We study the lives of saints for inspiration and knowledge of the spiritual path. In following in their footsteps, wisdom and compassion will grow. One of the most beloved saints of the Tibetan people is Milarepa. His life story shows us how it’s possible for one to progress from a cycle of extremely negative karma (he killed several members of his family) to entering and practicing the path of Dharma, to becoming a fully accomplished spiritual teacher. |
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I purchased some colorful wall hangings in India several years ago, thinking they would make a good line of products. Unfortunately, the source evaporated before I got around to posting them and they've been sitting on a back shelf of the studio warehouse. I came across them recently and decided to put them on sale until they're gone. The one I’m featuring this month is a print of Milarepa sitting in his cave. |
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This 22"x 34" print is silk screened in (at least)
7 colors on heavy ribbed cotton fabric. It is fully hemmed on all sides. The top and bottom has sleeves and the top sleeve has a hand-carved wooden rod with a multicolored string for easy hanging. Sale price $14.
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In the early 11th century Milarepa was born to a Tibetan wealthy family, but the death of his father left him and his mother at the mercy of his aunt and uncle, who forced them to work as servants for their own family. At his mother’s urgings, Milarepa studied black magic in order to exact revenge against their cruelty. He quickly mastered these magical abilities and he used his skills to take the lives of his aunt and uncle’s entire family. Committing these crimes produced an immense amount of negative karma leading Milarepa to have inescapable remorse. This transformation led him to seek out a spiritual teacher.He eventually found Marpa the translator, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who had received his teachings and training from the Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa. In order to purify the negativity of his student’s past actions, Marpa ordered him to perform many hard labor tasks of building, destroying, and rebuilding stone towers. This pushed Milarepa almost to the point of suicide, before Marpa agreed to give him instruction as his disciple. Through diligent study and practice Milarepa became the yogi and poet that is remembered today. He began a simple, solitary lifestyle, living in caves. He often wore little clothing, even in the winter months, and became known as “the cotton-clad one.” Though he did not seek students, word of his practice traveled, and he was sought out by many. He shared his realization and teachings in spontaneous songs and poetry. Milarepa's poetic teachings have touched the hearts of his students and admirers for nearly a thousand years.
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Milarepa's Life Story is depicted in this 13"x18" folk-art silk screened print on 100% cotton. The details are clear and it's fun to match the drawings with the events in his life. There are several good biographies of Milarepa's life. This small print is on sale this month for $7 (regularly $10).
A beautifully illustrated graphic novel:
(a translation of the 15th century text)
Movie: It's not half-bad, except it only covers the part of his life prior his Guru, Marpa;
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Tsangnyon Heruka (1452-1507), known as the “Madman of Tsang,” compiled and arranged a collection of Milarepa’s songs four centuries after Milarepa’s death.
Several translations of his text have been made. The most well known translation is by Garma C.C. Chang. Chang traveled in Tibet in the 1930’s and ‘40’s and his 2 volume set of “The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa,” was first published in 1962 by Shambhala Publications. The two volume set is evidently out of print, but the identical translation has been published in a single 730 page volume.
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Prayers for World Peace and to Avert Nuclear War |
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All the following headlines have appeared in the news in the past month:
“Russia plans to carry out nuclear exercises, including test missile launches.”
“The US is sending high-tech nuclear weapons to Nato bases.”
“China is augmenting its nuclear weapon and delivery systems very rapidly...”
“North Korea makes nuclear weapons policy 'irreversible'”
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At this very moment for the people and the nations of the earth may not even the words - disease, famine, war and suffering be heard; but rather may their moral conduct, merit, wealth and prosperity increase and may supreme good fortune and well being always arise for them."
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Namo Guru Ratnatraya! I bow to the Teacher and the Three Jewels.
True Leader of the Golden Age, Crown of the Sakyas, Second Buddha, Prince of Oddiyana, Lake-Born Vajra, Bodhisattvas, the Eight Spiritual Heirs, the High Nobles, Avalokitesvara, Manjushri,Vajrapani and the rest. I bow to the Twenty-one Taras, host of Noble Elders, Root and Lineage Lamas, Yidams, the Peaceful and Wrathful deities, to the Dakinis of the Earth, the Heavens and the Purelands; to you who through wisdom or karma have become Defenders of the Doctrine, Guardians of the Directions, and the seventy-five Glorious Protectors!
You who are clairvoyant, powerful, magical and mighty, behold and remember the beings in this age of turmoil! We are beings born at the sorry end of time. An ocean of ill-effects overflows from our universally bad actions. The forces of light flicker, the forces of darkness, a demon army, inflames great and powerful men. They rise in conflict, armed with nuclear weapons that will disintegrate the earth. This weapon of perverse and errant intentions has unleashed the hurricane. Soon, in an instant, it will reduce the world and all those in it to atoms of dust. Though this ill-omened devil’s tool, is easy to see, to hear and contemplate, ignorant people, caught in a net of confusion and doubt, are obstinate and refuse to understand. It terrifies us just to hear about or remember this monstrous thing. The world is filled with uncertainty. There is no means of stopping it, nor place of hope, other than You, the Noble Three Jewels and Three Roots. If we cry to you like children calling their mother and father, if we implore you with this prayer, do not falter in your ancient vows! Stretch out the lightning hand of compassion! Protect and shelter us defenseless beings, and free us from fear! When the mighty barbarians sit in councils of war - barbarians who rob the earth of pleasure and happiness, barbarians who have wrong, rough, and poisonous thoughts - please bend their chiefs and lieutenants to the side of peace and happiness! Pacify on the spot, the armed struggle that obstructs us! Turn away and defeat the atomic weapons of the demons' messengers, and by that power, make long the life of the righteous, and spread the theory and practice of the doctrine to the four corners of this great world! Eliminate root, branches, leaves, and even the names of those dark forces - the humans and non-humans, who hate others and the teachings! Spread vast happiness and goodness over this fragile planet! Elevate kindness and delight with the Four Kinds of Glory. As in the golden age, with all strife gone, let us be busy only with the dance of pleasure, the dance of joy! We pray with pure thoughts, with refuge in the Three Supreme Jewels, the ocean of compassion, and the power of the the Dharmadhatu, the perfect sublime truth. Achieve the goal of this, our prayer, magically, just as we have hoped and dreamed!
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The first 3 weeks of November coincide with the 9th month of the Tibetan Calendar. The last week of November are in the 10th month of the Tibetan year.
During the 9th month, the Nagas are gathering the essence of trees. The sap of the trees are owned by the Nagas and they are very connected to trees at this time. If you make offerings to them on teb days, you will always have luxuries. If you make offerings to them on dok days, they will perceive your offering as burning fire and flee. Some text say that Nagas will punish you by giving you contageous diseases.
According to the Kalachakra Tantra and the Vedas, during the 10th month is the Naga’s sleeping time. Making offerings will bring no benefit.
The most auspicious days to make offerings this month are November 5, 10, 20, 22.
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Email us at: prayerflags1@gmail.com
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