The most famous and beloved of Tibetan yogins. Although he is associated most closely with the Bka' brgyud sect of Tibetan Buddhism, he is revered throughout the Tibetan cultural domain for his perseverance through hardship, his ultimate attainment of buddhahood in one lifetime, and for his beautiful songs. The most famous account of his life (the Mi la ras pa'i rnam thar, or “The Life of Milarepa”) and collection of spiritual songs (Mi la'i mgur 'bum, or “The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa”) are extremely popular throughout the Tibetan world. The themes associated with his life story—purification of past misdeeds, faith and devotion to the Guru, ardor in meditation and yogic practice, and the possibility of attaining buddhahood despite the sins of his youth—have inspired developments in Buddhist teaching and practice in Tibet. (Source: "Mi la ras pa." In The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, 541. Princeton University Press, 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt46n41q.27.)
On the topic of this person
Mind Seeing Mind
Roger Jackson's Mind Seeing Mind is the first attempt to provide both a scholarly study of the history, texts, and doctrines of Geluk mahāmudrā and translations of some of its seminal texts. It begins with a survey of the Indian sources of the teaching and goes on the discuss the place of mahāmudrā in non-Geluk Tibetan Buddhist schools, especially the Kagyü. The book then turns to a detailed survey of the history and major textual sources of Geluk mahāmudrā, from Tsongkhapa, through the First Panchen, down to the present. The final section of the study addresses critical questions, including the relation between Geluk and Kagyü mahāmudrā, the ways Gelukpa authors have interpreted the mahāsiddha Saraha, and the broader religious-studies implications raised by Tibetan debates about mahāmudrā. The translation portion of Mind Seeing Mind includes eleven texts on mahāmudrā history, ritual, and practice. Foremost among these is the First Panchen Lama's autocommentary on his root verses of Geluk Mahāmudrā, the foundation of the tradition. Also included is his ritual masterpiece Offering to the Guru, which is a staple of Geluk practice, and a selection of his songs of spiritual experience. Mind Seeing Mind adds considerably to our understanding of Geluk spirituality and shows how mahāmudrā came to be woven throughout the fabric of the tradition. (Source: Wisdom Publications)
Jackson, Roger R. Mind Seeing Mind: Mahāmudrā and the Geluk Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications, 2019.
Jackson, Roger R. Mind Seeing Mind: Mahāmudrā and the Geluk Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications, 2019.;Mind Seeing Mind;Mahamudra;Geluk;Vajrayana;Nāropa;Maitrīpa;Atiśa;Kadam;Shangpa Kagyu;Sakya;Nyingma;Mar pa chos kyi blo gros;mi la ras pa;Sgam po pa;Karma Kagyu;Drukpa Kagyu;Drikung Kagyu;Sa skya paN+Di ta;Karmapa, 3rd;Great Madhyamaka;gzhan stong;Jonang;Karma phrin las pa;Pawo Rinpoche, 2nd;Karmapa, 8th;Dwags po bkra shis rnam rgyal;Pad+ma dkar po;Karmapa, 9th;Tsong kha pa;mkhas grub rje;Nor bzang rgya mtsho;PaN chen bsod nams grags pa;Panchen Lama, 4th;Lcang skya rol pa'i rdo rje;Tukwan, 3rd;Zhabs dkar tshogs drug rang grol;Roger R. Jackson; Mind Seeing Mind: Mahāmudrā and the Geluk Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism;Tsong kha pa;Tshe mchog gling ye shes rgyal mtshan;Panchen Lama, 4th;'dul nag pa dpal ldan bzang po;Nor bzang rgya mtsho;Tukwan, 3rd
Natural Great Perfection (1995)
Dzogchen is the consummate practice of Tibetan Buddhism. A pure awareness practice applicable to any circumstance and readily integrated into modern life, Dzogchen directly introduces us to the inherent freedom, purity, and perfection of being that is our true nature. Natural Great Perfection is an inspiring collection of teachings providing the deepest possible insight into the practice of the Dzogchen path. The teachings are followed by a collection of spontaneous vajra songs composed in the tradition of Milarepa as the delightful play of wisdom consciousness. (Source: Shambhala Publications)
Nyoshul Khenpo and Lama Surya Das. Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and Vajra Songs. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 1995.
Nyoshul Khenpo and Lama Surya Das. Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and Vajra Songs. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 1995.;Natural Great Perfection (1995);Dzogchen;Nyingma;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism;mi la ras pa;Nyoshul Khenpo;Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje;སྨྱོ་ཤུལ་མཁན་པོ་འཇམ་དབྱངས་རྡོ་རྗེ་;smyo shul mkhan po 'jam dbyangs rdo rje; Lama Surya Das;Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and Vajra Songs;Nyoshul Khenpo
See the True Nature, Then Let Go and Relax in That
An interview with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche that turned into a Mahamudra teaching on the spot.
McLeod, Melvin. "See the True Nature, Then Let Go and Relax in That." Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly, March 1, 2004.
McLeod, Melvin. "See the True Nature, Then Let Go and Relax in That." Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly, March 1, 2004.;See the True Nature, Then Let Go and Relax in That;Buddha-nature as Luminosity;Buddha-nature as Emptiness;Mahamudra;mi la ras pa;Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra;Third Turning;Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim;Melvin McLeod;  
Affiliations & relations
- Kagyu · religious affiliation
- mar pa chos kyi blo gros · teacher
- sgam po pa · student
- ras chung pa · student
