The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa

Milarepa (1040-1123) is perhaps the best-known and most beloved religious figure in Tibetan Buddhism, celebrated throughout the Tibetan Buddhist world with the recitation of his teaching songs by monastics and laypeople alike. The archetype of the ordinary being who overcomes nearly insurmountable obstacles on the spiritual path through the sheer force of effort, faith, and perseverance, he is remembered for having achieved enlightenment "in a single lifetime." This volume, like its well-known companion volume The Life of Milarepa, was originally intended to bring the great yogin's teachings to the ordinary people of the day. Delivered in an earthy and colloquial idiom, Milarepa's teaching songs are woven into an engaging narrative that begins after he attains mastery over his own mind. The book recounts his most famous encounters with his students, including Gampopa, Rechungpa, and his sister Peta, and also includes the stories of his victories over the supernatural forces linked to the remote Himalayan mountains and caves where he meditated. Milarepa's favored mode of teaching was in spontaneous verse, a colorful and memorable way to convey the import of the Buddhist teachings. Christopher Stagg's careful translation, prepared under the guidance of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, brilliantly brings to life the Tibetan author's original intention. This classic of world literature will be welcomed for its narrative alone but also will find an appreciative audience in those who seek inspiration for the spiritual path.