Mahamudra - "Great seal"; one of the highest teachings of the Vajrayana, which in Tibet is transmitted especially in the Kagyupa school. The tibetan term for mahamudra, phyag-rgya chen-po, is described as realization of emptiness (shunyata), freedom from samsara, and the inseparability of these two. As a meditative system, the teaching of mahamudra was revealed to the mahasiddha Tilopa by Samantabhadra, an embodiment of the dharmakaya (trikaya), and through Naropa, Marpa, and Milarepa reached Tibet. The "ordinary" practice of mahamudra begins with "dwelling in peace" (shamatha) and leads to the transformation of every experience by the qualities of emptiness and luminosity (or clarity). It has sometimes been called "Tibetan Zen." The "extraordinary" practice of mahamudra is an extension of this method through the Naro chodrug.
The teachings of mahamudra are divided in the Tibetan tradition into three aspects: view, meditation, and action.
1. The view is defined as the insight that the timeless true nature of the mind is the unity of emptiness and luminosity. Every phenomenon bears the "seal" of this experience.
2. The essence of meditation is the direct, effortless experience of the nature of the mind. This is attained through two types of preparatory practices. The first consists of four practices involving the contemplative realization of the principles of the preciousness of a human birth, impermanence, the law of karma, and the unsatisfactoriness of the cycle of existence (samsara). The second type consists of four special practices involving particular types of sadhanas and serves to purify "body, speech, and mind."
3. The experience of mahamudra leads to a spiritual freedom that eventually leaves behind all convention and manifests itself most vividly in the activity of the "sacred fool" (Drukpa Cooing). The Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339) wrote on the practice of mahamudra.
The ground of purification is the mind itself, indivisible luminosity, and emptiness;
The means of purification is the great vajra yoga of mahamudra;
What are to be purified are the transitory contaminations of confusion;
The untainted pure fruit is the dharmakaya--may I realize all this.
An Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning: Teachings on Mahamudra by Khenchen Thrangu - In this new book, Khenchen Thrangu provides an exhaustive commentary on the longest and most comprehensive of the three classic treatises on Mahamudra composed by the sixteenth-century scholar Wangchuk Dorje, the Ninth Karmapa. Khenchen Thrangu's teachings encompass the entire path of Mahamudra, including the preliminaries, the main practice, removing obstacles, and attaining the result of buddhahood—with detailed instruction in tranquility and insight meditation. This is the only available volume that presents Khenchen Thrangu's detailed commentary on this entire text.
Becoming the Compassion Buddha: Tantric Mahamudra for Everyday Life by Lama Thubten Yeshe - Lama Yeshe was both one of the most beloved Tibetan Buddhist masters of the late twentieth century and a remarkably effective teacher and communicator. Becoming the Compassion Buddha is one of a series of his books that examine key Tantric deity practices in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As with his book Introduction to Tantra, his teachings make coherent and understandable to the general reader practices that once were considered to be for highly-realized beings only. Lama Yeshe strongly believed practices that help develop compassion and wisdom should not be limited to advanced practitioners, but that the all beings could benefit from them. In this book he provides a commentary on a short guru yoga practice written by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. This extraordinary book opens new doors for countless readers.
Clarifying the Natural State: A Principal Guidance Manual for Mahamudra by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal - A practical manual for both teacher and student alike, Clarifying the Natural State covers the path from mindfulness to complete enlightenment, simply and methodically. Presenting the profound and ultimate instructions of Mahamudra, it embodies the realization of India and Tibet's greatest masters.
Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Within all of us lies a source of infinite bliss and compassion for others. The special methods explained within Tantric Buddhism enable us to discover this bliss for ourselves.
Contemporary Tantric master, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, explains step-by-step how we can generate a deeply peaceful and concentrated mind by harnessing the subtle energy system within our own body.
With this blissful awareness we can uncover our true nature, destroy ignorance and suffering at its root, and swiftly become a source of inspiration and benefit for others.
In short, Clear Light of Bliss is a Tantric meditator’s handbook, which reveals the most profound secrets of the ancient yogis and makes their blissful experience accessible to the modern world.
Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche - Crystal Clear, by the learned and realized Tibetan Master Thrangu Rinpoche, is a companion volume to the classic meditation manual Clarifying the Natural State. In his straightforward and lucid style Rinpoche gives us an indispensable guidebook for insight practice (vipashyana). For people who want more than just theory, this is a handbook that begins with watching the breath and leads practitioners through stages of realization, all the way to complete enlightenment.
Direct Path to the Buddha Within: Go Lotsawa's Mahamudra Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga by Klaus-Dieter Mathes - The major Indian treatise on Buddha nature is the Ratnagotravibhaga, also known as the Uttaratantra, and it is this core text that Klaus-Dieter Mathes focuses on in this book. Mathes demonstrates how its author, Gö Lotsawa, ties the teachings on Buddha nature in with mainstream Mahayana thought while avoiding the pitfalls of the zhentong approach favored by the Jonang tradition. He also evaluates Gö Lotsawa’s position on Buddha nature against the background of interpretations by masters of the Kagyü, Nyingma, and Jonang schools.
