Casaglia (Besana Brianza)

Giro in Brianza partendo da Casaglia frazione di Besana







In a happy mood, let us sing and sport and play!
It is happy to be blessed, and a joy to meditate!
Cheerful, cheerful, are these after-dinner words.
May all rejoice, be gay and full of mirth.
Happy it is to vomit when drunk with devotion,
Happy to shout and cry under the blessing.
Ever, then, be joyful under the grace of your Gurus!
This is the ninth chapter of my song,
The Chapter of the Sermon After Feasting.
257
So Milarepa sang, mimicking the Bon way of chanting. Hearing it, the
sick man was blessed and cured. Sons, daughters, servants, and friends,
including some learned Lamas, were so delighted that one could hardly
describe their joy. The villagers declared, "It is indeed miraculous to re-
vive a dying man. The blessing of Dharma is surely greater than that of
the Bons!" An unalterable faith in the Jetsun arose in them all. The rich
man then addressed the Jetsun, saying, "Dear Lama, your preachings
were all Buddhist; they were not of Bon. I have always been a follower
of Bon and believed its teachings, but now I will become a Buddhist and
put my whole faith in Buddhism- I, and my sons, and all my family
and household." The Jetsun gave assent, and thus the whole family,
including the father with his eight sons, became Buddhists.
Among the sons was one who had been an expert in Bon, which he
had mastered to a perfect degree and in which he thoroughly believed.
But after his father's cure, an immutable faith toward the Jetsun and
Dharma awoke in him. He said to Milarepa, "Outwardly, the practice
and words used by Bon and Dharma appear alike, but the compassion and·
grace are different and so are the achievements. Bon practices are greedy
and covetous. In whatever ceremony is held, at least one living being
will be slaughtered as an offering. The gods we worship are all worldly.
When a follower is about to die, he has no real assurance within him-
self. His heart is filled with fear and confusion. From now on, I will re-
nounce Bon and become a Buddhist. Please accept me as your servant-
disciple and allow me to go with you." It occurred to Milarepa that this
man was a well.destined person. He, therefore, took him for a disciple
and granted him the Initiations and Pith-Instructions. Eventually, this
young man attained Liberation and all the Accomplishments. He be-
came known as Shen Com Repa, one of the close disciples of Milarepa.
His father and his brothers all gave their best service and offerings to the
Jetsun while he dwelt at Langgo Ludu Tson, Bepu Mamo Tson, and
Barkan Gi Tson. They entered the Gate of Liberation and followed
Path of the All-Knowing Ones, thus preventing themselves from falling
into the miserable realms of Sarpsara.
This is the story of Milarepa meeting Tsiwo Repa, the outstanding
enlightened Yogi, and Shen Com Repa, the close son-disciple of Mila-
repa, at Bepu Mamo Tson and Lapu Paima Tson.
CHALLENGE FROM
A CLEVER MAIDEN
Obeisance to all Gurus
W HEN Milarepa and his heart-son-disciple Rechungpa were begging
alms and helping sentient beings at the place of the Five Small
Lakes in the Dritsam region, their reputation ran high. People said,
"Look! The Jetsun Milarepa and his son Rechungpa are now meditating
at Di Se Snow Mountain and Ma Pam Lake!" Influenced by their great
fame, all the people of Joro Dritsam were convinced that Milarepa and
Rechungpa were truly marvelous and unusual yogis. As their respect
and admiration grew, they said, "Let us go to visit these two acom-
plished yogis!"
So one day, a number of patrons came to see the Jetsun, and brought
with them provisions and oblations. Among them was a young girl called
Rechungma, who was intelligent, compassionate, and had great faith in
the Dharma. Actually, she was a I)akini who had incarnated in human
form. Having heard the life-story of Milarepa, the faith of this well-gifted
girl was confirmed, and she came today with four young girl friends to
visit him. But in order to test, and thus verify the reputation of the Jet-
sun and his son, she and her friends challenged Milarepa by singing this
song:
We take refuge in the Three Precious Ones;
Pray, bless us with your great compassion.
Oh, you two exalted Repa Yogis,
You have a great reputation from afar!
Oh, ye faithful here assembled,
Please be silent now and listen to our song.
We five young girls from good families,