Life of Marpa
Marpa, the first Tibetan founder in the Kagyü lineage, was born in
1012 in southern Tibet of relatively prosperous parents. A young
man with a violent temper, he was sent by his parents to study the
Dharma. However, he became frustrated by his experiences with
various teachers, and decided to go to India.
After an arduous trek through the Himalayas, in the forest of what
is now Nepal he found the siddha, Naropa. For twelve years, he
studied with him and also with others, such as Maitripa, from whom
he also received instruction on Mahamudra. He learned the local
languages and so, was able to translate essential texts into
Tibetan.
He then returned to Tibet where he married Dagmema, and they
prospered as farmers. After some years, he went south again to
study for a further six years with Naropa. Before leaving to go
home again, he promised his guru he would return to complete his
training.
Back in Tibet, he attracted a group of students including Milarepa.
Finally, well into middle age and against the objections of his
family, he set out for a third and final journey to India.
Marpa's last stay in India was full of difficulty. He learned that
Naropa had disappeared into the jungle and that his whereabouts
were unknown. Just as he was feeling frustration and despair, and
ready to give up, his guru appeared. Then Marpa ccompleted a
further three years of training, and taking a large number of texts
with him, he returned home to Tibet to stay.
Later Years
Now, Marpa and Dagmema had had seven sons, but only one, Darma
Dode, was particularly gifted. He was mortally injured while riding
on his way to a festival. As he lay dying in his parents' house, he
performed phowa, the ejection of consciousness. His consciousness
entered the body of a pigeon, that flew to India just in time to
enter and revivify the body of Tipupa, a brahmin boy who had
died.
After Darma Dode's death, Milarepa became Marpa's primary dharma
heir. The 9-storey tower he constructed at Marpa's request was
dedicated to Darma Dode.
Marpa died at age 84 amidst many auspicious signs. People reported
seeing a rainbow and showers of flowers. They experienced the sound
of music, and delightful scents on the air.
It is said that Naropa escorted him to a celestial realm
accompanied by hosts of dakas and dakinis, just as he had
promised.
Marpa brought to Tibet the lineage of Tilopa and Naropa. He
translated many important Indian texts, and he also is credited
with the tradition of dohas, songs of realization later made famous
by Milarepa. (Khenpo Tsultrim continues that doha tradition,
today.)
