The folk story my partner and I focused on for this project is a tale from rural Bhutan. It's from a book titled "Tales from rural Bhutan" by Kinley Wangmo, a Bhutanese author.
Prayers for wealth
There once lived a very rich couple in a certain village. They were firm believers of the Buddha’s word and practiced the teachings of the dharma * with the utmost devotion everyday. They were married for a long time and were old but unfortunately they did not have any children which made them very sad.
Just when they had lost all hope of ever having a baby, the old woman gave birth to a baby girl more beautiful than anything else in the world. The baby grew up miraculously fast, unlike any other baby they had ever seen. Her growth in a day equaled the growth of other children in an entire month. In about a month, she grew as much as other children did in a year.
In this way, the old man said to his wife, “We have grown old yet we cannot die in peace until we have married off our daughter to a good man.”
To this, the old lady replied that the green Chenresig (Avalokiteshwarya, god of compassion), had always taken care of them. Chenresig would also help them find a good husband for their daughter. Maybe the image of the Chenresig itself would speak; maybe they would see some sign in a dream.
They decided to consult the image of Chenresig about the matter on a sacred, full moon night.
But a beggar who had come to their door looking for food accidentally heard them and he sensed their urgency. An evil plan began to take form in his mind. Secretly entering their house, he made a hollow behind the image of Chenresig and hid there a day before the full moon. The following night, the old man and his wife came to the image and said: “Lord, you have always come to our aid whenever we needed your guidance. We call on you again to help us choose a good husband for our daughter. Where ever he is, please bring him to us.”
Speaking from within the statue, the beggar said: “Your daughter’s chosen husband will be the first man who comes to your doorstep tomorrow morning.” The couple was filled with joy.
Early next morning the beggar knocked at their door and the old man and his wife welcomed him warmly into their home and took the special mat out for him to sit on. Then they served him tea, wine and the best food in the house. Finally, they asked him to marry their daughter. The beggar, of course agreed.
After some days the newly wed couple decided to go and visit the beggar’s parents. The bride wore her best clothes and all her finery. Then they set off with provisions for the journey and some gifts for his parents.
But when they neared the village, the beggar made his wife hide in one of the wooden boxes they were carrying. He told her to wait in there while he went ahead to find out if his parents were home or not. Then he camouflaged the box with some sand and went into the village.
In the village he announced to his neighbours that he was going to perform special prayers that would make him a wealthy man. No one should come to the house and disturb him, he said. Even his doors and windows would have to remain closed for the duration of the ceremony. He informed the people of his village that they might also hear strange sounds and cries from within the house. But once again he repeated, no one should try to interrupt his special prayers.
Meanwhile the king and his attendants had arrived for a hunt at the spot where the beggar had hidden his wife in a wooden box. One of the king’s arrows found its way to the concealed box.
The king dispatched his attendants to bring back the royal arrow, and when they saw that it had lodged itself on a wooden box; they opened the lid and saw the beautiful girl. When the king saw her he was smitten.
He asked her to be his queen and she agreed on the condition that the king would find a tiger and put it in the same box from which she had emerged. This the king did.
The beggar came back to retrieve the box and took it to the village. Once more, he reminded his neighbours that no one should be permitted near the house while he prayed for wealth. Then he hauled the box into the house and closed all the windows and doors, thinking the girl would try to escape. Then, with a sword in one hand he opened the box, his intention being to kill the girl and inherit her parents’ fabulous wealth. But as soon as he opened the box, the tiger pounced on him and began tearing him from limb to limb. He cried out for help, but no one came to his rescue because of his own specific instructions. In fact when they heard his cries, his neighbours observed that indeed the prayers for wealth sounded like none other than they had heard before.
Suddenly, all was quiet. When the people could not contain their curiosity any longer they peeped through the door and windows. To their utter surprise they saw much blood smeared all over the place and a tiger pacing wildly in the room.
