Milarepa Quotes

Milarepa (Jetsun Milarepa, 1052-1135), the most famous Tibetan yogi and poet, transformed from a black magician to an enlightened master under the guidance of Marpa the Translator. His life story and songs of realization continue to inspire practitioners in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.
Milarepa
In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.
Milarepa
In my youth I studied, in my prime I practiced, now all my doubts are cleared.
Milarepa
The teaching is simple: act with kindness and compassion. If you cannot do this, at least try not to harm others.
Milarepa
The lamp of wisdom burns constantly, illuminating the nature of mind.
Milarepa
The mind itself is the maker of all happiness and misery; yet beings do not understand this and blame external conditions.
Milarepa
The mind that sees its own nature becomes free from all extremes.
Milarepa
The practitioner and practice are like fire and wood. The more you practice, the more you burn.
Milarepa
Better to have one moment of genuine meditation than to perform religious activities for a thousand years.
Milarepa
My religion is to live and die without regret.
Milarepa
The six realms of existence are like a dream, why build a prison for yourself?
Milarepa
External seeking only leads to exhaustion. When you imitate others, you lose your own authenticity.
Milarepa
The dharma is not in the books. If you want to find the dharma, look in your mind.
Milarepa
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Milarepa
When I run from suffering, it follows me. When I face suffering with equanimity, it runs from me.
Milarepa
The cave I live in is empty and so is my mind. I live simply and at ease.
Milarepa
When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick. Every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower.
Milarepa
The mind is the source of all happiness and the source of all suffering.
Milarepa
The only things that are truly mine are my actions and their results.
Milarepa
The practice of Dharma is a constant battle within oneself.
Milarepa