The Songs of Milarepa: listening to the whispered teachings of Tibet's greatest yogin.

Milarepa, or Shepa Dorje (Laughing Vajra) as he is known in Tibetan, is the most famous yogi/-saint in Tibetan history. Known for coming to Buddhist practice through the painful events of his youth, which include the experience of great loss, revenge and even murder, Milarepa came to become the most well-known student of Marpa the Translator. Placing all of his effort into the single-pointed devotion to meditation, Milarepa spent his life in retreat in caves, teaching those who met him in song. Many of these pithy songs were preserved and remain with us today.

The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, as it has come to be known today, was first compiled by the 'religious madman' Tsangnyön Heruka in the mid-fifteenth century, along with his famed biography, The Life of Milarepa. These works have become classics thanks to the initial transla-tions provided by Garma C.C. Chang and Lobsang Lhalungpa. Originally a secret text, the Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, was taught to elucidate the view, path, and fruition aspects of meditation practice demonstrated by Milarepa, to generations of yogins following in his direct lineage.

Complete texts in their own right, each song and story contained within The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, and other collections of songs offer a rich and powerful demonstration of how we can fully engage our spiritual practice and live the life that we have set out to live no matter how different it may appear from that of Milarepa's life. When seen from the perspective of timeless oral instructions, the songs of Milarepa offer us a way to connect to the thousand year old lineage of practice that is captured within them. During each hour and fifteen minute class, through listening to the songs, spending time in meditation and lively discussion we will unlock and discover some of the profound points that Milarepa makes and explore how they apply to us in our experience of life in the 21st century.

Held twice monthly on Monday evenings this class is open to all. Suggested donation: $10

New York Tsurphu Goshir Dharma Center183 15th Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11215

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