Chogyam Trungpa

Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books, including Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.

Judith L. Lief

Judith L. Lief is a Buddhist teacher, writer, and editor. She was a close student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who empowered her as a teacher, and she has edited many of his books including The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma volumes and Milarepa. She has been a teacher and practitioner for over 35 years and continues to teach and lead retreats throughout the world. Lief is also active in the field of death and dying and is the author of Making Friends with Death.

"Trungpa Rinpoche’s expansive take on the traumatic and colorful life of Milarepa as a template for our own lives takes the reader on a roller-coaster journey through ancient Tibet—and our own inner depths. If you are already a practicing Buddhist, this book will give you strength. If you are not, it will inspire you to get started as soon as possible." —Norman Fischer, Zen priest, poet, and coauthor of What Is Zen: Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind

"How wonderful that Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings on Milarepa have been gathered and presented in this way. This book will both interest and delight anyone wishing to explore the fascinating stories of Milarepa and other Tibetan masters from a practice perspective." —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness

"In his trademark insightful and inspiring voice, Vidyadhara Trungpa Rinpoche here offers a true feast of wisdom nectar that distills the life and lineage of Milarepa, the greatest master of Tibet, to illuminate how we can transmute our lives into pure dharma. This volume is captivating, poetic, contemplative, and enlightening—all in one." —Tulku Thondup, author of The Heart of Unconditional Love