Songs of Milarepa

Milarepa

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780486428147
• eBook ISBN: 9780486153841
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy
• Index: Literature

A Buddhist holy man whose songs have been sung and studied since the twelfth century, Milarepa exchanged a life of sin and maliciousness for one of contemplation and love, eventually reaching—according to his disciples—the ultimate state of enlightenment. His thousands of extemporaneously composed songs communicate complex ideas in a simple, lucid style. This volume features the religious leader's best and most highly esteemed songs of love and compassion. Sure to inspire and provide reading pleasure to a wide audience.
Considered by many of his followers to be another St. Francis, Milarepa exchanged a life of sin and maliciousness for one of contemplation and love, eventually reaching a state of enlightenment. His thousands of extemporaneously composed songs have been widely sung and studied since they were first recorded and disseminated centuries ago by his disciples. This volume features the best and most highly esteemed of the religious leader's songs of love and compassion that include lessons on the negative aspects of ambition and the importance of finding inner peace. In addition, he stresses the briefness of life: ". . . so apply yourself to meditation. Avoid doing evil, and acquire merit, to the best of your ability, even at the cost of life itself. In short: Act so that you have no cause to be ashamed of yourselves and hold fast to this rule."

Allegory

28

O ye blessed hearers every one,
in the chalice of this body composite
is the body of the innate god.
If ye can raise the lamp of the clear light
truly ye will lighten the body of truth within and without.

In the eyrie of distinctive thought
is the eaglet of enlightenment.
If ye can don the wings of knowledge and art
truly ye will fly in the heaven of omniscience.

In the princely snow mountain of the body
is the lion-cub of discrimination.
If ye can meditate impartially upon the objects of mind and sense
truly ye will overcome this world and beyond.

In the ocean of the round of ignorance
is the caravel of the six kinds of being.¹
If ye can board the ferry-boat of the triple body⁵
truly ye will be saved from the waves of suffering.

In this frame where the baleful imaginings of sense hold sway
is the thief who robs us of salvation.
If ye can catch him with the noose of cunning
truly ye will be delivered from fear.

In the body of truth like unto the sky
is the jewel fulfilling all desire and need.
If ye can meditate undistractedly
truly as fruit thereof ye will obtain the triple body.

In the keep of this world’s castle
is shackled all mankind.
If ye can free yourselves by the teacher’s skill
truly ye will no more be prisoners.

In the teacher like unto a pearl of great price
is a holy spring of counsel.
If ye can drink of this with steadfast faith
truly ye will quench the sharpness of your thirst.

29

Father, conqueror of the devilish legions,
I make obeisance to thee, Marpa the translator.

Though I myself vaunt not my ancestry,
I am the son of the roaring white lion.
In my mother’s womb I perfected the three powers of the mind;³
in the years of my childhood I dwelt in the lair;
in the years of my youth I guarded its entrance;
in the years of my manhood I walked the unpeopled snows.
Though the snowstorms whirl I know not fear;
though the precipices yawn I tremble not.

Though I myself vaunt not my ancestry,
I am the son of the eagle, king of birds.
In the egg my wing feathers grew;
in the years of my childhood I dwelt in the eyrie;
in the years of my youth I guarded its entrance;
in the years of my manhood I cleft the vault of heaven.
Though the sky be immense I know not fear;
though the valleys of the earth be narrow I tremble not.

Though I myself vaunt not my ancestry,
I am the son of the great shimmering fish.
In my mother’s belly I rolled my golden eye;
in the years of my childhood I dwelt with the fry;
in the years of my youth I led the school;
in the years of my manhood I circled the margins of the lake.
Though the waves rage fiercely I know not fear;
though the nets and the hooks be many I tremble not.

Though I myself vaunt not my ancestry,
I am the son of the Kargyudpa teacher;
in my mother’s womb faith arose within me;
in the years of my childhood I turned to the doctrine;
in the years of my youth I was a disciple;
in the years of my manhood I dwelt in the mountains contemplative.
Though the demons malignantly threaten I know not fear;
though the spirits multiply their magical manifestations I tremble not.

The lion rampant in the snow feels not cold in the paws;
if the lion in the snow felt cold in his paws
there would be little gain in perfecting the three powers.

The eagle flying through the heavens cannot fall ;
if the great eagle flying through the heavens could fall
there would be little gain in growing wings.

The fish swimming in the water cannot drown;
if the fish in the water could drown
there would be little gain in being born in the water.

The rock of iron is not cleft by stone;
if the rock of iron were cleft by stone
there would be little gain in melting it down.

I, Milarepa, fear not demons;
if Milarepa feared demons
there would be little gain in knowing reality.

30

Obeisance to gracious Marpa.

Thou who seekest an opportunity to mock me
and showest thyself in a horrid ghostly form,
thou rock-sprite of the rock of Lingwa,
art thou not a demon of evil deeds?
I know not how to make my song agreeable
but do thou yet hearken to the words of truth.

On high in the heaven’s azure vault
are the sun and moon, auspicious pair.
From that palace of the incomparable gods
they send forth their rays for the welfare of mankind.
When they circle the four continents in their daily task
may the demon of eclipse not rise against them as an enemy.

Upon the lofty crystal peak of the snow mountain in the east
is the auspicio...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• The Quest of Milarepa
• The Sage
• Renunciation
• Occasional Wisdom
• Allegory
• The Function of Number
• The Seed of Enlightenment
• Old Age and Death
• Glossary