So many of the Bodhissatvas within the Buddhist tradition are depicted as born auspiciously and pure within thought and deed from the beginning of their lives. Milarepa stands out as an example of someone who turns their life around and becomes dedicated to the dharma. While I don’t relate to the violence that Milarepa’s legend contains, the beautiful thing about the symbology is that anyone can reach enlightenment and turn their lives around, at any time, and develop a path of peace and equanimity.
This book was recommended to me the very first time I went to a Buddhist book shop, yet I really wasn’t ready for it until many years after I was introduced to it. It is some of the most incredible poetry I’ve ever read, and in my influences this book is definitely among my personal canon. I’ve been reengaging with my Buddhist practice, and I picked this book up today for the first time since the beginning of the year. I hope this can serve as an introduction to this kind of beautiful Buddhist poetry, and it’s a great entryway to the Buddhist perspective.
The Reluctant Blogger 