Madone

Parco del basso corso del fiume Brembo

Percorso ad anello da Madone passando per:
- Castello di Marne (8.8 km)





THE INVITATION FROM
THE KING OF NEPAL
Obeisance to all Gurus
W HEN the Jetsun Milarepa was practicing the River-Flow Samadhi
and observing silence in the Riga Daya Cave of Nyi Shang of
Mon, a few local huntsmen came that way. Seeing the Jetsun sitting
motionless, they were all struck with wonder and doubt. After staring at
him for a while, they suddenly became frightened and ran away. After a
time they crept back one by one. Drawing their bows, they asked the
motionless Jetsun: "Are you a human or a ghost? If you are a man, answer
us." But the Jetsun still sat motionless without uttering a word. The
huntsmen then shot many poisonous arrows at Milarepa, but none of
them could hit him. They tried to throw him into the river, but they
could not lift his body. Then they lit a fire, but even this could not bum
him. Finally, they moved his body [by lifting the seat and ground he sat
on) and heaved it over a steep cliff into the great turbulent river below.
Yet, still in a serene lotus posture, the Jetsun's body did not touch the
water, but floated above the river. Then it started moving upward and
finally came back to rest in its original place, all this without Milarepa
having uttered a single word.
All the huntsmen were amazed and hastily departed. On their way
home, talking loudly about the incident, they approached the foot of a
hill. Chira Repa, being nearby, heard their talk and appeared before
them, saying, "That was my Guru, the supreme Yogi of Tibet. These
miracles have proved him to be an accomplished being; even animals
understand his preaching!" Then he told them the story of Milarepa and
the deer and bitch, also how he had been practicing the Dharma through
the Jetsun's influence. At this, great faith and reverence toward the Jet-
sun arose within the huntsmen, and from then on the name of Milare
THE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA
At that time, the reputation of, and the tales about, Milarepa reached
the ear of the King of Y e Rang and Ko Kom, who also became filled
with great faith and reverence toward him. One day, the All-Merciful
Mother Tara revealed Herself to the King and said, "The cloth of Ka
Shi Ka and the supreme Ahrura [myrobalan- a universal medicine]
which are now stored in your treasury should be offered to the great
Tibetan Yogi, a Bodhisattva of the tenth [and final] stage, who is now
at the mountain cave of Nyi Shang Gadaya north of Nepal. This will
have great significance for the future." Thus She prophesied. The King
then sent a man who spoke Tibetan to visit Milarepa. When 'the man
saw the ascetic way in which the Jetsun was living, and how he had re-
nounced all the necessities and affairs of this life, he was greatly im-
pressed and struck with wonder. A great faith arose within him. Thinking,
"This yogi is undoubtedly Milarepa himself, however I must make sure,"
he said to the Jetsun, "Oh Guru! What is your name? Don't you find it
hard to live thus without taking nourishing food? What does this mean?
Why is it necessary to abandon all belongings and material possessions?"
Milarepa then answered the envoy, "I am the Tibetan Yogi, Milarepa.
'Without belongings' means \vithout sufferings.' Now, listen to my
song":
I bow down to all holy Gurus.
I am the man called 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 not suffer
Because of heart-clinging;
Then I do not suffer
From any quarreling;
In the end I do not suffer
Because of separation.