On the hilly area of Ramitey, driving up about 10 km away from Phuntsoling town (in Bhutan), there lies a splendid Milarapa Temple which is known as Sangay Minjurling Lhakhang.
The construction of Sangay Minjurling Lhakhang is still going and is yet to complete. The temple comprises of 9 storeys, Sekhar Guthok with a pinnacle on top. The original Nine-storyed tower monastery is situated in Lhodra district of Southern Tibet, north of the Bhutanese border. It was founded by Milarepa in the 11th century.
Milarapa was a disciple to Lama Marpa and he is said to be the first person to achieve the state of Buddhahood in a single lifetime. The life of Milarepa is one of Tibet's most beloved stories and a great blessing to all the sentient beings.
Milarepa was born in western Tibet to a rich family. When his father died, Milarepa’s aunt and uncle(father's younger brother) took advantages by taking all the wealth. So his mom requested him to study sorcery.
After learning sorcery, he took revenge while his aunt and uncle were celebrating marriage party for their son. A giant scorpion appeared and demolished their house, killing 35 people, but the aunt and uncle were known to have survived. The villagers were angry and went to look for Milarepa but he sent the hailstorms to destroy their crops.
Milarepa later realized that it was his big mistake and regretted a lot. So he went out to seek for a lama. He found lama Marpa the translator. Before Marpa would teach Milarepa, Marpa made him to undergo abuse and trials, such as letting him to build and then demolished three towers in turn. Finally, Marpa told Milarepa to build one multi-story tower at Lhodrag, which still stands today.
Marpa's harsh treatments were realized as a means to purify Milarepa's negative karma accumulated after performing black magic. Finally, Marpa gave his teachings to Milarapa. Milarapa stopped clinging to himself and trust fully on his guru, Marpa.
Marpa transmitted tantric initiations to Milarepa, including tummo(yogic heat), the aural transmissions and mahamudra. Marpa told Milarepa to practice solitary meditation in caves and mountain retreats, which, according to the biography, after many years of practice resulted in "a deep experiential realization about the true nature of reality." Milarapa lived his life by eating nettle soup and his skin even turned greenish in color.
Milarepa wrote many songs and poems and expressed his great realization of true Dharma.
Thereafter, he lived as a fully realized yogin, and eventually even forgave his aunt.
Milarepa quotes:
- I need nothing. I seek nothing. I desire nothing.
- My religion is to live - and die - without regret.
- If you realize the emptiness of All Things, Compassion will raise within your heart.
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