Maitripa

Maitripa was likely born into a Brahman family and raised in Bihar. He left his parents’ home at the age of 11, became a roaming beggar and learned Hindu teachings. Starting at the age of 18, he studied in Nalanda for many years, mainly with Naropa, who was head of its university. Upon a vision of Tara who told him to leave, Maitripa went into retreat for one year.

Later he spent time at the university of Vikramashila, where he met the great Atisha, who was the abbot and head of discipline and, who ultimately threw him out. (see below)

Thereafter he lived the life of a mahasiddha and it was during this time that he took Shawaripa as his teacher:

Maitripa is said to have had a vision of Loving Eyes who told him to go to Shri Parvata in Southern India to meet Shawaripa and his consorts there. First, he traveled by boat, then he walked around one thousand miles. Six months of arduous trekking through the heat exhausted his body completely. His body became so weak that he collapsed and wanted to commit suicide. At that very moment Shawaripa appeared in front of him. Shavaripa’s yogic teachings shattered Maitripa’s preconceptions and expectations. Shawaripa’s way of passing on the Mahamudra, “Whatever is unborn is undying …” dissipated Maitripa’s doubts and existing worldview.

Under the guidance of Shawaripa he reached enlightenment through Mahamudra, and most importantly, became one of the main teachers of Marpa, the founder of the Kagyü lineage.

Anecdotes often cover Maitripa’s realization and the influence he had on Marpa. Although highly realized, he mainly taught the Sutra Mahamudra approach in order to offer easier access to the Mahamudra teachings, which brought forth a lot of criticism among the sangha. To Marpa he was passing on the “Path of Insight”, “Mahamudra of non-fabrication” and the art of “Doha singing”. There were often high-level disputes among them. Maitripa’s reliance on traditional education and discipline was often challenged by Marpa’s wildness and roughness. Nevertheless, below all these outer differences, Marpa was overwhelmed with bliss at the mere thought of him. When Maitripa passed on the Mahamudra teachings to Marpa, he sang:

“Mind is merely a stream of awareness.

Without an own nature it is like the wind which blows wherever it wants.

Without characteristics it is like the sky.

All space-like appearances are not separated [by it].”

Marpa intuitively knew that Maitripa would leave a deep impact on the lineage. Later, Gampopa emphasized that Maitripa's influence was essential in merging the teachings of buddha-nature (Uttara Tantra Shastra) with those of Mahamudra.