Milarepa's Meeting with Dharma Bodhi 367

They all are capable of working miracles,

They all possess the overflowing Void-Compassion,
They all work wonders and produce amusing marvels.
As to the spontaneous making of songs,
I am the best of all the five;
My perseverence and austerity are also greater;
Nothing special or superb have they.
I see no need to go;
But you, my sons and disciples,
Should do so by all means!
It is not because I think ill of them
[That I remain behind]
But merely that I am too old to journey [there].
I now make a sincere wish that I may meet
Them in the Pure Land of Oujen.
Oh my son, do not be bewildered,
But have confidence [in me].

Rechungpa said, "If you do not go, people will think that you are
proud and jealous, and they will so accuse you with much reviling. By
all means, please go!" In reply, Milarepa sang:

I pray you, ye accomplished Beings

To cleanse all sins and evil-doing.

He who cares what people say

Will only make himself confused.

Journeying to many places

Merely hinders one's devotion.

Meddling in too many things

When visiting a holy Guru

Will confuse and irritate the consorting Deities.

Treading the Path of the deep Tantra,

Should one's mind divided be,

Never can he attain accomplishment.

Great is the blessing of the Accomplished Ones,

But too many visitors produce ill will.

However, Rechungpa, do go to see

Him with your brothers [if you so wish].

Rechungpa replied, "[Your unwillingness to go will directly cause]

people to commit sinful deeds. And so please go! We will also be great
ly benefited if you will grant our request." After such persistent en
368 THE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREI'A

treaties, Milarepa finally gave in, saying, "All right. In that case let us
go to greet Dharma Bodhi." Upon the Jetsun's consent, Rechungpa
and the other disciples all cried for joy. They said, "Indians all like
gold; therefore we should obtain some for him as a token of our wel
come." In commenting on their suggestion, Milarepa then sang:

I pray you, ye accomplished Beings,

To remove the cravings of this poor mendicant;
I pray that all my deeds may accord with the
Dharmal
Why practice the Bodhi-Mind
If one's acts are in conflict with the Dharma?
He who has attained Samadhi
Ne'er needs a companion!
He who has experienced self-liberation
Ne'er needs a consort!
Else what would be the use and meaning
Of his long work in meditation?
If I, Milarepa, pursue gold,
My renunciation will be pointless.
Dharma Bodhi wants no gold,
Else his accomplishment would be valueless.
Dordrag Rechungpa wants no profit,
Else his apprenticeship would be meaningless.

The Jctsun continued, "You go first - I shall follow you." Thus he

dispatched them. On their way, in doubt, they all thought, "Will the
Jetsun really come?" With this misgiving, as they approached Bhalbo
Dson, lo and behold! Milarepa, who had transformed his body into a
pagoda, [suddenly] descended in the midst of them like a shooting
star falling from the sky. Seeing this miracle, Dhanna Bodhi was very
much impressed, and all Milarepa's disciples were struck with great
surprise and joy. The whole party then approached Dharma Bodhi,
who was surrounded by crowds of people. Seeing Milarepa and his
disciples coming, Dharma Bodhi of India at once descended from his
seat and prostrated himself tlefore Milarepa of Tibet. Thereupon, peo
ple all thought that Milarepa must be even greater than Dharma Bodhi;
but they were also confirmed with a faith that both men were no dif
ferent from the perfect Buddha. The two accomplished beings then
sat together on one seat and conversed joyfully with each other.
Dharma Bodhi said to Milarepa, "I am very pleased that you always
remain in solitude. This is indeed remarkable." In reply to this praise,
the Jetsun sang:
 Milarepa's Meeting with Dharma Bodhi 369

I pray you, ye Nirmai:iakaya Gurus,

For blessings from the Accomplished Ones

of the Whispered Lineage!

To Dharma Bodhi of India and the gifted

Tibetans and Nepalese assembled here,

I, Milarepa, the Yogi of Tibet

Sing a song of Wisdom Experiences,

Lest people fail to recognize an accomplished

being.

The Five Twisted Nac;lis are straightened by

Prai:ia-Practice,
The Five Winding Prai:ias are straightened by
the Taming Practice,
The Five Sullied Elements are burned out,
And all Five trunks of the poisonous Passion-
Mind are overthrown.

In the Central Channel the savage

Karmic wind of errant thoughts is pacified.

Now there is no need for me

To entangle myself with evil companions.

Dharma Bodhi then said, "The way you have conquered the 'ad
versaries' is indeed wonderful. Now please tell me of some good meth
ods to this end.'' In response, Milarepa sang:

I pray to all accomplished Beings,

I pray that, through your blessing,

A companion may be found within me.

