[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/milarepa_6211.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:330:Crouching Yogin, Hidden Badass]]

->''"I was filled with remorse for the evil I had done by magic and by hailstorms. My longing for the teaching so obsessed me that I forgot to eat. If I went out, I wanted to stay in. If I stayed in, I wanted to go out. At night sleep escaped me. I dared not confess my sadness to the lama or my longing for liberation. While I remained in the lama's service, I asked myself unceasingly and passionately by what means I might practice the true teaching." ''
-->-- Milarepa, deciding that learning black magic was a bad idea after all.

This {{biography}} details the struggles of Tibetan {{folk hero}} Milarepa as he works toward enlightenment, striving to overcome a crappy childhood and a young adulthood spent killing people with black magic. It reads a little like ''Literature/HarryPotter'' for the ''Buddhacharita'' set, illustrating religious principles against a backdrop of epic conflict and magical pyrotechnics. Its accessibility has made it a major part of the Tibetan [[UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} Buddhist]] canon.

Milarepa has the perfect childhood-- until his father dies. Then his [[EvilUncle evil aunt and uncle]] seize all his family assets, forcing him into a life of hardship and sorrow. Seething, his mother White Jewel encourages him to learn [[BlackMagic sorcery]] so he can take his fantastic revenge. Ever the dutiful son, he brings his TearJerker of a story to a powerful lama, who takes pity and schools him in TheDarkArts accordingly.

With his new powers, Milarepa returns home and collapses his uncle's house, killing thirty-five people. White Jewel rejoices (a little too gleefully, people say), but the terrified villagers insist his revenge was over-the-top and start plotting to kill him, forcing him to flee. Meanwhile, seized with disgust and remorse, Milarepa discovers religion. He starts hunting for another lama-- one who will teach him the dharma, liberating him from the stain of his misdeeds. The yogin Marpa seems an answer to his prayers. But as far as this no-nonsense guru is concerned, nirvana doesn't come cheap.

The ''Life'' is told using a complicated [[FramingDevice framework-tale structure]]. Milarepa himself regales a crowd of followers, one of whom is the actual narrator, with the events of his youth. He's also known for randomly bursting into song-- sometimes in front of people who'd like nothing better than to kill him. They don't call him the Singing Saint for nothing.
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!! ''The Life of Milarepa'' contains examples of:

%% * AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Milarepa experiences this eventually, like all yogins.
%% * TheAtoner: Milarepa, after his stint as a dark wizard.
* BackupFromOtherworld: Milarepa shows up something like five times after his death to advise his disciples.
%%* BlackMagic
%% * CharlesAtlasSuperpower: How Milarepa becomes skilled in magic.
%% * CloserToEarth: How Milarepa's sister Peta Happy Protectress sees herself, in contrast to his CloudCuckooLander. She just doesn't get his religion.
%%* TheDarkArts
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Milarepa dreams that his house is in disarray, his mother dead, and his sister a wandering beggar. Then he goes home.
%%* EarnYourHappyEnding
* TheEveryman: Milarepa insists he is this because he doesn't come from an epic Buddhist lineage.
%% * HeelFaceTurn: Milarepa's aunt undergoes one eventually.
%%* HeelFaithTurn
%%* TheHerosJourney
%% * HystericalWoman: White Jewel, sometimes.
* AnIcePerson: Milarepa can summon hailstorms.
%% * {{Jerkass}}: The aunt and uncle.
%%* MeaningfulName: Milarepa is called Good News.
%%* {{Revenge}}
%% * TrainingFromHell: What Marpa subjects Milarepa to before he'll give him initiation.
%%* TricksterMentor: Marpa
%% * UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Milarepa's betrothed, Zesay. He opts to meditate in various caves instead of marrying her.
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