Dorje Chang Thungma by Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa - A line-by-line explanation of Benkar Jampal Zangpo's famous prayer of Mahamudra realization. Also included is a teaching on the guru-disciple relationship.
This prayer was written by Benkar Jampal Zangpo and somewhat represents the teachings and the gurus of the Dagpo Kagyu. This prayer can be divided roughly into two parts: to whom you are praying and; the essence of the prayer, which includes verses on turning the mind away from samsara, devotion and aspiration, non-distraction and insight meditation.
The second half of the book is a teaching on the guru-disciple relationship, which covers the importance of a guru, four types of guru, the qualities of a guru. There is also a very good question and answer session.
Essentials of Mahamudra: Looking Directly at the Mind by Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche - What would you see if you looked directly at your mind? The Tibetan Buddhist teachings on mahamudra are known for their ability to lead to profound realization. Peaceful and infinitely adaptable, these teachings are as useful for today's busy world as they have been for centuries. Written by the tutor to the seventeenth Karmapa, Essentials of Mahamudra is a commentary on Tashi Namgyal's famous Moonlight of Mahamudra—a text that the sixteenth Karmapa had identified as the most valuable for Westerners. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche recognized that Western meditators don't just need to know how to maintain meditation practice; they need to know why they should do it. Unmatched in its directness, Essentials of Mahamudra addresses both these needs, rendering one of the most advanced forms of meditation for our everyday lives.
Gampopa's Mahamudra: The Five Part Mahamudra of the Kagyus by Lotsawa Tony Duff - Mahamudra is reality! 'Five-Part Mahamudra' is a specific and effective way of entering reality. It was first taught by Lord Gampopa, one of the mainstays of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He taught it to his heart disciple Phagmo Drupa who taught it widely. After that, it became one of the main ways of practising Mahamudra in the Kagyu lineage. This book is a compendium of these teachings that accurately transmits the whole Five-Part Mahamudra system. It includes a complete commentary on the practice by one of the current lineage holders, Benchen Tenga Rinpoche. Tenga Rinpoche is one of the most senior teachers in the Karma Kagyu, and one of Karmapa Orgyen Thrinley's gurus. "All sentient beings have a mind and they also have an essence of that mind. For all of them, the confusion that they experience comes about only in their mind; for all of them, the essence of mind itself never changes, never becomes confused." - from the commentary by Benchen Tenga Rinpoche
Garland of Mahamudra Practices by Khenpo K Gyaltshen - This text is a manual of practical instructions for students who want to practice the Mahamudra path to enlightenment.
Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra by HH the Dalai Lama - Mahamudra, the great sealing nature, refers to systems of meditation on both the conventional and ultimate natures of the mind. These have been transmitted through the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Within the Gelug, mahamudra teachings occur in a combined Gelug/Kagyu tradition, exemplified in the First Panchen Lama's Root Text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. The work presented here contains two brilliant commentaries by the Dalai Lama. The first is a teaching based directly on the First Panchen Lama's root text. In the second, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama bases his discussion on the First Panchen Lama's own commentary to this text. The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition Of Mahamudra opens with an overview of mahamudra by Alexander Berzin that discusses the relation of mind, appearances and reality, and offers practical techniques for overcoming problems of excessive worry, anxiety and disturbing thought. The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition Of Mahamudra is a treasury of practical instruction contains extensive teachings on the nature of mind, the development of shamata, sutra and tantra levels of mahamudra, and the compatibility of dzogchen and anuttara-yoga tantra. A splendid addition to any Buddhism reference book collection. -- Midwest Book Review
Heart Advice from a Mahamudra Master by Gendun Rinpoche - This book is by a Tibetan lama who spent three decades in meditation retreat in Tibet and India and then 22 years teaching Buddhism in Europe. It contains teachings that he considered vital for treading the Buddhist path to liberation, especially for westerners, and that he gave again and again to his Western students. His advice on Buddhist practice is simple and yet profound; it extends from the basics all the way up to the highest teaching of Mahamudra. His words are imbued with an authority and authenticity that comes from having tested these teachings and practices in the fire of his own extraordinary meditative experience. There is no dogma or display of rote learning in this book - everything offered here is heartfelt advice coming from personal experience and constitutes essential fare for the practitioner. The outstanding characteristic of the book is its singular power to inspire the reader to dedicate themselves seriously to Buddhist practice. It will be helpful to newcomers to Buddhism who want a practical and authoritative introduction to its key themes. It will also be of great value to experienced practitioners who will find in it countless gems of advice to help them resolve remaining uncertainties about their Dharma practice. Also included in the book is a lengthy chapter that tells the fascinating tale of Gendun Rinpoche's life and practice in the monasteries and mountains of Tibet, his escape to India, his interactions with the 16th Karmapa, and his powerful impact on his numerous Western students.
