Other translations:

The Dharma that is Not Learned

When you recognize that confusion is mind
And you gain confidence that it has no ground
Then you never strive or strain,
And unchanging certainty feels so great!

When you realize the one meaning:
The abiding nature of reality,
Adopting and rejecting are impossible,
And ignorance now clarity—very nice!

When you realize the one meaning:
The true nature is unceasing,
Then you never have hope or fear,
And confusion dissolving feels so fine!

It's ignorance that makes sentient beings
Go around in circles in samsara.
I take the siddha-lama's advice—
Free from clinging, sense pleasures shine like jewels.

I have not learned how scholars talk,
All philosophy is conceptual,
And when the kleshas come to call,
Mental Dharma doesn't help very much at all.

All you great teachers, give up your pride—
When realization shines in your mind
The true nature and confusion are the same.
Don't abandon samsara, you with faith.

Do not contrive or fix or change—
Let appearances rest in their own place,
And finally, seal this with space.
The buddhas made up lots of different names.


Sung by Milarepa in response to a monk who argued that one should not forget about the Dharma that one has learned.Tibetan page 674.
Under the guidance of Dechen Rangdrol, translated by Ari Goldfield, May 18, 2003, Karma Tengyal Ling, Germany. Translation copyright 2012, Ari Goldfield.