Re: The Great Milarepa

It is always a joy to hear or think about Milarepa, whose given name Thopaga means Good News, and Joyful to hear.

Unfortunately, the Milarepa film released only scratches the surface. The second part of Milarepa's Story,
which was to be part two of the movie) and which contains all of his transformation, as well as the liberation of those he murdered...does not appear to be coming out in the foreseeable future. So what we are left with is mere beginnings.

It is a difficult story/teaching for a lot of people to make a real connection with; Marpa's methods are not for the common person, but the rarest few. Milarepa was cautioned specifically that in the future, such harsh methods would not work with his students, or future disciples.(such as are alive now) That they did in his time, is a great testament to Marpa's skill. And of course, to Milarepa's essentially pure heart. He never, of himself bore enmity toward those who made life so unbearable for his mother, his sister and himself, after the death of his father. It was his loyalty, and love for his mother that spurred him to learn to cast spells...It is important to see the events from all points of view.

Even Dagmema,(she "without-ego")Marpa's wife, and a great realizer in her own right, could not bear to witness the sufferings Milarepa endured near the the end. When Marpa finally welcomed and admitted Milarepa, he revealed, "had this son of mine completed nine great ordeals (interrupted, when Dagmema forged the letter and sent the ruby rosary to Lama Ngokpa), his complete enlightenment without future rebirth, would have been achieved without leaving any bodily residue. Since, due to Dagmema's weakness that did not take place, there will remain a faint stain of defilement with him. However, his great sins have been erased by his eight great afflictions of mind and by his numerous small agonies.

Now I will receive you and give you my teaching, which is as dear to me as my own heart. I will help you with provisions and let you meditate and be happy."

Had anyone but Marpa visited these many trials on Milarepa, one would think him heartless and cruel. When I first heard about Milarepa, in my early twenties, there was not the means we have now to find all kinds of information online.
Not the communities... I misunderstood everything, and felt a grudge against Marpa! for making Milarepa suffer so. At the same time, I wondered why Milarepa would put up with it!

I knew so little. :-)
*I quoted from The Life of Milarepa"
translated by Lobsang P. Lalungpa (who lives near where Milarepa lived)*

best, Chiron Tweet