The 8th Bogd Khan
The vision of the living Buddha from 17 May, 1921
I prayed and saw what is hidden from the eyes of the people. A wide plain surrounded by mountains lay before me. An old Lama was carrying a basket with heavy stones. He was barely moving forward. A rider appeared from the north wearing white garments and seated upon a white horse. He rode up to the Lama and said to him:
“Give me your basket. I will help you carry it to the Khüree.”
The Lama gave him his heavy load. But the rider couldn’t lift it up to his saddle, so the Lama had to take the basket back on his shoulders and, bent beneath its heavy weight, continue on his march. Then a second rider appeared from the north. He was wearing black garments and rode a black horse. He too approached the Lama and said:
“How stupid? Why are you carrying these stones while the ground is covered with them?”
With these words he knocked the Lama over with his horse’s chest and all the stones fell to the ground. When the stones touched the earth they turned into diamonds. All three fell to the ground to pick them up again. But none of them could dig them out of the earth. The old Lama called out in desperation:
“Oh Gods! I have carried this heavy load my whole life, and now that only a small part of my journey remains, I have lost them. Help me, great, benevolent Gods!”
Suddenly, a trembling old man appeared. Without any difficulty, he returned all the diamonds to the basket, brushed the dust off, lifted the load onto his shoulders and started on his way, telling the Lama:
“Rest a little. I have just carried my load to its destination and am happy to be able to help you carry yours!”
The two of them continued the march and soon disoppeared from view. Meanwhile, the riders began fighting one another. They crossed swords for a whole day and a whole night. When the sun rose above the horizon, neither of them, alive nor dead, remained. They had left no trace whatsoever.
This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great, wise Buddha, who was surrounded by good and evil spirits! Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kampos, Marambas and holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!
(Quotation “Beasts, Men and Gods” by Ferdinand Ossendowski, 1924, page 337f., see also Literature)