The most important teaching of Milarepa

Milarepa’s Most Important Teaching – The Secret of Success

“An ounce of practice makes as much as tons of theory.”
You must give up one effort only in favor of another effort, because you must grow unceasingly…”
“If you do all that you have done, you will get all that you have achieved…”
“The greatest error of human beings is to think that they have a lot of time at their disposal…”
Of course there are many other valuable maxims that teach about the essential value of practical personal effort.
Spiritual realization can be achieved by direct reference to the natural state, which contains in it all potentialities and which is, in fact, the Supreme Atman Self (a relationship that is a lightning, non-linear, stepless process) and by spiritual transformation.

The two processes – transformation and direct, lightning-fast reporting to ultimate achievement or natural state – support each other.

Spiritual evolution is achieved through personal effort and divine grace.
The latter, however, must be deserved, and even for it, we must show that we understand to do something for it.

Yes, if we take one step to God, He does ten to us.
But we have to take at least that single step.
When we don’t know what else to do, when inspiration has left us and everything seems in vain, what we have to do is… let’s work.

No spiritual effort is lost or in vain. Never.

Every action counts.

In music it is said that, when you no longer have inspiration and transformative power in the ability to play an instrument, all you have to do is “make ranges” (i.e. play scales on the instrument, such as C major, for example)…”.
And even just like that, you progress. The inspiration will certainly come back later.

The teaching of the important Milarepa is perfectly true.

Even if we were infirm or very disliked to those around us, what we have to do is to move forward with the self-transport training.

Sooner or later the light will appear.

We have no way of knowing if it’s in a minute or in a year.
But we must act actively, not just wait for success.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

“Milarepa hugged Gampopa and said goodbye to him, wishing him a good life. Gampopa puts his luggage on his shoulder and crosses the stone bridge, leaving Milarepa alone, on the other
side of the river. He continued his way to the East, but when he was at the limit at which he could perceive the master’s voice, he heard the master shouting at him. Returning, he sees Milarepa in the distance, beckoning him to return. Excited, Gampopa turns back from the road, crosses the bridge again, curious to find out what his master wants.

With eyes shining with compassion, Milarepa tells him:

– I’ll give you my last lesson.
The Master led Gampopas behind a cliff.
– Now, look!

said Milarepa, who, rolling up his garment, discovered his buttocks covered with large, fleshy calluses, like the hooves of an animal, made after the days of meditation spent in the sitting position, without a pillow, on the stony ground.
He adds:
– There is no deeper teaching than this.

Now you can understand the trials I have endured.
Thanks to this, we have achieved a great achievement.
Only through continuous efforts have we accumulated merits and achieved achievement.
You need these efforts, and not other doctrines.
Here is the essence of my teaching.
Whether or not you become a Buddha also depends on the effort you put in.

If you do, there can be no doubt about your liberation.

Like a son, do what your father told you! You have to keep meditating, sitting in one chair, in one place, until you reach realization.

Here is the deepest teaching of Buddhism: practice!

This teaching would mark Gampopa for life.

Later, on many occasions, he would draw courage and inspiration from it.

He thanks Milarepa with all his heart and then, on that sunny spring morning, the master and the disciple separate.”
excerpt from “Extraordinary Stories of Tibetan Buddhism” by Lormier Dominique