But here's a really obscure Tibetan oriented one that isn't so moldy, though perhaps a bit long.
Dakinis in Tibet
The members of the Explorers' Club gathered at their meetinghouse one evening to find Sir Ferdinand Feghoot sipping abrandy while leaning gingerly against the fireplace mantel.
"Ferdinand, old boy," shouted Sir Roger, "Back so soon fromthe Peoples' Republic? Sit down and tell us all about it."
Sir Ferdinand grimaced. "I'd rather NOT sit down, Roggie oldboy. But, yes, my mission to China was a success. Not to China, rather, but to old Tibet, the roof of the world,shamelessly annexed by the Red Chinese."
"What brought you to such a cold, inhospitable place," askedSir Thomas. "Searching for ancient Buddhist Sutras? Orperhaps on the trail of the Abominable Snowman?"
"They're called Yetis, these days, Tommie," repliedFerdinand, "But, no, I was invited to help exorcize anabandoned Buddhist temple. My friend Lama Mipham was allowedto restore a long unused temple by the Chinese government. Not for worship, you understand, but as a museum to further extol the glories of the People's Republic. Lama Mipham felt that even for his people merely to have access to the art and architectural treasures stored therein would help prevent thefurther loss of their traditions. "But imagine his surprise, as he began clearing the temple,at being physically attacked!"
"By brigands?" asked Sir Rupert, "Temple robbers, pryingloose rubies as big as your fist, that were used as third-eyeornaments in enormous idols?"
"Lama Mipham is an expert martial artist," Feghootexplained. "He could deal with common criminals. No, he was attacked by supernatural defenders of the faith. Dakinis.
""Dakinis?" all the club members muttered in disbelief. "Yes. It means 'skywalker,' you know. Ghostly women, of allsizes, skin colors, some with animal heads, each armed with amystical weapon that produces very real physical damage."
"No wonder this monk fellow asked for your assistance," said Sir Edmund, "You're well known as an accomplished exorcist. Do sit down and elaborate."
Once again, Feghoot demurred. "I'll not be sitting down forquite a while, I'm afraid. But I rushed to the temple, armed with holy water, and a nasty three-sided dagger called a'purba' that can pierce ghostly flesh."
"How exciting," whispered Sir Oscar.
"No sooner did Lama Mipham and I enter the temple, than a huge, lion-headed, dark green Dakini with a head-choppingsword gave an ear-shattering shriek. Lama Mipham splashed holy water on her, and she vanished.
"Then a giantess, at least 12 feet tall, a red skinned Dakini, hurled an arm-binding noose over us, but as she drewus forward I stabbed her with the 'purba,' and she vanished.
"Next, a hugely obese dakini, blue-black with flames coming out of every pore hurled a shoulder-piercing trident at LamaMipham, but he ducked, and countered by chanting the weapon mantra, 'PHAT!' and she vanished."
"Insulted, I should guess," chuckled Sir Bernard.
"Well, to make a long story shorter," concluded Sir Ferdinand, "There were dozens of dakinis, but Lama Mipham andI vanquished every one of them, although one of diminutivesize (no bigger than my thumb) and saffron hue managed to avoid my attention and wounded me in an embarrassing part of my anatomy." Sir Harold gasped. "You mean..."
Feghoot nodded. . . .
"She was an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny,yellow, poke-a-butt Dakini."
I have a couple of Buddhist friends who will love this one! * calls them *
