The Spiritual Union of Milarepa and Rechungpa: A Story of Devotion and Transformation
The meeting of Rechungpa with Milarepa is one of the most touching and profound tales in Tibetan Buddhism, which symbolizes the force of devotion, spiritual awakening, and the transformative journey of a disciple, guided by a true master. This meeting, which occurred when Rechungpa was just a young boy, not only changed his life but also played a crucial role in the transmission of the teachings of Milarepa, one of the most revered yogis in Tibetan Buddhist history.
Milarepa Spiritual Master: Transforming Worldly Attachments into Spiritual Realizations
Milarepa is regarded as a great yogi who dedicated his life to meditation in remote places such as the Silk Cave. His philosophical view of spirituality was characterized by complete renunciation of worldly attachments, which heconsidered delusive and deceiving. Rather than physical material, Milarepa explained his life using spiritual concepts: he constructed a castle, wherein faith was the foundation, hard work was the walls, meditation was the bricks, and wisdom was the cornerstone. He substituted secular relatives with the supernatural ones, whereby the Dharma is his countenance and the Sangha his kinsmen. Having fully realized the "Mind-Essence," he lived in a state of perpetual happiness, free from the fear of death, poverty, or the influence of the "Eight Worldly Winds."
Rechungpa: Heart-Son of Milarepa and His Way to Enlightenment
Rechung Dorje Dragpa, called Rechungpa, was an extremely bright boy and the renowned Hearts-Son of Milarepa. He was an orphan who lived with his mother and uncle before he met his guru, having a strong memory and could recite Buddhist Sutras. At the age of twelve, while herding oxen, he followed the sound of Milarepa’s singing to a cave; the very sight of that yogi caused a state of Samadhi and ecstasy in him which cannot be described. This encounter sparked an "immutable faith," leading him to abandon his worldly life and income to serve Milarepa.
The sources highlight several key milestones in Rechungpa's spiritual development:
Rechungpa’s Early Life and First Encounter with Milarepa
The story of Rechungpa starts when he was only twelve years old. He was then a herder of the oxen in a meadow, far away from the world of spiritual practice. But destiny had another plan for him. One day, as Rechungpa was attending to his cattle, he heard an alluring voice of someone coming from a nearby cave. Milarepa was in the Silk Cave, also known as Zhaoo Pug, when he first met Rechungpa. Curiosity caused him, he pursued the voice, and found the great yogi, Milarepa, sitting in his meditation and singing. Milarepa had a deeply moving experience as soon as Rechungpa saw him. A sense of happiness, confidence, and contentment overcame him. The little boy instantly realized that he had discovered the teacher he had been looking after.
When Rechungpa met Milarepa, it seemed to him that the universe was all in place. He was open to the teachings of the great yogi, and without blinking, he settled down to stay with Milarepa and receive the teachings of the Dharma and perform spiritual practice. This was evidently not an incident, but a karmic happening that was to transform his life forever.
Milarepa’s Teachings: The Essence of Renunciation and Devotion
Milarepa was a famous yogi at the time, and he strictly practiced asceticism and was very close to the Dharma. His life was the seal of the strength of renunciation, meditation, and unwavering devotion to the path of enlightenment. Milarepa received him with open arms when Rechungpa came to see him because he had seen the potential in the young boy.
The teachings of Milarepa were concerned with the main principles of the Buddhist practice, which revolved around the rejection of worldly attachment and the necessity to discover the impermanence of all phenomena. The process of changing the suffering and the material world into a spiritual one was one of the most important points of the teachings of Milarepa. He never forgot to remind his followers that freedom can be acquired by inner realization and renunciation of the illusions of the outside world.
Read more about Jetsun Milarepa's Teachings: A Path to Inner Peace and Enlightenment
Milarepa’s Song of Wisdom to the Workers
Milarepa, in the story, is encountered by a group of workers constructing a house in the Gung Tang locality. When the workers offer him food in exchange for work, Milarepa declines saying that he has already constructed his house using spiritual practice. Milarepa sings about a great song in which he tells of what construction really means in the spiritual realm:
"Faith is the firm foundation of my house,
Diligence forms the high walls,
Meditation makes the huge bricks,
And Wisdom is the great cornerstone.
With these four things I built my castle,
And it will last as long as the Truth eternal!"
At this point, Milarepa provides the analogy of a house construction to describe the basis of spiritual practice. He teaches that the "house" one builds in the spiritual realm is constructed not of bricks and mortar, but of the inner qualities of faith, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. The distinction between worldly attainment and spiritual development is emphasized in this teaching. Milarepa points out that worldly things, including property, family, and material wealth, are illusions and temporary. Conversely, the spiritual house that its owner constructs with the help of good practice will last much longer than the momentary character of earthly things.