Meanwhile the girl married the king. Her old parents came to live with her in the palace and she lived a very happy, prosperous life.
Prayers for wealth
There once lived a very rich couple in a certain village. They were firm believers of the Buddha’s word and practiced the teachings of the dharma * with the utmost devotion everyday. They were married for a long time and were old but unfortunately they did not have any children which made them very sad.
Just when they had lost all hope of ever having a baby, the old woman gave birth to a baby girl more beautiful than anything else in the world. The baby grew up miraculously fast, unlike any other baby they had ever seen. Her growth in a day equaled the growth of other children in an entire month. In about a month, she grew as much as other children did in a year.
In this way, the old man said to his wife, “We have grown old yet we cannot die in peace until we have married off our daughter to a good man.”
To this, the old lady replied that the green Chenresig (Avalokiteshwarya, god of compassion), had always taken care of them. Chenresig would also help them find a good husband for their daughter. Maybe the image of the Chenresig itself would speak; maybe they would see some sign in a dream.
They decided to consult the image of Chenresig about the matter on a sacred, full moon night.
But a beggar who had come to their door looking for food accidentally heard them and he sensed their urgency. An evil plan began to take form in his mind. Secretly entering their house, he made a hollow behind the image of Chenresig and hid there a day before the full moon. The following night, the old man and his wife came to the image and said: “Lord, you have always come to our aid whenever we needed your guidance. We call on you again to help us choose a good husband for our daughter. Where ever he is, please bring him to us.”
Speaking from within the statue, the beggar said: “Your daughter’s chosen husband will be the first man who comes to your doorstep tomorrow morning.” The couple was filled with joy.
Early next morning the beggar knocked at their door and the old man and his wife welcomed him warmly into their home and took the special mat out for him to sit on. Then they served him tea, wine and the best food in the house. Finally, they asked him to marry their daughter. The beggar, of course agreed.
After some days the newly wed couple decided to go and visit the beggar’s parents. The bride wore her best clothes and all her finery. Then they set off with provisions for the journey and some gifts for his parents.
But when they neared the village, the beggar made his wife hide in one of the wooden boxes they were carrying. He told her to wait in there while he went ahead to find out if his parents were home or not. Then he camouflaged the box with some sand and went into the village.
In the village he announced to his neighbours that he was going to perform special prayers that would make him a wealthy man. No one should come to the house and disturb him, he said. Even his doors and windows would have to remain closed for the duration of the ceremony. He informed the people of his village that they might also hear strange sounds and cries from within the house. But once again he repeated, no one should try to interrupt his special prayers.
Meanwhile the king and his attendants had arrived for a hunt at the spot where the beggar had hidden his wife in a wooden box. One of the king’s arrows found its way to the concealed box.
The king dispatched his attendants to bring back the royal arrow, and when they saw that it had lodged itself on a wooden box; they opened the lid and saw the beautiful girl. When the king saw her he was smitten.
He asked her to be his queen and she agreed on the condition that the king would find a tiger and put it in the same box from which she had emerged. This the king did.
The beggar came back to retrieve the box and took it to the village. Once more, he reminded his neighbours that no one should be permitted near the house while he prayed for wealth. Then he hauled the box into the house and closed all the windows and doors, thinking the girl would try to escape. Then, with a sword in one hand he opened the box, his intention being to kill the girl and inherit her parents’ fabulous wealth. But as soon as he opened the box, the tiger pounced on him and began tearing him from limb to limb. He cried out for help, but no one came to his rescue because of his own specific instructions. In fact when they heard his cries, his neighbours observed that indeed the prayers for wealth sounded like none other than they had heard before.
Suddenly, all was quiet. When the people could not contain their curiosity any longer they peeped through the door and windows. To their utter surprise they saw much blood smeared all over the place and a tiger pacing wildly in the room.
Meanwhile the girl married the king. Her old parents came to live with her in the palace and she lived a very happy, prosperous life.
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