Tao Te Ching

The Power of Goodness, the Wisdom Beyond Words
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Milarepa རྗེ་བཙུན་མི་ལ་རས་པ།

1052 – 1135 CE

Black magician enemy-killing sorcerer transformed into a great Tibetan folk hero, poet, singer-songwriter and saint; Milarepa always refuted any hero worship or deification stressing his humble background and realization that anyone could achieve. Overcoming powerful, psychological demons, he left far behind fame, fortune, pleasure, power, even companionship and after many years of solitary meditation wandered throughout Tibet teaching and leading students to illuminating, egoless, complete sanity beyond the corruptions of a belief in a separate self. Profound without pretense, ageless because authentic, livable because so simple; Milarepa’s teaching and inspiration continues.

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Quotes by Milarepa (4 quotes)

“If you do not realize that all things are merely of the mind, endless apparitions will never cease.”

Chapters: 21. Following Empty Heart

Themes: Ordinary Mind

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“One cannot be considered a swimmer if he needs a bridge.”

Chapters: 38. Fruit Over Flowers

Themes: Teachers

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“Reject all that increases ego-clinging or inner poison, even if it appears good. Practice all that benefits others, even if it appears bad.

this is the true way of dharma.”

Themes: Moral Freedom

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“Since life is short and the time of death unknown, devote yourselves wholly to meditation. Even at the cost of your life, act wisely and courageously according to your innate insight.”

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Quotes about Milarepa (4 quotes)

“Only a man who is capable of great passions is capable of great deeds and great accomplishments in the realm of the spirit. Only a man who has gone through the fire of suffering and despair, like Milarepa, could have accomplished the highest aim within a lifetime.”

Anagarika​ (Lama) Govinda 1898 – 1985 CE
(Ernst Hoffmann)
Pioneer of Tibetan Buddhism to the West

from Way of the White Clouds (1966)

Themes: Ambition

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“As kids, we learned from Milarepa that happiness does not depend on circumstances. His infinite contentment in freezing weather, with no food and no clothes, turned him into a god-being; but his human story made his life approachable—even if his summit remains unattainable.”

Mingyur Rinpoche 1975 CE –
Modern-day Mahasiddha

from In Love with the World

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“Political leaders are never leaders. For leaders we have to look to the Awakeners! Lao Tse, Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, Milarepa, Gurdjiev, Krishnamurti.”

Henry Miller 1891 – 1980 CE
from My Bike & Other Friends (1977)

Themes: Leadership

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“Milarepa reached the 'old dog' stage, his highest attainment. People could tread on him, use his as a road, as earth; he would always be there. He transcended his own individual existence so that there is a sense of the universality of Milarepa, the example of enlightenment.”

Chögyam Trungpa 1939 – 1987 CE
from Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

Themes: Enlightenment

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