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Milarepa
Song
of Four-Fold Warning
Some
patrons had made copious offerings to the young and handsome Rechungpa
before his departure for Weu but had offered his old Teacher, the Jetsun
only third-rate provisions. Milarepa came to know of this and shamed them
to their faces whereupon they felt guilt and deep regret. One day they
came again and brought excessive offerings saying, 'Please sing for us
to awaken our insight into the transiency of beings.'
Milarepa
would not accept their offerings but he sang this for them :
Hearken you mean patrons!
For the sake of fame, to do meritorious deeds ---
For this life's sake to seek the protection of Buddha --
To give alms for the sake of returns and dividends --
To serve and offer for the sake of vanity and pride --
These four ways will ne'er requite one!
For the
sake of gluttony
To hold a sacramental feast --
For the sake of egotism,
To strive for Sutra-learning ---
For distraction and amusement
To indulge in foolish talk and song ---
For vain glory's sake
To give the Initiations ---
These four ways will never bring one blessings!
If for love
of preaching one expounds
Without the backing of scripture,
If through self-conceit,
One accepts obeisance;
If like a bungling, fumbling fool one teaches,
Not knowing the disciple's capacity,
If to gather money one behaves
Like a Dharma practiser ----
These four ways can never help the welfare of sentient beings!
To prefer diversions to solitude,
To love pleasures and hate hardship,
To crave for talk when urged to meditate,
To wallow arrogantly in the world ---
There four ways will ne'er bring one to Liberation.
This is
the song of Fourfold Warning
Dear patrons, bear it in your minds!
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