Mahamudra (The Quintessence of Mind and Meditation)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

About the Book:

Mahamudra is the first English translation of a major Tibetan Buddhist presentation of the theory and practice of meditation - a manual detailing the various stages and practices for training the advanced student. The original Tibetan text of nearly 800 pages was composed by Takpo Tashi Namgyal (1512-1587), a great lama and a scholar of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

His text is so vast and thorough in scope that it is still the primary source used by living Tibetan meditation masters in instructing their disciples. The many levels of meditation covered include the following: the differentiation insight the meditation; meditation on the two kinds of selflessness; preparation for mahamudra meditation; the various methods of mahamudra practice; methods for removing obstacles to meditation; how one achieves realization; and the four yogas of mahamudra.

The first major text representing the meditational methods of both mahayana and vajrayana Buddhism to appear in English, Mahamudra is an invaluable guide for advanced students, scholars, and Buddhist practitioners.

About the Author:

Lobsang P. Lhalungpa was born in Lhasa, Tibet, and has passed through the disciplines of the major branches of Tibetan Buddhism under many of its greatest living masters. His life has drawn him into all aspects of the effort to maintain and communicate the Tibetan tradition. He is also the translator of The Life of Milarepa (E.P. Dutton, 1977) and author of Tibet - The Sacred Realm (Aperture, Inc., 1983).

Excerpts from reviews:

"Now, from the hands of one of Tibet's most gifted living translators, we have a great treasure, a large and profound work of incalculable value. Readers to whom meditation is not very much more than a pleasant beneficial pastime, might be exposition. Those for whom correct meditation practice is of enormous importance should, at all costs, possess themselves of a copy. To them it will prove a life-long and utterly reliable guide... Just as the Avatamsaka Sutra seems to be the very apex of Buddhist teaching in Sutra form, so may this book be the very apex of books available to us in the form of guides to meditation. I am astounded by the learned translator's skill in putting this book before us in words so clear and easy for Buddhists to comprehend that, as first sight, we may be deluded into supposing the whole great matter to be relatively simple!''

- John Blogeld

" I am so delighted that this text is being published in the English language. It will greatly benefit English speaking students of Buddhism. I myself have used this text in working with my students, and I have always found that it communicates, clearly and simply, the mahamudra teachings of the Practice Lineage. I am very pleased that now English-speaking students can read and study this book in their own language."

- Chogyam Trungpa

Contents

Foreword by Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche

Preface

Translator's Introduction

Reader's Key

Introduction

Homage
The Resolution to Compose This Work
The Reasons Why Meditation on the True Nature of Mind Is Essential
All Realities Are But Mental Phenomena
The Deficiencies Arising from Not Meditating on the True Nature of Mind
The Benefits Arising from Meditation

BOOK ONE: A CONCISE ELUCIDATION OF THE COMMON SYSTEM OF TRANQUIL EQUIPOISE

The Outline of Tranquil Equipoise in General and the Removal of Doubts
The Meditation on Tranquility on Tranquility and Insight

Chapter One: The Ordinary Meditation of Tranquility and Insight

The Cause of Tranquility and Insight
The Elimination of Hindrances to Tranquility and Insight
The Recognition of Hindrances
Instructions in the Remedies Necessary to Remove the Hindrances
The General Elucidation of Remedies for Hindrances
The specific Means for Removing Dullness and Sensual Incitement
Refraining from the Causes of Dullness and Sensual Incitement
The Elimination of Dullness and Sensual Incitement
Identification of the True Nature of Tranquility and Insight
Distinctions of Tranquility and Insight
Examination of the Stages of Tranquility and Insight
Meditation on Joint Tranquility and Insight
The Reason One Needs Both Tranquility and Insight
The Method of Combining These Two
The Result of Tranquility and Insight

Chapter Two: The Stages of Tranquility and Insight, Part I: Tranquility

The Preparation for Achieving Tranquility
The Elucidation of Its Mental Images
Elucidation of General Concentration
Comprehensive Visualization
Analytical Meditation
Skillful Investigation
Meditation on the Elimination of Mental Defilements
Different Meditations to Meet Differing Needs
Visualization at the Initial Stages of Practice [Tranquility]
Maintaining a Visualized Image through Mindfulness and Vigilance
The Methods of Realizing Tranquility
The Eight Points of Mental Processes for Stability
The Nine Stages of Settling the Mind
The Six Powerful Methods for Achieving These Stages
The Four Mental Applications for These Principles

