The Quest of Milarepa

PART TWO

-

Obeisance to their lordships
the teachers

Especially do I pray them
of their grace to be my refuge

-

When ye look at me

I am an idle
idle man

When I look at myself

I am a busy
busy man

-

Since upon the plain
of uncreated infinity

I am building

Building the tower
of ecstasy

I have no time
for building houses

-

Since upon the steppe
of the void of truth

I am breaking

Breaking the savage fetter
of suffering

I have no time
for ploughing family land

-

Since at the bourn
of unity ineffable

I am subduing

Subduing
the demon foe of self

I have no time
for subduing angry foe men

-

Since in the palace of mind
which transcends duality

I am waiting

Waiting for spiritual experience
as my bride

I have no time
for setting up house

-

Since in the circle
of the Buddhas of my body

I am fostering

Fostering the child
of wisdom

I have no time
for fostering snivelling children

-

Since in the frame
of the body

The seat
of all delight

I am saving

Saving precious instruction
and reflection

I have no time
for saving worldly wealth

-

Since upon the mountain
of limitless truth

I am tending

Tending the wild horse
of self knowledge

I have no time
for tending sheep

-

Since out of clay
of flesh and bones

I am building

Building up
the miraculous reliquary

I have no time
for molding sacred images

-

Since upon the apex
of the triangle of my heart

I am raising

Raising the butter flame
of clear light

I have no time
for offering the sacred fire

-

Since in the temple
of the undifferentiated void of bliss

Before the image
of the tranquilized mind

I am offering

Offering
perpetual oblations

I have no time
for formal worshipping

-

Since upon the sheet
of pure mind

I am writing

Writing
desire-less characters

I have no time
for painting sacred pictures

-

Since in the skull-cup
of the very void

I am churning

Churning the poison
of the passions

I have no time for churning holy butter

-

Since in the close retreat
of good intent

I am cherishing

Cherishing as friends
the sentient beings of the six kinds

I have no time
for cherishing kinsfolk

-

Since in the presence
of the fathers the teachers

I am burdening

Burdening my soul
with counsel

I have no time
for growing old in ordinary ploys


[taken from "The Message of Milarepa", John Murray, London, and Grove Press, Inc., New York, 1958 republished as Songs of Milarepa by Dover Thrift Editions, 2003]