When the Mother of the Five Pure Nac;lis

Meets the Father of the Five Pure Prai:ias,
The Five Sons of the Pure Elements are born,
And the face of Self-Mind, the Five Purities,
is seen.
In the Beyond-Measure-Palace of the Central
Channel,

The proclaimer of Buddha achievement

Shouts to the Four Rainbow Cakras. 2

To the armies of the Web of Myriad Forms 3

For discipline [I] give the order of non-

clinging.
370 THE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA

By realizing that all forms are self-awareness,

I have beheld my consort's face - the true

Mind Within.

So none of the sentient beings in the Three

Great Worlds
Eludes the embrace of this great Thatness.
This is my companion, the wonderful Bodhi-Mind.
Happy it is to consort with her always,
For never will she take leave of me!

Upon hearing this song, Dharma Bodhi was very much pleased. He
said, "Truly the inner experiences of. a yogi are beyond description.
Nevertheless, please tell us briefly about [your understanding] of the
View, Practice, and Action." In response Milarepa sang:

He who can watch his mind without distraction

Needs no talk or chat;

He who can absorb himself in self-awareness,

Need not sit stiffiy like a corpse;

If one knows the nature of all forms,

The Eight Worldly Desires will vanish of

themselves.
If no desire or hatred is within his heart,
He needs no pretense or show.
The great Wisdom and Trikaya
That transcend Sarpsara and Nirvai:ia both,
Can never be achieved by search and aspiration;
Never can one attain them
Without first receiving blessing from the Lineage.

Dharma Bodhi then said, "Your View, Practice, and Action are truly
marvelous." Milarepa replied, "Now please tell us your understand
ing on the profound Key-Instructions gained in your practice." Dharma
Bodhi then sang:

For the gifted ones in this assembly

I pray to the wondrous Succession of the

Practice-

Through this propitious Karma

Soon may we all behold [your holy faces].

If one cannot subdue habitual thinking and

wandering thoughts,

 Milarepa's Meeting with Dharma Bodhi 371

What will be the use of observing the mind?

If one cannot conquer ego-clinging and

pleasure-craving,
What will be the use of meditating for an age?
He who does not strive for altruistic deeds,
Will be o'ertaken by his pride
And gain no progress.
If one follows not the Guru's guidance,
What benefit can he gain
By being with pleasant friends?

Pretense and vanity directly cause disgrace,

Quarrels and discord bring misfortunes.

If one always tells the truth,

It often smites another's heart.

If one practices not altruism

How can he attain Buddahood?

The instructions one has learned will

become profounder

If restfully he remains alone.

Oh you great Yogi of Tibet,

You are proficient in poetry and song

I am not good at chanting or at singing,

But now, exhilarated, excited, and inspired

I can sing this song for you.

May we soon, in the Pure Land of Great Happiness

All sing the holy hymns [together].

Dharma Bodhi and Milarepa continued their delightful conversa

tion for some time, then both took their leave.
When Milarepa and his disciples returned to Nya Non, people in the
village brought wine to welcome them, and asked about the meeting
with Dharma Bodhi. In answer, Milarepa sang:

When rises the sun or moon,

All Four Continents are bright;

When moisture and warmth abound,

Fruits will ripen on the trees;

When mother and son together meet,

The pain of longing ceases;

When an accomplished one appears

The world is gay and prosperous!

372 THE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA

When Dharma Bodhi came to the wood of Bhalbo

Dson,
I, Milarepa of Tibet, went there to see him.
He rose from his seat
And made obeisance to me.
Thus people were caught in surprise and doubt.
Folding his two hands and bending both his
knees

He bowed down before me.

This symbolized the Truth of Two-in-One.

He asked about my health and welfare

This symbolized the all-embracing Whole.

In answer to his kind inquiry

I showed him the [signless] Mahamudra.

In the Temple of Non-dual Purity

We had an illuminating talk of no-words,

with joy.
A pure wish in our past lives
Had brought about this meeting.
I must have had a Karma-link with him before,
When Buddha descended to this world.

This meeting with my brother-friend

Was delightful and auspicious.

It will be heard and asked about

In far-distant lands.

Hearing this song, the patrons of Nya Non were all very much
pleased and excited. It is said that because of Dharma Bodhi's obei
sance, the Jetsun's fame and fortune became even greater than before.

This is the story of Milarepa meeting with Dharma Bodhi.

NOTES
1 Dinrin: This name also appears as Dinri.
2 The Four Rainbow Cakras: The literal translation of this phrase should be
"The Rainbow Place or State of the Four Cakras." It actually denotes the state
of thorough liberation and ultimate Enlightenment. The mind of one who has
reached this state becomes the All-knowing Wisdom, and his body, the radiant and