Annone di Brianza

THE TWENTY.,ONE
EXHORTATIONS
Obeisance to all Gurus
0 NE night while meditating on Lashi Snow Mountain, Milarepa
dreamt that a most beautiful young girl, adorned with jewels and
bone ornaments, came to him and said, "Yogi Milarepa, you should fol-
low your Guru's instruction, go to Di Se Snow Mountain and meditate
there. On your way, you will meet a well-gifted and destined person
· whom you should infh:ence and guide according to his need." After say-
ing this she disappeared. When Milarepa awoke, he thought to himself,
"This message is sent by the Patron Buddha and I)akini to enable me
to repay my Guru's bounty. I must comply with her request and go at
once."
On his way from Lashi to Di Se Snow Mountain, he met an in-
habitant of Nya Non called Dhamba Jhaupu.
This man invited Milarepa to his house, made great offerings, and
gave an elaborate feast in his honor. [At the feast], he said to the Jet-
sun, "For the sake of the disciples now assembled here, please be kind
enough to preach for us the Dharma which blossoms within you. Please
put this preaching into a song and sing it for us."
And so Milarepa sang "The Twenty-One Exhortations for Mind":
Great is the Skillful Path of Tantra
And the Guru's Pith-Instruction,
So, too, are perseverance and resolution;
These are the "Three Greatnesses."
Put the Life-active PraQa at the key point,
The Mind-Essence in its Natural State
The Twenty-One Exhortations
And consciousness under self-examination;
These are the "Three Enterings."
To fulfill the commandments of my Guru,
Achieve the wishes of my heart,
And be altruistic without effort;
These are the "Three Accomplishments."
Outer hindrances and demons disappear,
Inner desires and passions are extinguished,
Disorder and illness of body cease to be;
These arc the "Three Absences."
My skill and my resourcefulness in speech,
My eloquence in answering all questions,
My knowledge of the nature and aspects of Mind;
These are the "Three Proficiencies."
I see clearly that bliss is void of substance,
I see all things manifest without discriminating,
I see clearly That which is beyond all words;
These are the "Three Sights."
When men in crowds assemble,
Means and enjoyments are gathered there
And Oakinis congregate;
These are the "Three Gatherings."
These one-and-twenty Exhortations for the Mind
Are fruit of my experience in meditation;
All Dharma seekers should value them,
Especially my followers and sons.
Too much instruction hinders Liberation.
Follow then and practice the precious words
That I have sung to this assembly.
201
Thereupon Dhamba Jhaupu served Milarepa, who gave him the Ini-
tiation and Key Instructions. Having practiced these teachings for some
time he attained the Experiences and Realization, and later on became
one of the "intimate sons" of the Jetsun.
This is the story of Milarepa's meeting with Dhamba Jhaupu.