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Milarepa
Song
of Transience with Eight Similes
Upon
the arrival of autumn, Milarepa decided to leave Upper Lowo where he had
been preaching the Dharma during the summer, and go to Di Se Snow Mountain.
His patrons gave him a farewell party, circling around him, and made offerings
and obeisance. They said: "Be kind enough to give us, your disciples,
some instructions and advice." The Jetsun then emphasized the transiency
of all beings, admonishing them to practise Dharma earnestly.
And he
sang;
Faithful
disciples here assembled (ask yourselves):
"Have I practiced Dharma with great earnestness?
Has the deepest faith arisen in my heart?"
He who wants to practice Dharma and gain non-regressive faith,
Should listen to this exposition of the Mundane Truths
And ponder well their meaning.
Listen to these parables and metaphors:
A painting
of gold,
Flowers of turquoise blue,
Floods in the vale above,
Rice in the vale below,
Abundance of silk,
A jewel of value,
The crescent moon,
And a precious son -
These are the eight similes.
No one has
sung before
Such casual words (on this),
No one can understand their meaning
If he heeds not the whole song.
The gold
painting fades when it is completed -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
The lovely
flowers of turquoise blue
Are destroyed in time by frost -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
The flood
sweeps strongly down the vale above,
Soon becoming weak and tame in plain below -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
Rice grows
in the vale below;
Soon with a sickle it is reaped -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
Elegant
silken cloth
Soon with a knife is cut -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
The precious
jewel that you cherish
Soon will belong to others -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
The pale
moonbeams soon will fade and vanish -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
A precious
son is born;
Soon he is lost and gone -
This shows the illusory nature of all beings,
This proves the transient nature of all things.
Think, then you will practice Dharma.
These are
the eight similes I sing.
I hope you will remember and practice them.
Affairs
and business will drag on forever,
So lay them down and practice now the Dharma.
If you think tomorrow is the time to practice,
Suddenly you find that life has slipped away.
Who can tell when death will come?
Ever think
of this,
And devote yourselves to Dharma practice.
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