Cassina Valsassina- Zucco della Croce

ONCE the great Yogi Milarepa was staying at the Eagle Castle of
[Red Rock] Jewel Valley,! absorbing himself in the practice of the
Mahamudra meditation.2 Feeling hungry, he decided to prepare some
food, but after looking about he found there was nothing left in the
cave, neither water nor fuel, let alone salt, oil, or flour. "It seems
that I have neglected things too much!" he:: said, "I must go out and
collect some wood."
He went out. But when he had gathered a handful of twigs, a sud-
den storm arose, and the wind was strong enough to blow away the
wood and tear his ragged robe. When he tried to hold the robe to-
gether, the wood blew away. When he tried to clutch the wood, the
robe blew apart. [Frustrated}, Milarepa thought, "Although I have
been practicing the Dharma3 and living in solitude for such a long
time, I am still not rid of ego-clinging! What is the use of practicing
Dharma if one cannot subdue ego-clinging? Let the wind blow my
wood away if it likes. Let the wind blow my robe off if it wishes!"
Thinking thus, he ceased resisting. But, due to weakness from lack of
food, with the next gust of wind he could no longer withstand the
storm, and fell down in a faint.
Wh"en he came to, the storm was over. High up on the branch of
a tree he saw a shred of his clothing swaying in the gentle breeze.
The utter futility of this world and all its affairs struck Milarepa, and
a strong· feeling of renunciation overwhelmed him. Sitting down







ONCE the great Yogi Milarepa was staying at the Eagle Castle of
[Red Rock] Jewel Valley,! absorbing himself in the practice of the
Mahamudra meditation.2 Feeling hungry, he decided to prepare some
food, but after looking about he found there was nothing left in the
cave, neither water nor fuel, let alone salt, oil, or flour. "It seems
that I have neglected things too much!" he:: said, "I must go out and
collect some wood."
He went out. But when he had gathered a handful of twigs, a sud-
den storm arose, and the wind was strong enough to blow away the
wood and tear his ragged robe. When he tried to hold the robe to-
gether, the wood blew away. When he tried to clutch the wood, the
robe blew apart. [Frustrated}, Milarepa thought, "Although I have
been practicing the Dharma3 and living in solitude for such a long
time, I am still not rid of ego-clinging! What is the use of practicing
Dharma if one cannot subdue ego-clinging? Let the wind blow my
wood away if it likes. Let the wind blow my robe off if it wishes!"
Thinking thus, he ceased resisting. But, due to weakness from lack of
food, with the next gust of wind he could no longer withstand the
storm, and fell down in a faint.
Wh"en he came to, the storm was over. High up on the branch of
a tree he saw a shred of his clothing swaying in the gentle breeze.
The utter futility of this world and all its affairs struck Milarepa, and
a strong· feeling of renunciation overwhelmed him. Sitting down upon ONCE the great Yogi Milarepa was staying at the Eagle Castle of
[Red Rock] Jewel Valley,! absorbing himself in the practice of the
Mahamudra meditation.2 Feeling hungry, he decided to prepare some
food, but after looking about he found there was nothing left in the
cave, neither water nor fuel, let alone salt, oil, or flour. "It seems
that I have neglected things too much!" he:: said, "I must go out and
collect some wood."
He went out. But when he had gathered a handful of twigs, a sud-
den storm arose, and the wind was strong enough to blow away the
wood and tear his ragged robe. When he tried to hold the robe to-
gether, the wood blew away. When he tried to clutch the wood, the
robe blew apart. [Frustrated}, Milarepa thought, "Although I have
been practicing the Dharma3 and living in solitude for such a long
time, I am still not rid of ego-clinging! What is the use of practicing
Dharma if one cannot subdue ego-clinging? Let the wind blow my
wood away if it likes. Let the wind blow my robe off if it wishes!"
Thinking thus, he ceased resisting. But, due to weakness from lack of
food, with the next gust of wind he could no longer withstand the
storm, and fell down in a faint.
Wh"en he came to, the storm was over. High up on the branch of
a tree he saw a shred of his clothing swaying in the gentle breeze.
The utter futility of this world and all its affairs struck Milarepa, and
a strong· feeling of renunciation o

Zucco della Croce da Cassina Valsassina, escursione abbastanza breve, percorso ad anello





verwhelmed him. Sitting down










upon
a rock, he meditated once more.
Soori, a cluster of white clouds rose from Dro Wo Valley4 far
away to the East. "Below this bank of clouds lies the temple of my
Guru, the great Translator Marpa,"5 mused Milarepa, "At this
a rock, he meditated once more.
Soori, a cluster of white clouds rose from Dro Wo Valley4 far
away to the East. "Below this bank of clouds lies the temple of my
Guru, the great Translator Marpa,"5 mused Milarepa, "At this upon
a rock, he meditated once more.
Soori, a cluster of white clouds rose from Dro Wo Valley4 far
away to the East. "Below this bank of clouds lies the temple of my
Guru, the great Translator Marpa,"5 mused Milarepa, "At this