Heart Lamp: The Heart of the Matter and Lamp of Mahamudra by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol - Tsele Natsok Rangdröl is renowned in the Kagyü and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism for his brilliant scholarship, profound exposition, and meditative accomplishment. Comprised of two of his most important texts, this collection presents four essential Buddhist strands of philosophical viewpoint and meditation technique: the teachings of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) body of literature; the philosophy of the Middle Way; Mahamudra meditation; and Dzogchen teachings and practice.
Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools by Peter Roberts - The Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism began in the 11th century with such renowned figures as Marpa and Milarepa, and it continues today with the Karmapa and several best-selling authors, including Pema Chodron and Chogyam Trungpa. Mahamudra, the “Great Seal,” is a central teaching of the Kagyü school, along with the so-called six dharmas of Naropa. Formulated as a systematic practice by Gampopa (1079-1153), the mahamudra teachings trace their source to earlier Indian materials and focus on the cultivation of profound insight into the nature of the mind.
Mahamudra: Mind at Ease by Traleg Rinpoche - DVD - Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche has been teaching the Kagyu mahamudra system of practice for over 20 years. He is considered one of the greatest contemporary masters of this lineage whose personal experience of mahamudra meditation contributes to the extraordinary clarity of his explanation. For many students of Tibetan Buddhism, Traleg Rinpoche has brought meditation practice to a new level of accessibility and intimacy. This set of talks entitled <Mahamudra: Mind at Ease> was given at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in June 2008. Traleg Rinpoche presented the topic using the outline similar to that found in his book under the same title (Shambhala Publications, 2004). Rinpoche starts out by explaining the importance of meditation in general and by placing the tradition of mahamudra in historical context. He then discusses the mahamudra shamatha meditation, obstacles to meditation, and meditation experiences. Next, he presents an overview of vipashyana meditation in its fundamental, mahayana, and mahamudra varieties. In conclusion, Rinpoche goes over the fruition of mahamudra, the four yogas of mahamudra.
Mahamudra Teaching - by Lama Gursam - Susquehanna Yoga Center
http://www.lamagursam.org/mahamudra.html
Mahamudra: The Moonlight--Quintessence of Mind and Meditation by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal - When Mahamudra first appeared in 1986, it was a landmark in the history of Buddhist publishing in English. It was translated at the behest of the 16th Karmapa, who was asked what text would be most beneficial to Western practitioners. Collecting all of Mahamudra's key texts in one volume, the book is a staple for practitioners of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, who appreciate its detailed theoretical and practical explanations. This stunning new edition, printed on fine paper, is as inspiring to behold as it is to read.
Mahamudra Tantra: The Supreme Heart Jewel Nectar by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Tantra is very popular but not many people understand its real meaning. Mahamudra Tantra offers beginners a clear and inspiring introduction to Tantra, while experienced Tantric practitioners will find the six stages of Mahamudra training to be a practical and engaging spiritual path. Mahamudra is a Sanskrit word which means the sublime union of great bliss and emptiness, the very essence of Buddha’s Tantric meditation.
Mahamudra Teachings of the Supreme Siddhas by The 8th Tenpai'i Nyinchay - "An accurate and highly readable translation of this masterwork that is to be read with profit--it deserves to be studied."--Matthey Kapstein, author
Mahamudra: The Path of Simplicity - DVD - by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche - MAHAMUDRA: The Path of Simplicity (DVD) has five talks on three DVDs (August 26-28, 2005) by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Teachings sponsored by Nalandabodhi Connecticut, Simsbury, CT. Over 8 ½ hours of teachings, including long question-and-answer sessions, recorded using a new four-camera, live-mix video system. Mahamudra refers to the unfabricated wisdom nature of mind. Experiencing this nature of mind is a genuine and personal experience of freedom from the bonds of conceptuality, hope and fear. In these talks, The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche provides teachings on the nature of mind, including methods for working with thoughts in meditation, resting in the present, and bringing meditation to our post-meditation world. He teaches methods for resting the mind (posture of body, posture of mind and posture of focal object) and for analyzing the mind. Rinpoche leads guided meditation sessions and teaches on correcting misunderstandings of mind, as well as six methods for bringing mahamudra practice into post-meditation. Taught in English The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is known for his sharp intellect, humor, and the lucidity of his teaching style. Fluent in the English language and well-versed in Western culture, Rinpoche is also an accomplished calligrapher, visual artists and poet.
Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation through Mahamudra Meditation by Traleg Kyabgon - In this uniquely insightful overview and practice guide, Traleg Kyabgon presents a thorough introduction to the Kagyu lineage's Mahamudra tradition. The author's approach is straightforward—he presents the Mahamudra teachings as a means of seeing things in, as he says, "a positive and open light. Even things we might normally regard as bad and undesirable can be interpreted in a more uplifting way due to the expansiveness of the Mahamudra vision." Mahamudra—which means "great seal" or "great symbol," referring to the symbol or mark of ultimate reality, or emptiness—points to the true nature of mind as well as the ultimate insubstantiality of all things.
