From Tragedy to Enlightenment: The Profound Teachings and Fascinating Life of Milarepa

Milarepa was a renowned Tibetan Buddhist yogi and poet, and his life and teachings have had a profound impact on Tibetan Buddhism. Milarepa's main guru was Marpa Lotsawa, a famous translator and practitioner of Buddhism. Here are 15 important things to know about Milarepa and his guru Marpa:

Milarepa was born in Tibet in 1052, and his life was filled with hardship and tragedy. His mother died when he was young, and his father remarried, leading to conflict between Milarepa and his stepmother.
Milarepa turned to black magic to seek revenge on his stepmother, but later regretted his actions and turned to Buddhism for redemption.
Milarepa's guru Marpa was a great master of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and Milarepa studied with him for many years.
Marpa was a renowned translator who brought many Buddhist texts from India to Tibet and translated them into Tibetan.
Marpa was known for his strict and demanding teaching style, and he put Milarepa through many trials and tests before granting him teachings.
Milarepa underwent many years of intense meditation and austerity, living in caves and enduring extreme physical hardship.
Milarepa's main practice was the Six Yogas of Naropa, a set of advanced meditation techniques that focus on transforming the body and mind.
Milarepa became a great yogi and poet, and his songs and poems are still widely studied and recited in Tibet.
Milarepa is considered one of the greatest teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, and his teachings have had a profound impact on the Kagyu tradition.
Milarepa is known for his emphasis on meditation and the direct experience of the nature of mind.
Marpa is known for his role in transmitting the teachings of the Kagyu lineage from India to Tibet, and for his skill in translating Buddhist texts.
Marpa was a great teacher in his own right, and his teachings are still studied and practiced in Tibet today.
Marpa's lineage became known as the Marpa Kagyu, and it is one of the four major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
Marpa's teachings emphasize the importance of guru devotion and the practice of compassion.
The relationship between Milarepa and Marpa is seen as a model of the guru-disciple relationship in Tibetan Buddhism, and their teachings and example continue to inspire practitioners today.

One of the most well-known stories about the relationship between Milarepa and his guru Marpa is the story of the "Tower of Stones."

According to the story, Marpa had instructed Milarepa to build a tower of stones as part of his training. Milarepa dutifully set to work, collecting stones from the surrounding area and building the tower with great care and attention.

However, when Marpa came to inspect the tower, he was not satisfied with Milarepa's work. He told Milarepa to take down the tower and rebuild it, and this process repeated itself several times.

Each time, Milarepa would build the tower again, only to have Marpa reject it and order him to start over. Milarepa began to feel discouraged and frustrated, wondering if he would ever be able to please his guru.

Finally, on the seventh attempt, Milarepa had had enough. He lay down on the ground and wept, feeling hopeless and defeated. Marpa approached him and asked him why he was crying.

Milarepa replied, "I have tried my best to build the tower as you have instructed me, but no matter how hard I try, it is never good enough. I fear that I will never be able to satisfy you."

Marpa then revealed that the purpose of the exercise was not to build the tower, but rather to teach Milarepa the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of obstacles. He praised Milarepa for his efforts and told him that he had passed the test.

This story illustrates the deep and challenging relationship between Milarepa and his guru Marpa, and how Marpa used unconventional methods to teach his disciple important lessons about the path of spiritual practice. It also highlights the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of difficulties, a key theme in Milarepa's teachings.