Milarepa was the most famous disciple of the Kagyu lineage patriarch, Great Master Marpa, in Tibetan Buddhism. Renowned for his ascetic practices, Milarepa was celebrated as a prominent yogi, master of tantra, ascetic monk, and poet.
Milarepa was born in 1052 in Gongtang, Tibet, with the secular name Milarepa Tönpa. His family was very wealthy. However, at the age of seven, his father passed away due to illness, and the family’s estate was seized by his uncle and aunt, plunging them into poverty. Milarepa, his mother, and his three-year-old sister were treated as slaves by his relatives, going from being wealthy to destitute beggars, subjected to the cold stares of former friends and relatives.
This turn of events filled his mother with resentment. When Milarepa grew older, she sent him to learn sorcery for revenge. After mastering his skills, at his uncle’s wedding feast, Milarepa used sorcery to cause the house to collapse, killing 35 people, including his enemies. Later, he also summoned hailstorms that destroyed the crops of his uncle and the entire village. However, instead of finding satisfaction in revenge, Milarepa felt deep remorse for his actions, experiencing sleepless nights filled with regret. Eventually, he vowed to seek liberation through studying Buddhist teachings.
Later on, guided by others, Milarepa sought out Marpa as his teacher. To test Milarepa’s resolve to repent and to help him cleanse his negative karma, Marpa intentionally subjected him to various forms of arduous labor as a form of “torture.”
Marpa Lotsawa repeatedly instructed Milarepa to build houses on different mountains, and all the building materials—stones and wood—had to be carried by Milarepa himself. Then, intentionally, when the houses were nearly completed, Marpa would order them to be demolished, and all the materials had to be carried back to their original places. Due to the prolonged carrying of stones, Milarepa’s back was rubbed raw, covered with scars that would heal and then be rubbed raw again.
The arduous labor caused Milarepa immense suffering, but due to his intense desire for teachings, he continued to obey his teacher’s orders with gritted teeth. During this time, whenever Milarepa sought teachings, he would often be scolded by his master, which left him feeling hopeless. Yet, it was in this seemingly painful torment that Milarepa’s karmic obstacles were gradually purified.
About six years later, Milarepa finally received teachings from his master and, following his instructions, began to meditate in a mountain cave. Having learned the technique of “Tummo Concentration” from his master, Milarepa could withstand the cold wearing only a single piece of cloth in winter. Hence, people called him “Milarepa,” meaning “the one from the Mila family who wears a cloth garment.” After nine years of austere meditation in a mountain cave, Milarepa finally attained enlightenment. He became a highly acclaimed practitioner of actual realization in the snowy plateau of Tibet.
At that time, there was a venerable master who had been lecturing on scriptures and teachings in a temple for many years. Upon hearing the revered name of Milarepa, this master was unimpressed and insisted on inviting Milarepa to come for a debate.
Milarepa said, “Let’s not debate yet. Do you understand what emptiness is?” The master immediately began eloquently explaining various theories of emptiness. At that moment, Milarepa pointed to a pillar in the temple and sighed, “All that you are saying is theoretical. Tell me, is this pillar empty or substantial?” The master replied, “The pillar is substantial; how could it be empty?” Milarepa responded, “You say it’s substantial, but I say it’s empty.” With that, he used his hand to gesture through the pillar as if the pillar didn’t exist at all. The master was astonished.
Milarepa then pointed to the empty space and asked the master, “Is this empty space substantial or empty?” The master quickly answered, “It’s empty.” However, Milarepa countered, “I say it’s substantial,” and proceeded to walk into the empty space to demonstrate. He confidently walked step by step as if on solid ground, moving around in the empty space effortlessly.
The master was at a loss for words, feeling deeply ashamed of his arrogance and ignorance.
This encounter helps us understand that theoretical discussions or worldly-wise understandings of emptiness are entirely different from the realized emptiness of the enlightened beings. There is a fundamental distinction. Whether one can demonstrate the realm of “form is emptiness, emptiness is form” signifies the difference between the sacred and the mundane. Milarepa, revered as a great saint who realized emptiness, established the profound wisdom of “form is emptiness, emptiness is form” based on actual realization of the unity of appearance and emptiness.
The Venerable Milarepa has long departed this world, and we are unable to personally receive his teachings. However, we are incredibly fortunate to have witnessed the emanation of the primordial Buddha – Dorje Chang Buddha III, who descended to this saha world, bringing forth the correct and unbiased true Dharma for all sentient beings.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III expounded the Dharma with profound clarity and precision. “The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation” and “The Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra” represent the first appearance of such excellent treasures of Buddhist scriptures, the supreme essence classics, in thousands of years of Buddhist history.
“The Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra” elucidates the teachings based on the phrases and principles of the Heart Sutra, as expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. It clarifies the relationship between mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, explaining the definitions of the impermanent and non-impermanent nature of life, the universe, and sentient beings, as well as the truth of form, dwelling, decay, and emptiness. What is a Buddha? What is the connection between sentient beings and Buddhas? What does liberation from birth and death entail?
The Buddha Dharma spoken by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is presented in the most direct, accessible language, elucidating the profound truths of the Buddha Dharma for everyone to understand. During the inaugural empowerment ceremony for “The Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra,” Buddhas manifested in the empty sky and bestowed three-colored nectar, confirming that this teaching is the true Dharma spoken by the Tathagata. Those who sincerely practice “The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation” and thoroughly understand “The Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra” can truly embark on the swift path to liberation and accomplishment.
Peace LiLy 