The Greatness of Milarepa.
May 5, 2010 18:39:43 GMT 1
Post by Shi Da Dao on May 5, 2010 18:39:43 GMT 1
'...Milarepa cast away all eradite Buddhist studies and cumbersome Tantric rituals, and marched directly toward Buddhahood by way of simple understanding and persistent practice. As a result, his teachings were more precise, direct, and simple than those of conventional Tantrism, and well deserve being called the quinessential teachings of practical Buddhism. Though Milarepa was ridiculed by a number of jealous scholars of his time as being an ignorant hermit who knew nothing about Buddhism, history has proved that his teachings were far superior and more influential than those of any learned Buddhist scholar of his day.
Through the illustration of his life, Milarepa set for all Buddhists an example of the perfect Bodhisattva, and a model of the incorruptible life of a genuine practitioner of Buddhist Tantrism. His life is an unmistakable testimony to the unity and interdependency of all Buddhist teachings - Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana - for Buddhahood is not attainable if any of the three are lacking. He made it clear to all that poverty is not a kind of deprivation, but rather a necessary way of emancipating oneself from the tyranny of material possessions; that Tantric practice by no means implies indulgence and laxity, but hard labour, strict discipline, and steadfast perseverence; that without resolute renunciation and uncompromising discipline, as Guatama Buddha Himself stressed, all the sublime ideas and dazzling images depicted in Mahayana and Tamtric Buddhism are no better than magnificent illusions.
Milarepa was one of the very few Buddhist saints whose transmitted teachings have given birth to more enlightenedbeings than have any of the Mahayana Buddhist Schools, except Ch'an Buddhism in China. Hui Neng, the founder of Ch'an, was perhaps the only figure in Buddhist history whose influence and contributions can, in various aspects, rival those of Milarepa.
These two great sages also had many other things in common. They both laid stress on actual practice and direct Realisation, and in both instances their teachings were characterized by extreme simplicity and straightforwardness. But the teaching of Milarepa seems to be more thorough, complete, and "advanced" than that of Hui Neng because, unlike Hui Neng, who put all his emphasis on the Prajnaparamita, Milarepa accentuated all the essential teachings of Buddhism.'
The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa: By Garma CC Chamg - Page 682.)
Through the illustration of his life, Milarepa set for all Buddhists an example of the perfect Bodhisattva, and a model of the incorruptible life of a genuine practitioner of Buddhist Tantrism. His life is an unmistakable testimony to the unity and interdependency of all Buddhist teachings - Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana - for Buddhahood is not attainable if any of the three are lacking. He made it clear to all that poverty is not a kind of deprivation, but rather a necessary way of emancipating oneself from the tyranny of material possessions; that Tantric practice by no means implies indulgence and laxity, but hard labour, strict discipline, and steadfast perseverence; that without resolute renunciation and uncompromising discipline, as Guatama Buddha Himself stressed, all the sublime ideas and dazzling images depicted in Mahayana and Tamtric Buddhism are no better than magnificent illusions.
Milarepa was one of the very few Buddhist saints whose transmitted teachings have given birth to more enlightenedbeings than have any of the Mahayana Buddhist Schools, except Ch'an Buddhism in China. Hui Neng, the founder of Ch'an, was perhaps the only figure in Buddhist history whose influence and contributions can, in various aspects, rival those of Milarepa.
These two great sages also had many other things in common. They both laid stress on actual practice and direct Realisation, and in both instances their teachings were characterized by extreme simplicity and straightforwardness. But the teaching of Milarepa seems to be more thorough, complete, and "advanced" than that of Hui Neng because, unlike Hui Neng, who put all his emphasis on the Prajnaparamita, Milarepa accentuated all the essential teachings of Buddhism.'
The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa: By Garma CC Chamg - Page 682.)