The book includes an exploration of Mahamudra fundamentals and thorough explanations of Ground, Path, and Fruition Mahamudra, including meditation techniques for investigating, experiencing, and contemplating these teachings.
Naked Awareness: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Karma Chagme - "The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by the 17th century adept Karma Chagme, is widely regarded as an unusually elegant synthesis of the leading Tibetan approaches to Buddhist meditation. Students and practitioners of meditation will be especially grateful to the Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche and his translator B. Alan Wallace for these ample and lucid elaborations of these instructions as they are traditionally taught."-- Matthew Kapstein, author
Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning by Khenchen Thrangu - The most in-depth and famed text on Mahamudra ever written, The Ocean of Definitive Meaning by the 9th Karmapa offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation. Thrangu Rinpoche has distilled the essence of the 9th Karmapa's massive text and gives guidance in implementing the instructions.
Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning: Teachings on Mahamudra by Khenchen Thrangu - In this new book, Khenchen Thrangu provides an exhaustive commentary on the longest and most comprehensive of the three classic treatises on Mahamudra composed by the sixteenth-century scholar Wangchuk Dorje, the Ninth Karmapa. Khenchen Thrangu's teachings encompass the entire path of Mahamudra, including the preliminaries, the main practice, removing obstacles, and attaining the result of buddhahood—with detailed instruction in tranquility and insight meditation. This is the only available volume that presents Khenchen Thrangu's detailed commentary on this entire text.
Pith Instructions on Mahamudra -Ganges Mahamudra - translations by Ken McLeod
http://www.unfetteredmind.com/translations/ganges.php
Pointing Out the Great Way: The Stages of Meditation in the Mahamudra Tradition by Daniel Brown - This spiritual manual describes mahamudra meditation from the perspective of the “gradual path,” a progressive process of training that is often contrasted to sudden realization. The book contains a step-by-step description of the ways to practice, precise descriptions of the various stages and their intended realizations, and the typical problems that arise along with their remedies. Drawn from a variety of sources, Pointing Out the Great Way distills the experiences of many great masters who have traversed the path of meditation to the point of perfect mastery.
Practice of Mahamudra by Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche - Mahamudra, the highest level of teaching within Tibetan Buddhism, rewards study and practice with the realization of the very nature of mind itself. There is not a single experience which is not subsumed within the realizations of Mahamudra. On his first tour of the United States, H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche gave detailed instructions in Mahamudra methods. He carefully explained each of the five stages of Mahamudra and taught its main meditational practices. He also gave precise instructions on posture and breathing for meditation and answered many common questions using the teachings of Tilopa and Gampopa to illustrate his various points. ...the clearest presentation of Mahamudra meditation practice available in English.--Wisconsin Bookwatch
Profound
Path of Mahamudra - Tai Situ Rinpoche - This double DVD set features teachings given by Tai Situ Rinpoche at Sherab Ling in Baijnath, India on March 15 & 16, 2003. Mahamudra is the principle meditation of the Kagyu Lineage. This is a meditation of practitioners, not scholars or logicians. Briefly, it involves looking directly into the mind to understand the true nature of reality. Rinpoche gives Mahamudra Meditation instruction, including a 28 minute guided session. This DVD also includes question and answer sessions. These teachings were given by Situ Rinpoche during the week of his 50th Birthday celebration. There is a second audio track on this DVD with a Mandarin translation.
Song for the King: Saraha on Mahamudra Meditation by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche - Mahamudra meditation is growing in popularity in the West, since it involves no rituals and can be easily incorporated into daily activities. Saraha's A Song for the King is the basis for the tradition, and though widely known in Tibetan Buddhist circles, it has only been available to Western followers in a badly outdated translation. This welcome new edition features Michele Martin’s clear, accessible translation, the original Tibetan text, and extensive notes and commentary from contemporary master Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.
Song of Mahamudra by Tilopa
http://www.kagyu-asia.com/l_tilo_t_song_mahamudra.html
Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga by Karma Chagme - This manual of Tibetan meditation simply and thoroughly presents the profound Dzogchen and Mahamudra systems of practice. Karma Chagmé sets forth the stages of meditation practice, including the cultivation of meditative quiescence and insight, the experiential identification of awareness, and the highest steps of Mahamudra and Atiyoga leading to perfect enlightenment in one lifetime. Drawing from his enormous textual erudition and mastery of Tibetan oral traditions, he shows how these two meditative systems can be unified into a single, integrated approach to realizing the ultimate nature of consciousness.
Third Karmapa's Mahamudra Prayer by Tai S. Rinpoche - The Mahamudra Prayer by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, shows how to recognize our ultimate potential as a buddha. The Third Karmapa presents the fundamental and essential points of Mahamudra teachings in terms of view, practice and fruition. It is a classic in the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and is used when a disciple is first introduced to Mahamudra.
Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen: A Commentary on the Quintessence of Spiritual Practice, the Direct Instructions of the Great Compassionate One by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche - In simple and direct language, the Union of Mahamudra & Dzogchen contains Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's teachings on a complete path to enlightenment, based on eight songs by the 17th century yogi and poet Karma Chagmey. As the first book by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, a living master of the Practice Lineage, the Union serves as a forum for his subtle brilliance and humor, the trademark of his teaching style.
Wild Awakening: The Heart of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche - "I know of no more complete, practical, and accessible guide to the paths of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. One of the most brilliant Tibetan Buddhist teachers of his generation, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche explains with striking clarity and richness the heart of the 'practice lineage,' as, step by step, he leads us through the Sutra, Mantra, and Essence Mahamudra, and the nine vehicles that culminate in the Great Perfection: Dzogpachenpo."—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
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An Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning: Teachings on Mahamudra by Khenchen Thrangu - In this new book, Khenchen Thrangu provides an exhaustive commentary on the longest and most comprehensive of the three classic treatises on Mahamudra composed by the sixteenth-century scholar Wangchuk Dorje, the Ninth Karmapa. Khenchen Thrangu's teachings encompass the entire path of Mahamudra, including the preliminaries, the main practice, removing obstacles, and attaining the result of buddhahood—with detailed instruction in tranquility and insight meditation. This is the only available volume that presents Khenchen Thrangu's detailed commentary on this entire text.
Becoming the Compassion Buddha: Tantric Mahamudra for Everyday Life by Lama Thubten Yeshe - Lama Yeshe was both one of the most beloved Tibetan Buddhist masters of the late twentieth century and a remarkably effective teacher and communicator. Becoming the Compassion Buddha is one of a series of his books that examine key Tantric deity practices in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As with his book Introduction to Tantra, his teachings make coherent and understandable to the general reader practices that once were considered to be for highly-realized beings only. Lama Yeshe strongly believed practices that help develop compassion and wisdom should not be limited to advanced practitioners, but that the all beings could benefit from them. In this book he provides a commentary on a short guru yoga practice written by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. This extraordinary book opens new doors for countless readers.
Clarifying the Natural State: A Principal Guidance Manual for Mahamudra by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal - A practical manual for both teacher and student alike, Clarifying the Natural State covers the path from mindfulness to complete enlightenment, simply and methodically. Presenting the profound and ultimate instructions of Mahamudra, it embodies the realization of India and Tibet's greatest masters.
Clear Light of Bliss: The Practice of Mahamudra in Vajrayana Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Within all of us lies a source of infinite bliss and compassion for others. The special methods explained within Tantric Buddhism enable us to discover this bliss for ourselves.
Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche - Crystal Clear, by the learned and realized Tibetan Master Thrangu Rinpoche, is a companion volume to the classic meditation manual Clarifying the Natural State. In his straightforward and lucid style Rinpoche gives us an indispensable guidebook for insight practice (vipashyana). For people who want more than just theory, this is a handbook that begins with watching the breath and leads practitioners through stages of realization, all the way to complete enlightenment.
Direct Path to the Buddha Within: Go Lotsawa's Mahamudra Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga by Klaus-Dieter Mathes - The major Indian treatise on Buddha nature is the Ratnagotravibhaga, also known as the Uttaratantra, and it is this core text that Klaus-Dieter Mathes focuses on in this book. Mathes demonstrates how its author, Gö Lotsawa, ties the teachings on Buddha nature in with mainstream Mahayana thought while avoiding the pitfalls of the zhentong approach favored by the Jonang tradition. He also evaluates Gö Lotsawa’s position on Buddha nature against the background of interpretations by masters of the Kagyü, Nyingma, and Jonang schools.
Dorje Chang Thungma by Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa - A line-by-line explanation of Benkar Jampal Zangpo's famous prayer of Mahamudra realization. Also included is a teaching on the guru-disciple relationship.
Eighth Situpa on the Third Karmapa's Mahamudra Prayer, Revised Edition by Lama Sherab Dorje - Here, in one compact volume, are all of the stages of instruction on the path of mahamudra.
Essentials of Mahamudra: Looking Directly at the Mind by Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche - What would you see if you looked directly at your mind? The Tibetan Buddhist teachings on mahamudra are known for their ability to lead to profound realization. Peaceful and infinitely adaptable, these teachings are as useful for today's busy world as they have been for centuries. Written by the tutor to the seventeenth Karmapa, Essentials of Mahamudra is a commentary on Tashi Namgyal's famous Moonlight of Mahamudra—a text that the sixteenth Karmapa had identified as the most valuable for Westerners. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche recognized that Western meditators don't just need to know how to maintain meditation practice; they need to know why they should do it. Unmatched in its directness, Essentials of Mahamudra addresses both these needs, rendering one of the most advanced forms of meditation for our everyday lives.
