Milarepa

Milarepa , 1040-1143, saint and poet of Tibetan Buddhism . He was the second patriarch of the Kargyupa sect, the first being Milarepa's guru Marpa (1012-97), who studied under Naropa, the Bengali master of Tantra, at Nalanda. Milarepa's autobiography recounts how in his youth he practiced black magic in order to take revenge on relatives who deprived his mother of the family inheritance. He later repented and sought Buddhist teaching. After undergoing many tests and ordeals under Marpa, he received initiation from him. He spent the rest of his life meditating in mountain caves and teaching his disciples.

Bibliography: See L. Lhalunga, The Life of Milarepa (1984).

Milarepa (1040–1123) (Tib., Milaraspa). One of the most revered and loved of Tibetan yogins, whose name literally means ‘cotton clad Mila’. Milarepa initially first studied sorcery to slay many family enemies, but later, overcome with remorse, went to train with Marpa who made him undergo many hardships in expiation for his evil deeds. After six years had elapsed, Marpa finally conferred the desired initiations and teachings upon Milarepa. From the age of 45, Milarepa meditated alone and performed great austerities for nine years, such as wearing just a single cotton garment and eating only cooked nettles. After his full realization, he travelled widely, giving teachings on mahāmudrā and other aspects of tantric Buddhism, often by means of his famous songs. Though he did not leave any personal writings, his biography and the famous collection of his songs, the Hundred Thousand Songs, survive to the present day. His main disciples were Rechungpa and Gampopa.

Milarepa ( Mi-la Ras-pa) (1043–1123). Tibetan Buddhist who remains exemplary to many Tibetans, and who was instrumental in founding Kagyü. He was recognized by Marpa as his chief disciple. He entered on a mainly isolated life, often walled up in caves for months or years at a time. Nevertheless, disciples came to be near him from many parts, and the lineage of yogins derived from him continues to the present, well-adapted to the persecutions inflicted by the Chinese on Tibetan religious practitioners. Two collections of songs are attributed to him.