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Milarepa
Without
Belongings means Without Suffering
The
envoy of the Nepali King upon meeting him for the first time was wonderstruck
at Milarepa's lack of material possessions and asked him: "Don't
you find it hard to live thus without taking nourishing food? Why is it
necessary to abandon all belongings?"
Milarepa
then answered the envoy: "I am the Tibetan yogi, Milarepa. 'Without
belongings' means 'without sufferings'." Now listen to my song:
I bow down
to all holy Gurus.
I am the
man call Milarepa.
For possessions I have no desire.
Since I never strive to make money,
First I do not suffer
Because of making it;
Then I do not suffer
Because of keeping it;
In the end I do not suffer
Because of hoarding it.
Better far and happier is it
Not to have possessions.
Without attachment
to kinsmen and companions,
I do not seek affection in companionship,
First I do no suffer
Because of heart-clinging;
Then I do not suffer
From any quarrelling;
In the end I do no suffer
Because of separation.
It is far better to have no affectionate companions.
Since I have
no pride and egotisms,
I do not look for fame and glory.
First I do not suffer
Because of seeking them;
Then I do not suffer
In trying to preserve them;
In the end I do not suffer
For fear of losing them.
It is far better to have neither fame nor glory.
Since I have
no desire for any place,
I crave not to be here, nor there.
First I do not worry
About my home's protection,
Then I do not suffer
From a fervent passion for it;
In the end I am not anxious to defend it.
It is far better to have neither home nor land.
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