I quit writing on this blog because in April 2014, I found an editor. In July 2014 a book based on this blog called Lamas en Lima, was published and presented at the Lima International Book Fair. Months later I was supposed to travel to the city of Piura, in the North of Peru, to present the book in the Piura Book fair.
Cosme Saavedra is a Peruvian writer. He lives in Sullana, twenty minutes away from Piura. One night he had a dream. The world was at war. There were bombs and shelling. Among all this distress and violence, a small girl stood in front of him. She said “Help me.” He was moved by her dark eyes and asked her name. ”My name is Tara”, she said. He had never heard her name nor did he know anything about Buddhism.
A couple of weeks later, he received a phone call. It was a Lima editor who wanted him to speak on the presentation of a book. This editor had published a novel of Cosme in July. He was flattered and agreed to do it. As a local writer he thrived in book fairs.
He received a copy of the book by e mail and started reading it. It was about some Tibetan priests called Lamas and a Danish disciple who had come to Lima. He looked the name TARA up and it turned out she was a Buddhist Bodhisattva. He even learned she had a mantra OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA.
Cosme had only received half the book by mail. As I arrived in Piura I called him and we agreed to meet in a café called El Chalán. It turned out that we had met in Lima at the Book fair. Both our books had been presented together. That was a happy coincidence! As we had coffee I gave him a copy of my book so he could finish reading it.
The next day we had a nice presentation of my book in Piura’s main square. He did not tell me anything about his dream. He really liked my book. We parted friends.
I did not see him for two years. I recently returned to Piura to present another book of short stories and a book for children. He had agreed to present my book. We met, and in Piura’s main square he told me about his dream.
It made me wonder. We do not think about the consequences of our actions, but Bodhisattvas like TARA are always watching over us. The world today is a dangerous place, but with Buddha’s teachings it could become a better place.
Cosme Saavedra is a Peruvian writer. He lives in Sullana, twenty minutes away from Piura. One night he had a dream. The world was at war. There were bombs and shelling. Among all this distress and violence, a small girl stood in front of him. She said “Help me.” He was moved by her dark eyes and asked her name. ”My name is Tara”, she said. He had never heard her name nor did he know anything about Buddhism.
A couple of weeks later, he received a phone call. It was a Lima editor who wanted him to speak on the presentation of a book. This editor had published a novel of Cosme in July. He was flattered and agreed to do it. As a local writer he thrived in book fairs.
He received a copy of the book by e mail and started reading it. It was about some Tibetan priests called Lamas and a Danish disciple who had come to Lima. He looked the name TARA up and it turned out she was a Buddhist Bodhisattva. He even learned she had a mantra OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA.
Cosme had only received half the book by mail. As I arrived in Piura I called him and we agreed to meet in a café called El Chalán. It turned out that we had met in Lima at the Book fair. Both our books had been presented together. That was a happy coincidence! As we had coffee I gave him a copy of my book so he could finish reading it.
The next day we had a nice presentation of my book in Piura’s main square. He did not tell me anything about his dream. He really liked my book. We parted friends.
I did not see him for two years. I recently returned to Piura to present another book of short stories and a book for children. He had agreed to present my book. We met, and in Piura’s main square he told me about his dream.
It made me wonder. We do not think about the consequences of our actions, but Bodhisattvas like TARA are always watching over us. The world today is a dangerous place, but with Buddha’s teachings it could become a better place.
EL SUEÑO DE COSME
Dejé de escribir este blog porque en abril del 2014 conseguí un editor. En julio de 2014 se publicó un libro basado en este blog. El libro se llama “Lamas en Lima” y fue presentado en la Feria Internacional del Libro de Lima. Meses después yo debía viajar a la ciudad de Piura, al norte del Perú a presentar el libro en la feria del Libro de Piura.
Cosme Saavedra es un escritor peruano. El vive en Sullana, a veinte minutos de Piura. Una noche el tuvo un sueño. El mundo estaba en guerra. Había bombas y fuego de artillería. En medio de toda esta violencia y tribulación había una niña pequeña parada delante de él. Ella le dijo: “Ayúdame.” Sus ojos negros lo conmovieron y le preguntó su nombre. “Me llamo Tara”, contestó ella. El no había escuchado jamás ese nombre, ni sabía nada sobre Budismo.
Un par de semanas después el recibió una llamada telefónica: era un editor de Lima que deseaba que el presentara un libro. Este editor había publicado una novela de Cosme en julio. Es se sintió halagado y accedió a hacerlo. Como escritor local disfrutaba las ferias de libros.
Cosme recibió una copia del libro en archivo por correo electrónico y empezó a leerlo. Era sobre unos sacerdotes tibetanos llamados “lamas” y un discípulo danés que venía a Lima. Buscó el nombre TARA en un buscador: resultó que era una bodhisattva budista. Hasta aprendió su mantra: om tare tutare ture soha.
Cosme solo había recibido medio archivo. Cuando yo llegué a Piura lo llamé y quedamos en encontrarnos en un café llamado “El Chalán” en el centro. Resulta que nos habíamos conocido en la feria del Libro de Lima. Nuestros libros habían sido presentados juntos. Esa era una afortunada coincidencia. Mientras tomábamos café le di una copia de mi libro para que pudiera terminar de leerlo.
Al día siguiente tuvimos una bonita presentación, pero el no me dijo nada de su sueño. Le había gustado mi libro de verdad. Nos despedimos amigos.
No lo volví a ver en dos años. Regresé a Piura recientemente a presentar otro libro de relatos cortos y un libro para niños. El iba a presentar mi nuevo libro. En la Plaza de Armas de Piura me contó su sueño.
Eso me hizo meditar. Nosotros no pensamos sobre las consecuencias de nuestros actos, pero Bodhisattvas como TARA están vigilándonos siempre. El mundo hoy en día es un lugar peligroso, pero con las enseñanzas del Buda podría volverse un lugar mejor.
