Zandobbio

Percorso ad anello da Zandobbio a san Giovanni delle formiche, passando all' andata per il parco pitone e il monte dell' Ingannolo, e al ritorno passando per il colle san Bernardo,escursione collinare in Bergamasca, si svolge prevalentemente nei boschi, consigliabile d'inverno quando l' assenza di fogliame permette di intravedere scorci di paesaggio




T HE Master of Yoga, the Jetsun Milarepa, in obedience to his Guru's
orders, went from Junpan to Yolmo Snow Range, where he dwelt
at the Tiger Cave of Senge Tson1 in the woods of Singalin. The
local goddess of Yolmo appeared in a gracious form, obeying the
Jetsun's orders and rendering her best service to him. Milarepa re-
mained there for some time in a deeply inspired mood.
One day, five young mcame from Mon to visit him. They ad-
dressed him thus: "It is said that this place is full of terror, and an
ideal place in which to attain great improvement in meditation. Can
this be true? Have you found it so?" Milarepa then sang in praise of
the place:
Obeisance to you, my Guru!
I met you through having accumulated great merits,
And now'stay at the place you prophesied.2
This is a delightful place, a place of hills
and forests.
In the mountain-meadows, flowers. bloom;
In the woods dance the swaying trees!
For monkeys it is a playground.
Birds sing tunefully,
Bees fly and buzz,
And from day until night the rainbows come and go.
In summer and winter falls the sweet rain,
And mist and fog roll up in fall and spring.
At such a pleasant place, in solitude
The Song of a Yogi's Joy
I, Milarepa, happily abide,
Meditating upon the void-illuminating Mind.
Oh, happy are the myriad manifestations!
The more ups-and-downs, the more joy I feel.
Happy is the body with no sinful Karma,
Happy indeed are the countless confusions!
The greater the fear, the greater the
happiness I feel,3
Oh, happy is the death of sensations and passions!
The greater the distress and passions,
The more can one be blithe and gay!
What happiness to feel no ailment or illness;
What happiness to feel that joy and suffering
are one;
What happiness to play in bodily movement
With the power aroused by Yoga.
To jump and run, to dance and leap, is
more joyful still.
What happiness to sing the victorious song,
What happiness to chant and hum,
More joyful still to talk and loudly sing!
Happy is the mind, powerful and confident,
Steeped in the realm of Totality.
The most extreme happiness
Is the self-emanation of self-power;
Happy are the myriad forms, the myriad revelations.
As a welcoming gift to my faithful pupils,
I sing of yogic happiness.
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Thereupon, Milarepa initiated the five young nun-novices and gave
them the verbal instructions. After practicing these teachings for some
time, the light of inner Realization was born within them. Milarepa
was overjoyed and sang the "Nectar of Instruction":
Oh, my Guru, he who shows
The unmistakable path to Liberation,
The Perfect Savior, the great Compassionate One,
Pray, never leave me, ever remain
Above my head• as my crest-jewell se
THE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA
Hearken, followers of the Dharma,
Ye meditators seated here,
Though the teachings of Buddha are most numerous,
He who can practice this Profound Path5
Is gifted indeed!
If you wish to become a Buddha in one lifetime,
You should not crave the things of this life,
Nor intensify your self-longing,
Else you will be entangled between good and evil,
And you may fall into the realm of misery.
When you give service to your Guru,
Refrain from thinking, "I am the one who works,
He is the one who enjoys."
Should you have this kind of feeling,
Quarrel and discord will surely follow,
And your wish can never be fulfilled.
When you observe the Tantric Precepts,
Cease association with the vicious,
Else you will be contaminated by evil influences,
And you may risk breaking the Precepts.
When you engage in study and learning,
Do not attach yourself to words with pride,
Else the dormant fire of the Five
Poisonous Passions6 will blaze,
And virtuous thoughts and deeds will be consumed.
When you meditate with friends in retreat,
Do not attempt too many things,
Else your virtuous deeds will cease,
And your devotion will be distracted.
When you practice the Path with Form7
of the Whispered Transmission,8
Do not exorcise demons, nor curse ghosts for others,
Lest demons rise within your mind
And a longing for worldly aims will blaze.
When you have acquired Experience and