+~
+Milarepa’s Song on the Way of the Yogi
+
+I am just a man, a yogi of Tibet;
+I am Milarepa.
+I’ve studied little but have many key instructions.
+Though I’m humble, I have great perseverance.
+I sleep little and have great endurance in meditation.
+I’m an expert in all by knowing one thing
+And I understand everything to be one:
+I am an expert in genuine reality.
+On my small seat, stretching my legs is pleasant.
+With thin clothes, my body is perfectly warm.
+With small bits of tsampa, my stomach is full.
+My example is that which all meditators aspire to.
+I’m a gathering place for those with faith.
+I’m an object of reliance for those fearful of birth and death.
+I go in no fixed direction
+And I stay in no one particular place.
+For conduct, I go without reference points.
+I have no attachment to material things
+And no notion of clean or dirty food.
+For me, the pain of the afflictions is small.
+I have little self-regard and few desires.
+I’ve little attachment to perceiver and perceived
+And I’ve loosened the knots of the state of nirvana.
+I’m a friend of the elderly, a shoulder to lean on,
+And a playmate for young children.
+I’m a yogi who roams the country far and wide.
+May you devas and humans be healthy and happy.
+ -- Milarepa and Tsangnyon Heruka, "The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa",
+ published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+It’s very important to keep examining your mind at all times and be aware of
+what occurs in it. We have this habit of criticizing others; we are very good
+at pointing out their faults, but we have a hard time being aware of our own
+flaws. Examining the faults of others will not benefit anyone and only leads
+to more disturbing emotions, blocking our path to liberation. Whatever anyone
+else does, let them do it. It’s not your business to find other people’s
+flaws, and even if you do point them out, there is no way for you to correct
+them. On the other hand, it is very important to watch your own mind and
+train in subduing and reducing your own disturbing emotions. Analyze your
+mind, constantly watch your thoughts, recognizing whether they are positive or
+negative, and become aware of your faults. If you constantly observe yourself
+and analyze your thoughts, you will eventually be able to tame your mind.
+Since we haven’t been able to purify our karmic and emotional obscurations,
+our gross disturbing emotions can come up anytime, and whenever these emotions
+come up, we should apply the antidote by looking into our mind and trying to
+understand that all phenomena are emptiness. If you leave your mind in a
+relaxed state without contriving anything, disturbing emotions will cease.
+ -- Drubwang Penor Rinpoche, from "An Ocean of Blessings", published by
+ Shambhala Publications