Rechungpa’s Transformation: From Orphan to Spiritual Heir
Rechungpa’s journey with Milarepa was not only to learn the teachings, but also it was about a profound internal transformation. Initially, Rechungpa had been supported by his mother and uncle, who provided for him, but after meeting Milarepa, he abandoned all attachments to material wealth and worldly comforts. His life became centered around spiritual practice, and his devotion to his guru grew deeper with each passing day.
At first, Rechungpa’s mother and uncle were unaware of his decision to stay with Milarepa. However, as time passed and Rechungpa stopped receiving any income or gifts, they became concerned. Upon investigating, they learned that all the gifts Rechungpa had received were offered to Milarepa. His family attempted to stop him, but their efforts were in vain. The faith and devotion of Rechungpa towards the teachings of Milarepa could not be shaken.
The Leprosy Curse and Milarepa’s Blessings
(Photo From The Chronicles of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche)
However, Rechungpa’s devotion was soon tested in a severe way. His mother and uncle rejected his spiritual path and thus cursed him, leading to Rechungpa becoming leprous. Rechungpa was desperate for a cure and turned to the advice of Milarepa. In his great pity, Milarepa blessed Rechungpa and counseled him. He had allowed him to visit India in search of a medicine, with his instructions on his spiritual journey:
"By taking the food of Perseverance in Samadhi,
By wearing the clothes of Ah Tung,
And by riding the horse of the magic Pral)a-Mind,
Thus, my son, should you travel in India."
These instructions did not only serve to help Rechungpa in his outward healing, but also to remind him to maintain his spiritual sharpness and concentration even in the predicaments and challenges of sickness.
Milarepa’s Insights on the Eight Worldly Claims: A Path to Inner Peace
In Buddhist tradition, the "Eight Worldly Winds" or "Eight Worldly Concerns" are generally characterized by four pairs of opposites, distracting one off the spiritual path:
- Gain and Loss
- Fame and Insignificance (or Infamy)
- Praise and Blame
- Pleasure and Pain
The warnings and insights made by Milarepa about the Eight Worldly Claims (also known as the Eight Worldly Winds) are:
- Their Inconvenience in Crisis: Milarepa specifically instructed Rechungpa that if he were ever "followed and captured by bandits" during his travels in India, he should remind himself of how "worthless" the Eight Worldly Claims are.
- The Antidote of Humility: To counteract these worldly influences, Milarepa advised Rechungpa to "conceal [his] powers and merits" and to maintain a "humble and merry mind".
- A Source of Happiness: Milarepa identified "understanding the wrongness" of these Eight Worldly Winds as a key reason for his own state of perpetual happiness and even-mindedness. By recognizing their "wrongness," he was able to remain absorbed in quietude, free from hope or fear.
Rechungpa’s Journey to India and the Healing Process
Rechungpa traveled to India, where he met the yogi Wala Tsandra, who taught him the methods to heal his leprosy through intense meditation and spiritual practice. Rechungpa was healed of his disease through the practice of the Wrathful Thunderbolt-Holder with Eagle Wings. This cure was a turning point in his spiritual life because he was able to see how effective practice could be and how transformative the teachings given to him by Milarepa were.
Return to Tibet and the Reunification with Milarepa
Rechungpa had gone back to Tibet after his healing in India but when he arrived there, he was disturbed to hear not a single word of Milarepa. Rechungpa rushed to the cave where Milarepa had been meditating, fearing that his guru had died. On removing the wall he had constructed to close up the cave, Rechungpa discovered Milarepa alive and well, meditating, as usual.
Upon realizing the suffering and his devotion, Milarepa allowed Rechungpa to return to him and taught him more teachings. One of the songs of joy gave Milarepa his joy and how he came to be contented with renunciation, in spiritual practice, and in the joy of meditation. It was a reunion, which cemented Rechungpa as the most committed disciple of Milarepa.
The Continued Spiritual Relationship and Rechungpa’s Attainment
Milarepa then proceeded to teach Rechungpa, and he assimilated his teachings. Rechungpa had profound spiritual experiences with the help of Milarepa, he learned how to meditate and became one of the heart disciples of Milarepa. He eventually attained some degree of spiritual attainment, which honored him as one of the great Tibetan yogis and propelled the teachings of his guru to the subsequent generations.
Conclusion: The Profound Legacy of Rechungpa and Milarepa
Rechungpa and Milarepa is a great story filled with a testimony of the power of devotion, spiritual discipline, and the guru-disciple relationship. Rechungpa and his uncompromising determination to follow the teachings of Milarepa despite the adversity as well as the great compassion and wisdom of Milarepa, formed a bond that goes beyond the material world and results in spiritual freedom.
Their relationship allowed not only to bring Rechungpa into personal transformation but also to leave an imprint in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition at large so that the teachings of Milarepa could go on and serve as an inspiration to the scholarship of upcoming generations. The tale of Rechungpa and Milarepa teaches us that, spiritual guidance is very vital, the strength that our faith has, and the capacity of the Dharma to reshape our lives.
"The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa" (Milarepa, p. [107]).
