All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births in death. Knowing this, one should, from the very first, renounce acquisitions and storing-up, and building, and meeting; and, faithful to the commands of an eminent Guru, set about realizing the Truth. That alone is the best of religious observances.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the transient nature of worldly pursuits and encourages focusing on spiritual truth.
Milarepa reflects on the ephemeral nature of life and the inevitability of sorrow that comes with worldly achievements. He suggests that rather than clinging to temporary acquisitions or relationships, one should pursue spiritual enlightenment and truth, as this is ultimately more fulfilling and meaningful than material pursuits. By renouncing the ephemeral, individuals can adhere to a higher spiritual calling, as advised by a wise Guru, which is considered the true essence of religious practice.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of living a meaningful life, one could invoke this quote to inspire listeners to prioritize what truly matters.
Life is short and the time of death is uncertain; so apply yourself to meditation. Avoid doing evil, and acquire merit, to the best of your ability, even at the cost of life itself. In short: Act so that you have no cause to be ashamed of yourselves and hold fast to this rule.
He who knows that all things are his mind, That all with which he meets are friendly, Is ever joyful.
When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick
I have no desire for wealth or possessions, and so I have nothing. I do not experience the initial suffering of having to accumulate possessions, the intermediate suffering of having to guard and keep up possessions, nor the final suffering of loosing the possessions.
When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.
In the gap between thoughts_x000D_ nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.
A society whose members are united by the fact that they think in the same way in regard to the sacred world and its relations with the profane world, and by the fact that they translate these common ideas into common practices, is what is called a Church. In all history, we do not find a single religion without a Church.
He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women, nor of great occurrences, nor of great fish, nor fights, nor contests of strength, nor of his wife. He only dreamed of places now and the lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy. He never dreamed about the boy. He simply woke, looked out the open door at the moon and unrolled his trousers and put them on.
Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still.
I suppose everybody must be always just a little homesick.
The truly good and wise man will bear all kinds of fortune in a seemly way, and will always act in the noblest manner that the circumstances allow.
Is it my business if somebody wants to burn a flag?...No, it's not...That's called logic and it'll help us all evolve.
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