Fivefold Mahamudra - Medicine Buddha Sanga
Gampopa's Mahamudra: The Five Part Mahamudra of the Kagyus by Lotsawa Tony Duff - Mahamudra is reality! 'Five-Part Mahamudra' is a specific and effective way of entering reality. It was first taught by Lord Gampopa, one of the mainstays of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He taught it to his heart disciple Phagmo Drupa who taught it widely. After that, it became one of the main ways of practising Mahamudra in the Kagyu lineage. This book is a compendium of these teachings that accurately transmits the whole Five-Part Mahamudra system. It includes a complete commentary on the practice by one of the current lineage holders, Benchen Tenga Rinpoche. Tenga Rinpoche is one of the most senior teachers in the Karma Kagyu, and one of Karmapa Orgyen Thrinley's gurus. "All sentient beings have a mind and they also have an essence of that mind. For all of them, the confusion that they experience comes about only in their mind; for all of them, the essence of mind itself never changes, never becomes confused." - from the commentary by Benchen Tenga Rinpoche
Garland of Mahamudra Practices by Khenpo K Gyaltshen - This text is a manual of practical instructions for students who want to practice the Mahamudra path to enlightenment.
Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra by HH the Dalai Lama - Mahamudra, the great sealing nature, refers to systems of meditation on both the conventional and ultimate natures of the mind. These have been transmitted through the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Within the Gelug, mahamudra teachings occur in a combined Gelug/Kagyu tradition, exemplified in the First Panchen Lama's Root Text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra. The work presented here contains two brilliant commentaries by the Dalai Lama. The first is a teaching based directly on the First Panchen Lama's root text. In the second, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama bases his discussion on the First Panchen Lama's own commentary to this text. The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition Of Mahamudra opens with an overview of mahamudra by Alexander Berzin that discusses the relation of mind, appearances and reality, and offers practical techniques for overcoming problems of excessive worry, anxiety and disturbing thought. The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition Of Mahamudra is a treasury of practical instruction contains extensive teachings on the nature of mind, the development of shamata, sutra and tantra levels of mahamudra, and the compatibility of dzogchen and anuttara-yoga tantra. A splendid addition to any Buddhism reference book collection. -- Midwest Book Review
Heart Advice from a Mahamudra Master by Gendun Rinpoche - This book is by a Tibetan lama who spent three decades in meditation retreat in Tibet and India and then 22 years teaching Buddhism in Europe. It contains teachings that he considered vital for treading the Buddhist path to liberation, especially for westerners, and that he gave again and again to his Western students. His advice on Buddhist practice is simple and yet profound; it extends from the basics all the way up to the highest teaching of Mahamudra. His words are imbued with an authority and authenticity that comes from having tested these teachings and practices in the fire of his own extraordinary meditative experience. There is no dogma or display of rote learning in this book - everything offered here is heartfelt advice coming from personal experience and constitutes essential fare for the practitioner. The outstanding characteristic of the book is its singular power to inspire the reader to dedicate themselves seriously to Buddhist practice. It will be helpful to newcomers to Buddhism who want a practical and authoritative introduction to its key themes. It will also be of great value to experienced practitioners who will find in it countless gems of advice to help them resolve remaining uncertainties about their Dharma practice. Also included in the book is a lengthy chapter that tells the fascinating tale of Gendun Rinpoche's life and practice in the monasteries and mountains of Tibet, his escape to India, his interactions with the 16th Karmapa, and his powerful impact on his numerous Western students.
Heart Lamp: The Heart of the Matter and Lamp of Mahamudra by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol - Tsele Natsok Rangdröl is renowned in the Kagyü and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism for his brilliant scholarship, profound exposition, and meditative accomplishment. Comprised of two of his most important texts, this collection presents four essential Buddhist strands of philosophical viewpoint and meditation technique: the teachings of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) body of literature; the philosophy of the Middle Way; Mahamudra meditation; and Dzogchen teachings and practice.
I Concept: The Mahamudra Concerning the Union of a Buddha and His Consort by Bodo Balsys - Presents syllogisms, which intends to change the opinions of what Buddhists believe concerning the great majority of their Sutras and Tantras.
Luminous Emptiness - a Mahamudra Blog
Mahamudra and Dzogchen, Two Systems of Buddhist Yoga
Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools by Peter Roberts - The Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism began in the 11th century with such renowned figures as Marpa and Milarepa, and it continues today with the Karmapa and several best-selling authors, including Pema Chodron and Chogyam Trungpa. Mahamudra, the “Great Seal,” is a central teaching of the Kagyü school, along with the so-called six dharmas of Naropa. Formulated as a systematic practice by Gampopa (1079-1153), the mahamudra teachings trace their source to earlier Indian materials and focus on the cultivation of profound insight into the nature of the mind.
