Milarepa 1052 – 1135
Milarepa (1052 – 1135) was a Tibetan philosopher of the Medieval era, associated with Buddhism.
Milarepa was a Tibetan Buddhist yogi, poet, and one of the most beloved figures in the history of Tibetan religion, the principal disciple of Marpa the Translator and the second patriarch of the Kagyu lineage. His autobiographical Life of Milarepa and the Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, transmitted by his disciples, recount his early life as a sorcerer who avenged his family by destroying his enemies and his subsequent austere apprenticeship under Marpa, his long retreat in mountain caves, and his final attainment of awakening in a single lifetime. His songs, sung in colloquial Tibetan to the people who came to him in the hills, have shaped Tibetan Buddhist poetry and devotion for nearly nine hundred years.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Tibetan
- Era
- Medieval
- Movements
- Buddhism
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Milarepa:
“When you know that one thing is enough, you have understood the teaching.”
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Attributed to Milarepa:
“The mountain cave is my temple; the wind and the rain, my chanting.”
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Attributed to Milarepa:
“Wealth weighs the body down; renunciation lightens the soul.”
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Attributed to Milarepa:
“The Buddha is not in the temple; he is in the heart that has cleaned itself of grasping.”
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Attributed to Milarepa:
“Sing of the Dharma in the language of the people, or do not sing at all.”
Frequently asked about Milarepa
- When did Milarepa live?
- Milarepa was born in 1052 and died in 1135.
- Where was Milarepa from?
- Milarepa was a Tibetan philosopher of the Medieval era.
- What philosophical movements is Milarepa associated with?
- Milarepa was associated with Buddhism.
- What was Milarepa known for?
- Milarepa was a Tibetan Buddhist yogi, poet, and one of the most beloved figures in the history of Tibetan religion, the principal disciple of Marpa the Translator and the second patriarch of the Kagyu lineage.
- How many quotes are attributed to Milarepa?
- There are 15 attributed quotations from Milarepa in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.