Milarepa facts for kids
Jetsun Milarepa (Tibetan: རྗེ་བཙུན་མི་ལ་རས་པ, Wylie: rje btsun mi la ras pa, 1028/40–1111/23) was a very famous Tibetan spiritual teacher and poet. When he was young, he was known for causing harm to many people. Later, he changed his life completely and became a deeply devoted Buddhist.
Milarepa is seen as one of Tibet's most important yogis and poets. His teachings are still followed by many schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a key figure in the history of the Kagyu school. He is also famous for climbing Mount Kailash.
Contents
The Story of Milarepa's Life
Milarepa's life story is very well-known in Tibetan culture. It has been told many times. The most famous book about his life is The Life of Milarepa. It was written by Tsangnyön Heruka in the 1400s. This book is still very popular today. Most of the stories we hear about Milarepa come from this book. People in Tibet respect Milarepa greatly. They see him as a perfect example of someone dedicated to their spiritual path. His story also helped establish the history of the Kagyu school of Buddhism.
Milarepa's Early Years
When Milarepa was born in western Tibet, his family was rich. But after his father passed away, his aunt and uncle took all their money. Milarepa's mother asked him to learn sorcery to get revenge. He used these magical powers to cause harm to many people.
His Spiritual Journey and Wisdom
Later, Milarepa felt very sad about the bad things he had done. He decided to change his life and became a student of Marpa the Translator. Before Marpa would teach him, he made Milarepa go through many difficult tests. For example, Milarepa had to build and then tear down three towers.
Finally, Marpa asked him to build one last tall tower. This tower still stands today. Marpa eventually accepted Milarepa as his student. He explained that the hard tasks were meant to help Milarepa clear away the bad karma from his past actions. Marpa then taught Milarepa special spiritual practices. These included tummo (which means "yogic heat") and mahamudra (the "great seal").
Marpa told Milarepa to meditate alone in caves and mountain places. After many years of practice, Milarepa gained a very deep understanding of the true nature of reality. He lived as a wise and enlightened yogi. He even forgave his aunt, who had caused his family so much trouble. Milarepa's story shows that even someone who made big mistakes can transform and find spiritual freedom.
Milarepa as a Tibetan Teacher
Milarepa's life story is often told in a way that makes him seem like a "Tibetan Buddha." This means he found enlightenment in Tibet without needing to go to India. His story shows a fast way to reach spiritual freedom. It teaches that deep understanding can be gained in just one lifetime.
Milarepa practiced special meditation methods to achieve a "spontaneous understanding of the deepest nature of the mind." He taught about important Buddhist ideas. These include that nothing lasts forever and that suffering is part of life. But his own life also proves that even someone who caused harm can become a wise and peaceful teacher. His story shows that the everyday world and the spiritual world are connected.
Milarepa's Students
Gampopa was Milarepa’s most famous student. Four of Gampopa’s students later started the four main branches of the Kagyu lineage. These are Barom Kagyu, Karma Kagyu, Phagdru Kagyu, and Tshalpa Kagyu.
Another important student of Milarepa was the yogi Rechungpa. He brought many important teachings into the Karma Kagyu lineage. Rechungpa and Gampopa were both teachers of the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa.
The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa
Milarepa is famous for his spiritual poems and songs. They are known as The Hundred Thousand Songs. These songs were added to earlier stories about his life. This made the amount of information about him much larger. These songs have been translated into English and published in books. They share many of the spiritual lessons from Milarepa's life story.
Historical Background
Milarepa lived during a time when Buddhism was being brought back to Tibet. This period is called the "second spread of Buddhism" (from the 900s to the 1100s).
Three very important people during this time were Rinchen Zangpo, who translated many Buddhist texts. Another was Atiśa, whose student founded the Kadam school. The third was Marpa the Translator, who was Milarepa's teacher. Marpa brought many important tantric teachings from India to Tibet. Marpa's connection to the Indian teacher Naropa helped establish the Kagyu school. This linked the Kagyu teachings all the way back to the Buddha himself.
Gallery
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Bhutanese painted thanka of Milarepa, late 19th-early 20th century.
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Milarepa, Tempera on cotton, 2008.
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Tibetan or Nepalese painted thanka of Milarepa, 19th century.
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See also
In Spanish: Milarepa para niños
- Detachment (philosophy)
- Éliane Radigue
- Kaihōgyō
- Machig Labdrön
- Milarepa's Cave
- Shugendō
