Milarepa

He is generally considered one of Tibet's most famous yogis and spiritual poets, whose teachings are known among several schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

[1][2][3] Most of the present-day stories on Milarepa come from this single source, with oral lineage predominating as well as relics including his bearskin coat.

Before Marpa would teach Milarepa, he had him undergo abuse and trials, such as letting him build and then demolish three towers in turn.

[1] Marpa transmitted Tantric initiations and instructions to Milarepa, including tummo ("yogic heat"), the "aural transmissions" (Wylie: snyan rgyud), and mahamudra.

[3] According to Lopez, The Life of Milarepa represents "Buddhism as it was understood and practiced in Tibet in the fifteenth century, projected back in time.

"[2] The life story of Milarepa portrays "the rapid method of the Tantric path," in which liberation is gained in one lifetime.

"[2] Yet, in his instructions to his Tibetan audiences, Milarepa refers to the basic Buddhist teachings of "impermanence, the sufferings of saṃsāra, the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its arrival, the frightful rebirth that is the direct result of our benighted deeds."

Previous biographies of Milarepa were enlarged with religious poetry and song cycles, which doubled the volume of biographical information.