Mahamudra Eliminating the Darkness of Ignoance by Wang-Ch'ug Dor-Je
Mahamudra Meditation Center - Petaluma, CA
Mahamudra: Mind at Ease by Traleg Rinpoche - DVD - Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche has been teaching the Kagyu mahamudra system of practice for over 20 years. He is considered one of the greatest contemporary masters of this lineage whose personal experience of mahamudra meditation contributes to the extraordinary clarity of his explanation. For many students of Tibetan Buddhism, Traleg Rinpoche has brought meditation practice to a new level of accessibility and intimacy. This set of talks entitled <Mahamudra: Mind at Ease> was given at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in June 2008. Traleg Rinpoche presented the topic using the outline similar to that found in his book under the same title (Shambhala Publications, 2004). Rinpoche starts out by explaining the importance of meditation in general and by placing the tradition of mahamudra in historical context. He then discusses the mahamudra shamatha meditation, obstacles to meditation, and meditation experiences. Next, he presents an overview of vipashyana meditation in its fundamental, mahayana, and mahamudra varieties. In conclusion, Rinpoche goes over the fruition of mahamudra, the four yogas of mahamudra.
Mahamudra Teaching - by Lama Gursam - Susquehanna Yoga Center
Mahamudra: The Moonlight--Quintessence of Mind and Meditation by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal - When Mahamudra first appeared in 1986, it was a landmark in the history of Buddhist publishing in English. It was translated at the behest of the 16th Karmapa, who was asked what text would be most beneficial to Western practitioners. Collecting all of Mahamudra's key texts in one volume, the book is a staple for practitioners of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, who appreciate its detailed theoretical and practical explanations. This stunning new edition, printed on fine paper, is as inspiring to behold as it is to read.
Mahamudra Tantra: The Supreme Heart Jewel Nectar by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - Tantra is very popular but not many people understand its real meaning. Mahamudra Tantra offers beginners a clear and inspiring introduction to Tantra, while experienced Tantric practitioners will find the six stages of Mahamudra training to be a practical and engaging spiritual path. Mahamudra is a Sanskrit word which means the sublime union of great bliss and emptiness, the very essence of Buddha’s Tantric meditation.
Mahamudra Teachings of the Supreme Siddhas by The 8th Tenpai'i Nyinchay - "An accurate and highly readable translation of this masterwork that is to be read with profit--it deserves to be studied."--Matthey Kapstein, author
Mahamudra: The Path of Simplicity - DVD - by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche - MAHAMUDRA: The Path of Simplicity (DVD) has five talks on three DVDs (August 26-28, 2005) by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Teachings sponsored by Nalandabodhi Connecticut, Simsbury, CT. Over 8 ½ hours of teachings, including long question-and-answer sessions, recorded using a new four-camera, live-mix video system. Mahamudra refers to the unfabricated wisdom nature of mind. Experiencing this nature of mind is a genuine and personal experience of freedom from the bonds of conceptuality, hope and fear. In these talks, The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche provides teachings on the nature of mind, including methods for working with thoughts in meditation, resting in the present, and bringing meditation to our post-meditation world. He teaches methods for resting the mind (posture of body, posture of mind and posture of focal object) and for analyzing the mind. Rinpoche leads guided meditation sessions and teaches on correcting misunderstandings of mind, as well as six methods for bringing mahamudra practice into post-meditation. Taught in English The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is known for his sharp intellect, humor, and the lucidity of his teaching style. Fluent in the English language and well-versed in Western culture, Rinpoche is also an accomplished calligrapher, visual artists and poet.
Mahamudra: The Quintessence of Mind and Meditation by Takpo Tashi Namgyal
Masters of Mahamudra: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas by Keith Dowman
Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation through Mahamudra Meditation by Traleg Kyabgon - In this uniquely insightful overview and practice guide, Traleg Kyabgon presents a thorough introduction to the Kagyu lineage's Mahamudra tradition. The author's approach is straightforward—he presents the Mahamudra teachings as a means of seeing things in, as he says, "a positive and open light. Even things we might normally regard as bad and undesirable can be interpreted in a more uplifting way due to the expansiveness of the Mahamudra vision." Mahamudra—which means "great seal" or "great symbol," referring to the symbol or mark of ultimate reality, or emptiness—points to the true nature of mind as well as the ultimate insubstantiality of all things.
Naked Awareness: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Karma Chagme - "The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by the 17th century adept Karma Chagme, is widely regarded as an unusually elegant synthesis of the leading Tibetan approaches to Buddhist meditation. Students and practitioners of meditation will be especially grateful to the Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche and his translator B. Alan Wallace for these ample and lucid elaborations of these instructions as they are traditionally taught."-- Matthew Kapstein, author
Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning by Khenchen Thrangu - The most in-depth and famed text on Mahamudra ever written, The Ocean of Definitive Meaning by the 9th Karmapa offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation. Thrangu Rinpoche has distilled the essence of the 9th Karmapa's massive text and gives guidance in implementing the instructions.
Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning: Teachings on Mahamudra by Khenchen Thrangu - In this new book, Khenchen Thrangu provides an exhaustive commentary on the longest and most comprehensive of the three classic treatises on Mahamudra composed by the sixteenth-century scholar Wangchuk Dorje, the Ninth Karmapa. Khenchen Thrangu's teachings encompass the entire path of Mahamudra, including the preliminaries, the main practice, removing obstacles, and attaining the result of buddhahood—with detailed instruction in tranquility and insight meditation. This is the only available volume that presents Khenchen Thrangu's detailed commentary on this entire text.
Only One Sky: On the Tantric Way of tilopa's Song of Mahamudra by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
Pith Instructions on Mahamudra -Ganges Mahamudra - translations by Ken McLeod
Pointing Out the Great Way: The Stages of Meditation in the Mahamudra Tradition by Daniel Brown - This spiritual manual describes mahamudra meditation from the perspective of the “gradual path,” a progressive process of training that is often contrasted to sudden realization. The book contains a step-by-step description of the ways to practice, precise descriptions of the various stages and their intended realizations, and the typical problems that arise along with their remedies. Drawn from a variety of sources, Pointing Out the Great Way distills the experiences of many great masters who have traversed the path of meditation to the point of perfect mastery.
Practice of Mahamudra by Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche - Mahamudra, the highest level of teaching within Tibetan Buddhism, rewards study and practice with the realization of the very nature of mind itself. There is not a single experience which is not subsumed within the realizations of Mahamudra. On his first tour of the United States, H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche gave detailed instructions in Mahamudra methods. He carefully explained each of the five stages of Mahamudra and taught its main meditational practices. He also gave precise instructions on posture and breathing for meditation and answered many common questions using the teachings of Tilopa and Gampopa to illustrate his various points. ...the clearest presentation of Mahamudra meditation practice available in English.--Wisconsin Bookwatch
Profound Path of Mahamudra - Tai Situ Rinpoche - This double DVD set features teachings given by Tai Situ Rinpoche at Sherab Ling in Baijnath, India on March 15 & 16, 2003. Mahamudra is the principle meditation of the Kagyu Lineage. This is a meditation of practitioners, not scholars or logicians. Briefly, it involves looking directly into the mind to understand the true nature of reality. Rinpoche gives Mahamudra Meditation instruction, including a 28 minute guided session. This DVD also includes question and answer sessions. These teachings were given by Situ Rinpoche during the week of his 50th Birthday celebration. There is a second audio track on this DVD with a Mandarin translation.
Saraha's Dohakosa: The Royal Song - This song of existential freedom was composed by the Glorious Master Yogin Saraha.
Song for the King: Saraha on Mahamudra Meditation by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche - Mahamudra meditation is growing in popularity in the West, since it involves no rituals and can be easily incorporated into daily activities. Saraha's A Song for the King is the basis for the tradition, and though widely known in Tibetan Buddhist circles, it has only been available to Western followers in a badly outdated translation. This welcome new edition features Michele Martin’s clear, accessible translation, the original Tibetan text, and extensive notes and commentary from contemporary master Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.
Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga by Karma Chagme - This manual of Tibetan meditation simply and thoroughly presents the profound Dzogchen and Mahamudra systems of practice. Karma Chagmé sets forth the stages of meditation practice, including the cultivation of meditative quiescence and insight, the experiential identification of awareness, and the highest steps of Mahamudra and Atiyoga leading to perfect enlightenment in one lifetime. Drawing from his enormous textual erudition and mastery of Tibetan oral traditions, he shows how these two meditative systems can be unified into a single, integrated approach to realizing the ultimate nature of consciousness.
Third Karmapa's Mahamudra Prayer by Tai S. Rinpoche - The Mahamudra Prayer by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, shows how to recognize our ultimate potential as a buddha. The Third Karmapa presents the fundamental and essential points of Mahamudra teachings in terms of view, practice and fruition. It is a classic in the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and is used when a disciple is first introduced to Mahamudra.
Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen: A Commentary on the Quintessence of Spiritual Practice, the Direct Instructions of the Great Compassionate One by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche - In simple and direct language, the Union of Mahamudra & Dzogchen contains Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's teachings on a complete path to enlightenment, based on eight songs by the 17th century yogi and poet Karma Chagmey. As the first book by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, a living master of the Practice Lineage, the Union serves as a forum for his subtle brilliance and humor, the trademark of his teaching style.
Wild Awakening: The Heart of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche - "I know of no more complete, practical, and accessible guide to the paths of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. One of the most brilliant Tibetan Buddhist teachers of his generation, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche explains with striking clarity and richness the heart of the 'practice lineage,' as, step by step, he leads us through the Sutra, Mantra, and Essence Mahamudra, and the nine vehicles that culminate in the Great Perfection: Dzogpachenpo."—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
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