Chapter Three: The Stages of Tranquility and Insight, Part II: Insight

General Meditation on Insight
Methods for Achieving the Vision of Insight: Enumerating the
Methods Employed by Buddhist Schools to Attain This Vision
Methods for Achieving the Vision of Insight: The Relevant Methods
to Be Used Here to Attain This: The General Meditation on Selflessness
The Reason for Meditating on Selflessness
Ways of Meditating on the Two kinds of Selflessness
The Negation of the Self of Personality
The Negation of the Self of Elemental Reality
Emergence of Vision through This Meditation
Methods for Achieving the Vision of Insight: The Relevant Methods to be Used Here to Attain This: The Specific Methods of Meditating on the Vision of Ultimate Reality
Identification of the Perfect Vision of Reality
Meditation upon Tranquil Absorption
Achieving a Postabsorptive Perception

Chapter Four: The Stages of Tranquility and Insight, Part III: Clearing Doubts Regarding the Methods for Maintaining the Vision of Reality and Meditative Absorption

Distinction between Analytical Meditation and Concentrative Meditation
Application of Analysis and Concentration to Tranquility and Insight
Analysis and Concentration on the Vision of Reality
Elimination of Doubts about the Essential Vision of Reality
Review of Other Buddhist Schools
Establishing the Meditational System of Our School

BOOK TWO: AN EXTENSIVE ELUCIDATION OF MAHAMUDRA, THE UNCOMMON MEDITATION

PART I: PRELIMINARY EXPOSITION
Chapter One: Exposition Engendering Confidence

The Inherent Significance of the Teaching: Definition of Chakgya Chenpo [Mahamudra]
The Various Meanings of the [Tibetan] Title
The Substance and Distinction of Its Inherent Significance
The Benefits Derived from the Knowledge of It and the Harm Ensuing from Ignorance of It
Origin of Mahamudra According to the Sutras
Origin of Mahamudra According to the Tantras, Especially the Unsurpassed Link [Anuttara Tantra]
Exposition of the System of Three and Four Mudras
Exposition of the Extraordinary Mahamudra
Clearing Away the Confusion of Other Schools
How Mahamudra Embodies the Deep Meaning of All the Sutras and Tantras
Identifying the Essence of the Path
Condensing the Deep Meaning of the Sutras and Tantras
The Great Qualities of the Mahamudra Practitioners
The Lineage of the Realized Ones in India
The Lineage of the Meditative System in Tibet

Chapter Two: Preparatory Practices

Preparation
The Systematic Path of General Teachings
The Description of the Preparatory Exercises for This Meditative Path
The Relevant Preparatory Practices: The Elucidation of the Uncommon Preparations
Contemplation on Impermanence and the Like for Overcoming Laziness
Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels and Engendering an Enlightened
Attitude for Clearing Impediments in the Practice
Making an Offering of the Cosmos [Mandala] for Enhancing Personal Virtue
Meditation and Mantra Recitation for Purging Inner Defilements
Contemplative Harmonization with the Perfect State of the Guru for Drawing in Spiritual Blessing
The Practice Preceding the Meditational Stages
To Begin With, One Must Understand the Definitive Precepts
How to Maintain Sessions for Meditation

PART II: THE MAIN MEDITATION OF MAHAMUDRA

The Differentiation of Mahamudra Meditation
Stages of the Actual Meditation
Guiding Meditators on the Path

Chapter Three: Guiding Meditators on the Path: Tranquility

Introduction
The Means of Mastering Tranquility
Physical Conduct and Posture
The Method of Concentrating on an Object
The Actual Mental Images for Attaining Settled Quiescence:
Visualization of a Mental Image, Using the Image of an Object
The Actual Meditation
Identification with a Tranquil State of Mind
Attaining Quiescence with a Mental Image, without the Image of an Object
Using the Breathing
Focusing the Mind on Counting Each Breath Rhythm
Focusing the Mind on Its Inward Retention
Not Using the Breathing
Formless Tranquility, without a Mental Image
The Importance of Knowing the Vital Point of Balance between Exertion and Relaxation
The Meditation with Mental Exertion
The Relaxed Meditation
Recognizing Its Absorptive State
How to Maintain the Tranquil State
The Stages of Realizing the Settled Mind
The Purpose of Realizing Tranquility

