Advice to Young Monks and Nuns

When you are older, please work hard. You may be young and studying and training now, but when you are fully grown and trained, do whatever you can to assist those who wish to study and practise. Remember these words. Remember what your old lama told you so many times.

Do not waste time. Do not go wandering around, staying in fancy hotels, eating in expensive restaurants, using offerings and gifts frivolously. What sort of example would you be setting for those younger than you if you behave like that?

To teach, you have to work hard for prolonged periods of time. Stay in one place, practise, study and teach. Be responsible. Get used to simple living, then you will experience fewer hardships.

[Rinpoche then continued teaching The Life and Songs of Milarepa, with this song from Milarepa to Gampopa]

Teacher-son, will you go to Ü, or not?

If the teacher goes to Ü

Sometimes appearances of food will dawn.

When the appearances of food do dawn,

Eat the undefiled food of samadhi.

Know that everything sweet and delicious is an illusion.

Whatever appears, bring it to your experience as dharmakaya.

Sometimes appearances of clothing will dawn.

When the appearances of clothing dawn,

Wear the clothes of chandali’s blissful heat.

Know that everything soft and fine is an illusion.

Whatever appears, bring it to your experience as dharmakaya.

Sometimes appearances of your homeland will dawn.

When appearances of your homeland dawn,

Take up the homeland of dharmata.

Know that all homelands are an illusion.

Whatever appears, bring it to your experience as dharmakaya.

Sometimes appearances of wealth will dawn.

When appearances of wealth dawn,

Take up the seven noble riches.

Know that all types of wealth are an illusion.

Whatever appears, bring it to your experience as dharmakaya.

Sometimes appearances of friends will dawn.

When appearances of friends dawn,

Rely on the friend of self-arisen wisdom.

Know that all friends are an illusion.

Whatever appears, bring it to your experience as dharmakaya.

Sometimes appearances of the guru will dawn.

When appearances of the guru dawn,

Supplicate with him always above your head;

Never forget to meditate with him in your heart.

The guru, too, is like an illusion or dream.

Know that everything is like an illusion.

Gampo Dar Mountain in the east

Is like a king sitting upon his seat.

The mountain behind is like a hoisted white banner.

The mountain in front is like a mound of jewels.

Its peak is like a jeweled crown.

The seven other mountains are like the bowing ministers.

The wooded meadow is like a mandala.

At the mountain’s neck are the ones to be tamed.

You should go there and act for the benefit of beings.

Son, you will accomplish the benefit of beings.

Drupon Khen Rinpoche

As autumn turned to winter, 2025

Milarepa’s song translated by Christopher Stagg in The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa.