Dhelipa
དྷི་ལི་པ།; Dhilipa; Dhilipa; The Epicurean Merchant;
Mahasiddha Dhelipa… Telopa / Dhilipa (mar nag ‘tshong mkhan): “The Seller of Black Butter”/”The Epicure”
Dhilipa was a wealthy merchant, whose business was pressing oil from sesame seeds. His business was so lucrative that soon, he was as wealthy as Kubera, the god of wealth. He indulged himself in the joys of good living, but he was most attached to delicious food, and so, soon he was eating like the king himself.
One day, the pandita Bhahana arrived at Dhilipa’s house at suppertime and was invited to share a meal. After the meal, the pandita spoke on the pain and frustration of the Wheel of Existence and the means of escaping it. The merchant was so impressed that he begged Bhahana to remain and become priest to his entire household. The pandita agreed.
On one occasion, while the merchant was pressing oil from the sesame seed, the guru remarked that while what the merchant is doing brings great wealth, it will not bring liberation. Dhilipa was struck by the remark, stopped the press, wiped his hands, and sat down at the feet of his guru, asking how he can acquire liberation. The pandita gave him initiation and instructed him in the method of deconditioning the mind from the constructs of the conventional world.
After 9 years of meditation, Dhilipa succeeded in uniting creative and fulfillment meditation. When he attained his goal, a golden radiance began to pour from his being until it illuminated the sky. People flocked to Dhilipa for instruction, and to each he gave an instruction that exactly filled the person’s nature and abilities. After many years of selfless service, he ascended into the Paradise of the Dakinis with a vast retinue.
