For a long time Milarepa lived on just boiled pine needles. Naturally he lost some weight, and turned green. One day, after a very long journey his sister came to visit. She got a shock when she saw him and said something like, "Look at you! You're green, skinny as a stick, and you've done nothing but sit in this cave for the last 15 years."

"Well," Milarepa said thoughtfully, "at least I haven't wasted my time."