Renowned meditation master Chšgyam Trungpa retells the stories and realization songs of Tibet's best-known and most-beloved religious figure--and reveals how they relate to our everyday lives.

Milarepa (1040-1123) is Tibet's much-beloved Buddhist poet and teacher. His realization songs are widely revered and studied, and he is remembered for having achieved enlightenment in a single lifetime. Chšgyam Trungpa presents this great historical figure as an example of someone who was able to overcome immense difficulties and obstacles through his discipline, dedication, and practice. And further, the challenges Milarepa faced, though of a different time and place, hold insights for practitioners today.

Trungpa retells colorful stories of Milarepa's life, highlighting his struggles, his awakening, and his teachings. Through these stories Trungpa reveals the history, traditions, and principles that formed the background for Milarepa's journey, including teachings from the mahamudra tradition from which the realization songs arose. Trungpa also illuminates the meaning of many of Milarepa's remarkable songs, always coming back to relevance of Milarepa's life to practitioners today.