The Life of Marpa The Translator

by Tsangnyön Heruka

Marpa the Translator, the eleventh-century farmer, scholar, and teacher, is one of the most renowned saints in Tibetan Buddhist history. In the West, Marpa is best known through his teacher, the Indian yogin Nâropa, and through his closest disciple, Milarepa. This lucid and moving translation of a text composed by the author of The Life of Milarepa and The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa documents the fascinating life of Marpa, who, unlike many other Tibetan masters, was a layman, a skillful businessman who raised a family while training his disciples.

As a youth, Marpa was inspired to travel to India to study the Buddhist teachings, for at that time in Tibet, Buddhism has waned considerably through ruthless suppression by an evil king. The author paints a vivid picture of Marpa's three journeys to India: precarious mountain passes, desolate plains teeming with bandits, greedy customs-tax collectors. Marpa endured many hardships, but nothing to compare with the trials that ensued with his guru Nâropa and other teachers. Yet Marpa succeeded in mastering the tantric teachings, translating and bringing them to Tibet, and establishing the Practice Lineage of the Kagyüs, which continues to this day.

Genres: Buddhism, Biography, India, Spirituality, Religion

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1505

About the author

Tsangnyön Heruka (Tib. གཙང་སྨྱོན་ཧེ་རུ་ཀ Wyl. Gtsaṅ-smyon He-ru-ka) was a tantric yogi of the Kagyu school who compiled the biography and collected songs of Milarepa.

Reviews

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read!

It's a story format, so pretty easy and enjoyable (i.e. not academic), yet is a fantastic and powerful start-to-finish spiritual biography of how an ordinary human being achieved the highest awakening and benefited countless others during one lifetime.

At a surface level, it's a fascinating window on why Tibet has long been called a mystical land for its yogis and Buddhist practitioners, who go through decades of intense mind-training to transcend the bounds of samsara.

For someone interested in Tibetan Buddhism, this is the life story of one of the most eminent Tibetan masters of the past, who single-handedly brought a treasure trove of Dharma texts and practices to Tibet through three perilous journeys to India. Marpa's dedication and attainments are inspiring to say the least.

There are many many oral teachings in this book, often given through songs from Marpa, his many teachers and other characters in the book. These actually contain profound instructions in pointing out the nature of the mind. The glossary at the back does an excellent job of explaining some of these terms, yet I imagine there will always be more to glean from these teachings, according to the level of the reader's realization and readiness.

Thumbs up.

[Dawa Zangmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Life of Marpa the Translator' recounts the life and teachings of the famous Tibetan Buddhist master, Marpa Lotsawa. He was a key figure in the transmission of Indian Buddhist teachings to Tibet and was known for his rigorous and demanding approach to spiritual practice.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part provides a detailed account of Marpa's life, including his early years in Tibet, and his travels to India. The second part focuses on Marpa's teachings. The author provides a detailed explanation as well as practical guidance for those interested in pursung this path.
The third part consists of the translations of Marpa's songs and teachings, which offers insights into his approach to spiritual practice and his relationship with his teacher, the Indian master Naropa.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad to have read this. It gives me a better view of how Buddhism moved out of India and into Tibet.

[Chris Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but it's odd to have a biography that also gives the life story in its introduction ...

[Akshunya · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I will recommend buying a hard copy instead of the digital version, as there are so many Sanskrit and Tibetan terms for which you often need to look back at the glossary and it kind of irks you after doing that a few times.
I will also suggest to first go through the glossary before starting the book as it will really give a lot more clarity to the meaning of the main text when you start reading it.

Now coming back to the book, it feels like watching a musical after some time as there is song after song which were actually spontaneously sung in response to disciples' questions or as a way of showing gratitude to one's Guru, and are therefore written as such.
Well of course (understandably so) a lot is lost in translation, and therefore the songs fail to evoke the right emotions (which Tibetan version would be evoking for sure to a person who understands the language). Despite that the gist of songs can be understood which is enough to get the context of the situations in which the songs were sung.

Now, for the 21st century scientifically educated people, please note that the book is filled with many magical stories which may create discomfort to your rational mind. However read them as stories without bothering too much about the possibility of those events actually happening as described, and you will easily sail through the book.

As far as understanding of meditation practice is concerned it has little to offer (which makes sense for a book about the master of a hearing lineage), however there are a few descriptions like this one below which do offer some insight:-

"Since in the view of mahāmudrā Analysis does not apply, Cast mind-made knowledge far away. Since in the meditation of mahāmudrā There is no way of fixating on a thought, Abandon deliberate meditation. Since in the action of mahāmudrā There is no reference point for any action, Be free from the intention to act or not. Since in the fruition of mahāmudrā There is no attainment to newly acquire, Cast hopes, fears, and desires far away. This is the depth of the mind of all Kagyüs."

Overall the life story of Marpa and how he had to go through so many hardships to attain the secret knowledge is an interesting and adventurous read.
I read this to know about the Guru of Milarepa (whose life story i've been told is even more interesting) so that i can get a better understanding of Milarepa's story when i read it after this one. As far as that is concerned i think it has served its purpose well. However i think may be this book deserves a second reading. I will probably get back to it again, soon.

[John Eliade · Rating 5 out of 5]

"NAMO Compassion and emptiness are inseparable. The uninterrupted flowing innate mind is suchness, primordially pure. Space is seen in intercourse with space. Because the root resides at home, mind consciousness is imprisoned. Meditating on this, subsqeutn thoughts are not patched together in the mind. Knowing the phenomenal world is the nature of mind. Meditation requires no further antidote. The nature of mind cannot be thought. Rest in this natural state. When you see this truth, you will be liberated. Just as a child would, watch the behavior of barbarians. Be carefree; eat flesh; be a madman." - Jetsun Marpa Lotsawa

[Mukta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the maturation of Milarepa's master.