TAS Quote of the Day - June 26, 2020 (Milarepa)
Jetsun Milarepa (generally known simply as Milarepa (1052-1135) is among the most beloved figures in Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in the western part of Tibet to a wealthy family. After his father died, the family fell on hard times. The young Milarepa sought revenge against his uncle and other family members for stripping his mother and sister of their property.
Seeking redemption for his heinous acts, Milarepa sought out Buddhist masters and eventually became a disciple of the esteemed teacher Marpa. The documentation of their long teacher-student relationship became a model for that relationship in Tibetan Buddhism.
There’s a fantastic story about Marpa’s condition for teaching Milarepa, considering his past. Marpa required him to build three multistory towers and then destroy them. Then he had him build a fourth that still stands today. The purpose of the rather extreme measure was to burn off the negative karma he had acquired from his previous deeds.
After many years of study with his master, Milarepa sought the refuge of rural mountains. Spending his time in deep contemplation and spreading the teaching to others he encountered.
What we know of his life comes mostly from autobiographical writings he did throughout his life. Many were written as poetry. His writings make him among the most quote-worthy figures in pre-modern Buddhism.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below about this quote.
When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.
~Milarepa
