The “Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa” is a collection of poems and songs written by the famous Tibetan saint and poet Milarepa. The collection, also known as “The Milarepa Gsung-bum” in Tibetan, is considered one of the most important works of Tibetan literature and is still widely read and studied by practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism to this day.
The poems in the collection are said to have been dictated by Milarepa himself in the 11th century, towards the end of his life, and were transcribed by his students. The poems are written in a simple and direct style, and they provide valuable insights into the nature of reality and the spiritual path.
The poems in the collection are divided into four sections: the “Four Yogas of Milarepa,” “The Five Vows of Individual Liberation,” “The Bodhisattva Vows,” and “The tantric teachings.” Each section provides a unique perspective on the spiritual path and covers a wide range of topics, from the nature of reality to the importance of devotion and surrender.
The “Four Yogas of Milarepa” section of the collection is considered to be the most important, and it provides a comprehensive guide to the spiritual path. The section covers the four main practices of Tibetan Buddhism: the practice of renunciation, the practice of Bodhicitta, the practice of the view, and the practice of meditation.
The “Five Vows of Individual Liberation” section of the collection covers the importance of taking the vows of individual liberation, which are considered to be the foundation of the spiritual path. The section emphasizes the importance of living a simple and austere life, free from the distractions and temptations of the material world.
The “Bodhisattva Vows” section of the collection covers the importance of taking the Bodhisattva vows, which are considered to be the foundation of the Mahayana path. The section emphasizes the importance of developing compassion and the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
The “Tantric Teachings” section of the collection covers the most advanced teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, including the practice of tantra and the generation and completion stages of tantra. The section emphasizes the importance of developing devotion and surrender to the divine, and the practice of meditation to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
The collection of poems of Milarepa is not only a literary masterpiece, but also a spiritual guide for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. The poems convey Milarepa’s teachings in a simple and direct style and they provide valuable insights into the nature of reality and the spiritual path. The poems are considered to be the direct teachings of Milarepa, and they are still widely read and studied by practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism to this day.