Related Books: Buddhism,  Prophets, Saints, Sages, and Teachers

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Tibetans accord The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa a classic status comparable to that of the Mahabharata and the Bible, and revere its author as probably the best single exemplar of the religious life. Milarepa was an eleventh-century Buddhist poet and saint, a cotton-clad yogi who avoided the scholarly institutions of his time and wandered from village to village, teaching enlightenment and the path to Buddhahood through his spontaneously composed songs. With titles like "The Salvation of the Dead," "A Woman's Role in the Dharma," and "Challenge from a Wise Demoness," Milarepa's poems are filled with fascinating tales of miraculous encounters and colorful imagery, and present a valuable insight into the living quality of Tibetan Buddhism.

Table of Contents

	Foreword
	A Word from the Translator
1	The Tale of Red Rock Jewel Valley	1
2	The Journey to Lashi	11
3	The Song of the Snow Ranges	23
4	Challenge from a Wise Demoness	38
5	Milarepa in Ragma	58
6	Milarepa at Junpan Nanka Tsang	68
7	The Song of a Yogi's Joy	74
8	Milarepa and the Pigeon	88
9	The Gray Rock Vajra Enclosure	97
10	Milarepa's First Meeting with Rechungpa	106
11	Admonishment on the "Rare Opportunity of Practicing the Dharma"	114
12	The Shepherd's Search for Mind	119
13	The Song of Realization	131
14	A Woman's Role in the Dharma	136
15	The Song at the Inn	150
16	The Bandit-Disciple	157
17	The Meeting at Silver Spring	159
18	The Song of the Staff	190
19	The Twenty-one Exhortations	200
20	Milarepa's Meeting with Kar Chon Repa	202
21	Admonishment to Dharma Wonshu	207
22	The Miracle Contest on Di Se Snow Mountain	215
23	The Enlightenment of Rechungpa	225
24	The Conversion of a Dying Bonist	241
25	Challenge from a Clever Maiden	259
26	The Huntsman and the Deer	275
27	The Invitation from the King of Nepal	287
28	The Goddess Tserinma's Attack	296
29	The Conversion of the Goddess Tserinma	312
30	Guiding Instructions on the Bardo	333
31	Tserinma and the Mudra Practice	357
32	Admonishment to Repa Dorje Wonshu	362
33	Milarepa's Meeting with Dharma Bodhi	366
34	The Challenge from the Logicians	374
35	Rechungpa's Third Journey to India	397
36	The Realization of Megom Repa	403
37	Sahle Aui and Her Understanding	408
38	The Story of the Yak-Horn	421
39	Rechungpa's Repentence	442
40	The Song of "How to Gain Happiness and Avoid Suffering"	456
41	The Holy Gambopa - Milarepa's Foremost Disciple	463
42	The Conversion of the Scholar, Lodun	498
43	Song of the Eight Wondrous Joys	507
44	Milarepa Converts the Unbelievers Through Miracles	513
45	Various Short Tales	523
46	The Preaching on Mount Bonbo	541
47	The Miracle of the Vase Initiation	549
48	The Story of Shindormo and Lesebum	552
49	Milarepa and the Dying Sheep	563
50	The Beer-Drinking Song	570
51	Heartfelt Advice to Rechungpa	576
52	Rechungpa's Journey to Weu	584
53	The Meeting with Dhampa Sangje	606
54	The Salvation of the Dead	615
55	Fulfillment of the Dakini's Prophecy	624
56	Admonishments to Physician Tang Nge	630
57	Rechungpa's Departure	637
58	The Story of Drashi Tse	649
59	The Song of Good Companions	653
60	The Evidence of Accomplishment	658
61	The Miracles and the Last Admonishment	662
	Colophon	674
	"The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa" - Its Origin, Background, Function, and Translation	679
	Glossary	692
	Table of Tibetan Words	694
	Index