's statements: I visited all quarters with my mind Nor found I any dearer than myself; Self is likewise to every other dear; Who loves himself may never harm another. - Ud 47, translated by Ven. ~Nanamoli One day the Buddha said to a man whose child had died: "Dear ones, those who are dear, bring sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair" - the suffering that results from a clinging love. In spite of the clearly visible proof, the man could not understand this. The conversation was reported to the King and he asked his wife whether it was really true that sorrow would result from love. "If the Awakened One has said so, O King, then it is so," she replied devotedly. The King demurred that she accepted every word of the Buddha like a disciple from a guru. Thereupon she sent a messenger to the Buddha to ask for more details and then passed the explicit answer on to her husband. She asked him whether he loved his daughter, his second wife, the crown-prince, herself and his kingdom? Naturally he confirmed this, these five things were dear to him. But if something happened to these five, Mallika responded, would he not feel sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief or despair, which comes from loving? Then the King understood and realized how wisely the Buddha could penetrate all existence: "Very well, then Mallika, continue to venerate him." And the King rose, uncovered his shoulder, prostrated deferentially in the direction where the Blessed One was wont to stay and greeted him three times with: "Homage to the Blessed One, the Holy One, the fully Awakened One." But their lives also did not remain quite without conflict. One day an argument arose between the couple about the duties of the Queen. For some reason the King was angry at her and treated her from then on as if she had disappeared into thin air. When the Buddha arrived at the palace the next day for his meal, he asked about the Queen, who had always been present at other times. Pasenadi scowled and said: "What about her? She has gone mad because of her fame." The Buddha replied that he, himself, had raised her up to that position quite unexpectedly and should become reconciled with her. Somewhat reluctantly the King had her called. Thereupon the Buddha praised the blessing of amity and the anger was forgotten, as if it had never happened. (J 306) But later on a new tension arose between the couple. Again the King would not look at the Queen and pretended she did not exist. When the Buddha became aware of this, he asked about her. Pasenadi said that her good fortune had gone to her head. Immediately the Awakened One told an incident from a former life: Both were then heavenly beings, a deva couple, who loved each other dearly. One night they were separated from each other because of the flooding of a stream. They both regretted this irretrievable night, which could never be replaced during their life-span of a thousand years. And during the rest of their lives they never let go of each other's company and always remembered to use this separation as a warning so that their happiness would endure during that whole existence. The King was moved by this story, and became reconciled to the Queen. Mallika then spoke this verse to the Buddha: With joy I heard your varied words, Which spoken were for my well-being; With your talk you took away my sorrow Verily, you are the joy-bringer amongst the ascetics May you live long! - J504 A third time the Buddha told of an occurrence during one of the former lives of the royal couple. At that time Pasenadi was a crown-prince and Mallika his wife. When the crown-prince became afflicted with leprosy and could not become King because of that, he resolved to withdraw into the forest by himself, so as not to become a burden to anyone. But his wife did not desert him, and looked after him with touching attention. She resisted the temptation to lead a care-free life in pomp and splendor and remained faithful to her ugly and ill-smelling husband. Through the power of her virtue she was able to effect his recovery. When he ascended to the throne and she became his Queen, he promptly forgot her and enjoyed himself with various dancing girls. It is almost as difficult to find a grateful person, the Buddha said, as it is difficult to find a Holy One. (A III, 122) Only when the King was reminded of the good deeds of his Queen, did he change his ways, asked her forgiveness and lived together with her in harmony and virtue. (J 519) Queen Mallika committed only one deed in this life which had evil results and which led her to the worst rebirth. Immediately after her death, she was reborn in hell, though this lasted only a few days. When she died, the King was just listening to a Dhamma exhortation by the Buddha. When the news reached him there, he was deeply shaken and even the Buddha's reminder that there was nothing in the world that could escape old age, disease, death, decay and destruction could not immediately assuage his grief. (A V,49) His attachment - "from love comes sorrow" - was so strong, that he went to the Buddha every day to find out about the future destiny of his wife. If he had to get along without her on earth, at least he wanted to know about her rebirth. But for seven days the Buddha distracted him from his question through fascinating and moving Dhamma discourses, so that he only remembered his question when he arrived home again. Only on the seventh day would the Buddha answer his question and said that Mallika had been reborn in the "Heaven of the Blissful Devas." He did not mention the seven days she had spent in hell, so as not to add to the King's sorrow. Even though it was a very short-termed sojourn in the lower realms, one can see that Mallika had not yet attained stream-entry [*] during her life on earth, since it is one of the signs of a stream-enterer that there is no rebirth below the human state. However, this experience of hellish suffering together with her knowledge of Dhamma, could have quickened Mallika's last ripening for the attainment of stream-entry.

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