Professor Charles Xavier

Charles Xavier’s life reads like a bad soap opera. Many torrid romances with various women. Betrayal by friends at every turn. Aliens and demons coming to hunt him down. Miraculous rescues at the last minute. Throughout it all, Charles makes good decisions, bad decisions, and follows a seemingly haphazard path. When he formed the X-Men,…

George Washington

George Washington served in the militia, then worked as a surveyor and justice of the peace. In choosing to fight for a new nation, he did so without bad-mouthing the King. As a Revolutionary General, then as President, he listened to opposing counselors then looked for the best way forward based on their varied positions…

Tilopa

Tilopa was at the top of his game. He was in charge of spiritual teaching at court, had piles of money and was loved by everyone. Despite all of this he felt empty and unfulfilled. He knew the scriptures by heart, performed the rituals and practices religiously, and was widely seen as a powerful teacher.…

Shiva

Lord Shiva is in charge of destruction, a powerful responsibility which may confuse those who don’t know much about him. He is an important example of celibacy, but has many wives and children. He is in charge of annihilation, but believes there is no death and no one to be killed. He is responsible for…

Nandni Mata (Durga)

Mahisa’s mother asked for a gift from Brahma, the King of Heaven. Her first request was that the child be made immortal, but Brahma refused. Then she asked that her child be made vulnerable to women alone and this wish was granted. Mahisa grew up sure that he could never be killed because women could…

Miyamoto Musashi

The Lone Samurai, by William Scott Wilson, relates the following story: On the way to a famous match, Miyamoto Musashi was passing a shrine dedicated to the god of war. He stopped a moment, intending to pray to the god for victory, but when walking to the altar he realized something important. Musashi had never…