Milarepa had searched everywhere for enlightenment but could find no answer – until one day, he saw an old man walking slowly down a mountain path, carrying a heavy sack. Immediately, Milarepa sensed that this old man knew the secret he had been desperately seeking for many years.

“Old man, please tell me what you know. What is enlightenment?”

The old man smiled at him for a moment, and swung the heavy burden off his shoulders, and stood straight.

“Yes, I see!“ cried Milarepa. “My everlasting gratitude. But please, one question more. What is after enlightenment?”

Smiling again, the old man picked up the sack once again, lung it over his shoulders, steadied his burden, and continued on his way.

Dan Milman quoted the old story in The peaceful Warrior.

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