Renowned meditation master Chogyam 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. Chogyam 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- Renowned meditation master Chögyam 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.He went from being the worst kind of malevolent sorcerer to a devoted and ascetic Buddhist practitioner to a completely enlightened being all in a single lifetime. The story of Milarepa (1040-1123) is a tale of such extreme and powerful transformation that it might be thought not to have much direct application to our own less dramatic lives-but Chögyam Trungpa shows otherwise.  This collection of his teachings on the life and songs of the great Tibetan Buddhist poet-saint reveals how Milarepa's difficulties can be a source of guidance and inspiration for anyone. His struggles, his awakening, and the teachings from his remarkable songs provide precious wisdom for all us practitioners and show what devoted and diligent practice can achieve.