THE LIFE OF MILAREPA
 

PART I
THE PATH OF DARKNESS


CHAPTER I: THE LINEAGE AND BIRTH
Telling of Rechung's Dreams, which led to the Writing of this Biography; and of Milarepa's Ancestry and Birth

CHAPTER II: THE TASTING OF SORROW
Telling of the Death and Last Will of Milarepa's Father; the Misappropriation of the Estate by the Paternal Uncle and Aunt; and the Resulting Sorrows which Milarepa and his Mother and Sister endured

CHAPTER III: THE PRACTISING OF THE BLACK ART
Telling of Jetsün's Guru and Mastery of the Black Art; and of how Jetsün destroyed Thirty-Five of his Enemies and the Rich Barley Harvest of the Others, by Magic

 
PART II
THE PATH OF LIGHT


CHAPTER IV: THE SEEKING OF THE HOLY DHARMA
Telling of how Jetsün departed from his Guru of the Black Art; and of how Jetsün found his Guru of the True Doctrine, Marpa the Translator

CHAPTER V: THE PROBATION AND PENANCE
Telling of how Jetsün Obeyed the Commands of his Guru Marpa, thereby Suffering Strange Trials and Great Tribulations; and of how, in Despondency, he Thrice Deserted Marpa and Sought another Guru, and then returned to Marpa.

CHAPTER VI: THE INITIATION
Telling of the Completion of Jetsün's Probation; of Jetsün's Initiation; and of Marpa's Predictions concerning Jetsün.

CHAPTER VII: THE PERSONAL GUIDANCE BY THE GURU
Telling of the Fruits of Jetsün's Meditation and Study; of Marpa's Last Journey to India; of Jetsün's Prophetic Dream and its Interpretation by Marpa; and of Marpa's special charge to each of his Four Chief Disciples.

CHAPTER VIII: THE PARTING FROM THE GURU
Telling of how Jetsün, led by a Dream, left his Hermitage, and, going to his Guru, secured permission to visit Tsa, Jetsün's Birthplace; of the Guru's Final Instructions and Admonitions; of the Sorrowful Parting; and of how Jetsün reached Tsa.

CHAPTER IX: THE RENUNCIATION
Telling of the Disillusionment which Jetsün met when he had reached his Home; and of his Vows to Live the Ascetic Life and Practise Meditation in Solitude.

CHAPTER X: THE MEDITATION IN SOLITUDE
Telling of how Jetsün entered into Solitary Meditation in the Mountain Solitudes; of the Outer Experiences, and of the Psycho-Physical Results which Ensued; and of his Songs Recording each Event.

CHAPTER XI: THE HERMITAGES AND SERVICE RENDERED TO SENTIENT BEINGS
Telling of Jetsün's Disciples and Places of Meditation; and of the Recorded Writings concerning Jetsün.

CHAPTER XII: THE NIRVANA
Telling of how Jetsün came to take Poisoned Curds from Tsaphuwa's Concubine; of the Last Assembly of Jetsün's Followers, and the Attendant Marvels; of Jetsün's Discourse on Illness and Death; of His Final Testamentary Teachings; of the Conversion of Tsaphuwa; of the Last Will; of the Passing Away in Samadhi, and the Resultant Super-normal Phenomena; of Rechung's Late Arrival and Prayer to Jetsün, and the Answer; of the Marvellous Events Connected with the Cremation and the Reliques; of the Execution of Jetsün's Last Will; and concerning his Disciples.