Montù Beccaria

Escursione molto panoramica sulle colline dell' oltrepo pavese partendo da Montu' Beccaria piccolo paese vicino a Stradella, purtroppo si svolge completamente su asfalto, su stradine classificate come provinciali, c'è poco traffico ma non è il massimo, tuttavia la bellezza dei paesaggi ripaga di questo piccolo disguido










TilE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA
The falling snow enclosed
My house of meditation;16
Goddesses gave me food and sustenance;
The water of Snow Mountain was the purest draught.
All was done without effort;
There is no need to farm whert there's no
demand [for food].
My store is full without preparation or hoarding.
By observing my own mind, all things are seen;
By sitting in a lowly place, the royal throne
is reached.
Perfection is attained through the Guru's grace;
This bounty is repaid by Dharma practice.
Followers and patrons here assembled,
Give your services with faith.
Be happy, all, and gay.
Dunbar Shajaguna made obeisance to Milarepa, saying, "It is indeed
wondrous and pleasing to learn that so much snow did not harm the
Jetsun, and that \Ve, your disciples, were able to return with you safely
to the village. What a joy that all the disciples could see their Guru!
We will be deeply grateful and happy if you preach the Dharma on
your meditative experiences this winter, as an arrival-gift to us."
Milarepa, in answer to Shajaguna's request and as an arrival-gift to
the disciples of Nya Non, sang the song of "The Six Essences of Medi-
tative Experience":
Obeisance to my Guru with the Three Perfections.
This evening, at the request
Of my disciples Shajaguna and the Patron Dormos,
I, Milarepa, tell what I experienced when meditating,
I who ever dwell in the remote fastnesses.
The pure vow made this congregation possible;
The pure precept of Dharma united me and my patrons.
My sons! What you have asked, will I,
The father, present as my arrival-gift.
I renounce the world, and have lamented for it.
I, Milarepa, came to Lashi Snow Mountain
To occupy alone the Cave of Conquering Demons
The Song of the Snow Ranges
For six full months, the experiences of meditation
grew;
I now disclose them in this, the song of the
Six Essences.
First come the Six Parables of Outer Appearance;
Second, the Six Inner Misconducts,
Which one should carefully consider;
Third, the Six Ropes which bind us in Saf!lsara;
Fourth, the Six Ways through which Liberation
is achieved;
Fifth, the Six Essences of Knowledge
Through which one attains confidence;
Sixth, the Six Blissful Experiences of Meditation.
If one docs not commit this song to memory,
No impression is left upon the mind.
Heed carefully, then, my explanations.
If there be obstacles,
It cannot be called space;
If there be numbers,
It cannot be called stars.
One cannot say "This is a mountain,"
If it moves and shakes.
It cannot be an ocean
Should it grow or shrink.
One cannot be called a swimmer
If he needs a bridge.
It is not a rain bow
If it can be grasped.
These are the Six Outer Parables.
The limits of the definite
Limit understanding.
Drowsiness and distractions
Are not meditation.
Acceptance and rejection
Are not acts of will.
A constant flow of thought
Is not Yoga.
If there be East and W est,tT