Dorje Druk

4. Mulaklesha

After a few minutes of anxious waiting Panzer made his way over to the coffee shop where the two monks were waiting for him. Rangwang motioned for him to sit, which he did albeit with some fear. "Can you tell me what's going on here. Since when am I Venerable or whatever you just called me". He fumbled with the pronunciation of thunder dragon until Gedhun corrected him "Dorje Druk. In English it means dragon of thunder". "Yea that. Explain yourselves and uh why me? Look I'm a devout Christian and I don't believe in the Buddha or this dragon stuff to begin with". Rangwang cleared his throat and spoke. 

"Well for starters my name is Rangwang and he is Gedhun. We are monks from Dharmasala in India. We are Buddhist monks like the Dalai Lama only we are of a lower status. We are here because you are a very important dragon. Possibly so important for the fate of the world and future enlightenment". Panzer interrupted him "Enlightenment? Um only God can do that". Gedhun sighed and Rangwang told him some of the dream that happened, sparing no details. Panzer listened and when Rangwang was done speaking he calmly said "Look, you could just be having nightmares. I mean yes those are very detailed and are a weird coincidence but I mean if your thunder dragon is so important you would think he would be of royalty? I'm just a mechanic in the ass end of Indiana. No offense you two but you have the wrong dragon". He started getting up but Rangwang quickly replied "Have you noticed anything with your dreams? Any patterns or themes?". Panzer sat back down. "Well I mean I've been having the same dream every night for the past week but I mean it could just be a fluke. Come on you don't actually believe I'm blessed by a god I don't even believe in?". They stared at him silently. "Right. Well the dream just involves a wolf that well happens to look like you Rangwang. Red robe with brown fur and bright blue eyes. It's a perfect resemblance actually now that I think about it but I mean come on. It's just a coincidence". He sounded like he was holding back information and the two monks could easily tell he was not telling the whole truth.

Panzer sighed "Ok there's more to it than just you. I saw well demons and fire. Just destruction until lightning struck the demons and the fire then they just vanished. Probably just my imagination". The blast of thunder made Panzer jump a little but the monks sat calmly. "Tell me. What do you think about the weather and the one dream where we arrived. The sudden shift in weather and you being tempted by Mara. Mara is like your Satan and well he owns you". Panzer looked shocked "How does Satan own me? I'm a devout Christian. I go to church every Sunday, I'm active in church activities and even give money to the poor. That makes no sense at all!". He was practically shouting now. Rangwag calmly explained "He owns you because you have deluded thinking. There's a teaching called Mulakleshe or root delusions. These delusions are: attachment, anger, pride, ignorance, afflicted doubt and afflicted view. Because we are reborn endlessly.." Panzer interrupted him "I don;t believe in reincarnation. It's Heaven or Hell when you die." Gehun looked frustrated "Rangwang, he clearly is not the Dorje Druk. He has deluded thinking already with his outlandish beliefs". Rangwang put up his paw "Peace. Remember how many important figures were once imperfect and they became perfect through simple good works? Panzer here may have a different Dharma but he certainly seems to be righteous. Look Panzer...the point is we need you to help us here a little. If you help us then we won't bother you ever again. I promise". Panzer sighed "Look, normally I would have taken off running now but I just feel the need to help you with whatever your problem is. Just as long as it isn't outlandish. I just have one question. Are we going out of town?". "Yes, we may be gone for a week or two weeks at the longest. Yes you may want to pack some things but we have you handled with clothes". Panzer nodded "Right. Just let me pack some things and I will meet you back here in an hour". He got up and left the monks

An hour later Panzer came back with a duffel bag, backpack and suitcase ."Ok so where are we going?" he asked. "Well we are staying in Indianapolis at the Buddhist monastery there. Tomorrow we will fly to India and get you settled in at the monastery". Panzer sighed and rolled his eyes "Really guys? India? I thought you two were Tibetans". Gedhun replied "We are but nearly all the temples in Tibet were destroyed by the Chinese". Panzer shrugged and threw his bags in the car. An hour later they arrived in Indianapolis and were placed in the guest quarters. Panzer and Rangwang shared a room while Gedhun roomed with another monk. As the two were getting ready for bed Panzer started asking questions.

"So your a monk? That must be interesting. What were you before that?". Rangwang replied "I was always a monk. My parents died when I was a baby and my uncle was a monk so he took me in. I took my vows at seven and since then I've always been a monk". Panzer replied "Oh wow. I'm sorry you lost your parents". "It's quite alright. We must all die at some point and well they died when I happened to be young". "I guess so. So what are we doing in India?" Panzer asked. "Well for one getting you in a room which will probably be with me. Afterwards probably meet with the abbot who will then tell you what you need to do. There is a chance you may take temporary vows as an apprentice" Rangwang replied. "But I'm not a Buddhist. I'm a Lutheran Christian. I believe in Jesus and God, not a fat laughing monk". Ranwang could not help but laugh at Panzer "Ok first, Buddha was not fat. You mean Bodhai who was a Chinese monk. Second, there are Buddhists that believe in a god of some sorts though many are not Christians. I am a Buddhist and I know some shamanism. That's very common. Third, no one said you had to renounce your faith at all". Panzer replied "I guess..Look it's late and it's a day long flight from here to India so I guess goodnight". Rangwang nodded and laid his head on the pillow. Panzer was already snoring loudly.