Milarepa

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Milarepa was a Tibetan siddha and one of Tibet’s most famous yogis and poets. Born in western Tibet around 1028–1040, he later became renowned for turning from murder to Buddhism and for his deep, soulful songs. He was a key teacher in the Kagyu school and is remembered for climbing Mount Kailash.

Most of what we know about Milarepa comes from The Life of Milarepa by Tsangnyön Heruka, written in the 15th century. The biography and his songs helped shape Tibetan Buddhist culture. While very little is known about him as a historical person, he is venerated by all Tibetan schools as an example of true transformation.

Milarepa’s youth was troubled. He was born into a prosperous family, but after his father died, his aunt and uncle took away the family wealth. At his mother’s request, he learned sorcery to take revenge and killed many people. Feeling deep remorse, he turned toward the Buddhist path and sought guidance from Marpa the Translator.

Marpa tested Milarepa to purify his negative karma. Milarepa was made to build and demolish three towers, then construct a final multi-story tower at Lhodrag, which still stands today. After these trials, Marpa finally accepted him as a student and gave him tantric teachings, including tummo (inner heat), aural transmissions, and mahamudra. Milarepa was told to practice solitary meditation in caves and mountain retreats, and after many years he experienced a deep realization about the true nature of reality.

Milarepa eventually attained enlightenment and, in many stories, forgave his aunt for the harm she caused his family. Some accounts say he traveled to India for further guidance, but his main legacy lies in his awakening and his teachings.

His poetry, collected as The Hundred Thousand Songs, is famous for expressing his spiritual insights. Various translations of these songs have become important in the English-speaking world.

Milarepa lived during Tibet’s Buddhist revival, often called the second dissemination. Pivotal figures of that era include Rinchen Zangpo, Atiśa, and Marpa. Marpa brought tantric teachings to Tibet and linked the Kagyu lineage to Naropa, helping establish the lineage that Milarepa would illuminate.