Chapter Four: Guiding Meditators on the Path: Insight

Introduction
The Reason Why Meditation on Insight Is Necessary
The Preparatory Practice for Insight
The Systems of Meditation on Insight
The Relevant Meditation on Insight: Determining the Intrinsic
Nature of Diverse Mental Perceptions
The Reason Why One Achieves Insight on the Mind
The Determination of the Mind's True Nature as Being the Basis for Everything
Which of the Scriptures Deal with This Subject?
The Actual Stages of This Meditation
How this Meditation Compares with the Original Exposition
How to Determine the Nature of the Mind
The Determination of Mind's Dymanic Manifestations and Dualistic Appearances
Showing All Appearances to Be the Products of Mind
The Realization of Mind, Which Will Bring About an Insight into All Appearances
The Actual Stage of This Meditation
The Relevant Meditation on Insight: Clearing Assumptions and Skepticism about the Basic Root [of Samsara and Nirvana]
The Definite Sense That Thoughts and Appearances Are Of Mental Origin
The Attainment of Certainty about the Intrinsic Nature of Both Tranquil and Active States of Mind
The Sense of Certainty That All Appearances Are Only
Nonarising
The Characteristics of Emerging Insight
The Blending on Insight with That of Other Systems

Chapter Five: The Stages of Virtuous Practice

Understanding the System of Absorption at the Start
Determining the Abiding Nature of Mind
The Essence of Mind
The Nature of Mind
The Characteristics of Mind
Explaining the Definitive Meaning of Spontaneous Coemergence
The Essence and Terminology of Spontaneous Coemergence
The Differentiations and Their Identification
The Significance of Spontaneous Coemergence
The Actual Identification of Spontaneous Coemergence
Identifying Coemergence of the Mind
Identifying Coemergence of Thought
Identifying Coemergence of Appearance
The Elimination of Flaws and the Appreciation of the Meaning of Meditation
The Areas of Erroneous Meditation
The Flaws of Partial Meditation
The Recognition of Flawless Meditation.
The Mind's Abiding Nature Is Said to Be Identical with Ordinary Mind
The Recognition of the Distinctive Characteristics of Ordinary Mind
Its Undistracted State Is Shown to Be Meditation on Mahamudra

Chapter Six: Consolidation of Experience in Meditation: How to Maintain Absorption and Postabsorption

The Reason for Maintaining Meditation Even After Gaining Insight into the Identity of Virtuous Contemplation
The Reason for Maintaining the Meditation Even After Having Discovered Its Intrinsic State
In General, How to Maintain the Meditation with the Support of Mindfulness, Vigilance, and Self-Restraint
In Particular, How the Role of Mindfulness Is Vital in Meditation
Identifying the Nature of Absorption and Postabsorption
The Methods of Maintaining a General Meditative State
The Method of Maintaining Absorption
Enumerating the Methods for Maintaining the Mind's Intrinsic Nature
The Six Methods for Maintaining the Absorptive State
The Well-Known Methods of Settling the Mind
The Other Methods of Settling the Mind
The Condensed Elucidation of These Methods
Meditating without Intellectual Effort
Maintaining an Undistracted Awareness of Intrinsic Reality
How These Two Methods Contain the Vital Instructions on Meditation
The Method of Maintaining Postabsorption
Recognition of Mindfulness in Postabsorption
The Method of Maintaining Meditation through Postabsorptive Mindfulness
Sublimating Discriminating Thoughts
Recognizing the Contemplative Identity
Reviving the Awareness of Intrinsic Reality
Sublimating Recreated Afflictions
Perceiving Postabsorptive Perceptions as Being Like a Magical Scene
The Meaning of a Magical Scene and the Rise of Illusion
Perceiving Postabsorption as Being Like and Illusion
The Method of Blending Absorption and Postabsorption

Chapter Seven: Consolidation of Experience in Meditation: How to Get Rid of Meditative Deviation

The Elimination of Aberration and Deviation with Regard to Absorptive Equipoise
The Elimination of the Four Aberrations
The Identification of the Four Aberrations
The Methods of Guarding against These Aberrations
The Elimination of the Three Deviations
Particular Experiences as a Possible Ground for Aberrations
How the Aberrations Turn into Deviations
Methods to Prevent Deviations from Taking Place
The Methods of Removing Obstacles to Meditation
Removing Obstacles to General Absorption
Removing Other External or Internal Obstacles

Chapter Eight: Consolidation of Experience in Meditation: How to Determine the Mind as Nonarising [Emptiness] and Enhance Meditation

Determining the Mind to Be Expansive, Open, and Nonarising
The Epithet, Significance, and Time of Determining the Mind
Determining the Abiding Nature of the Mind
Watching the Mind's Inner Face as the Basis of Determination
Watching the Nature of Mind and of Appearances
The Nature of Meditation and Meditator
Being Aware of the Mind's Nonarising Openness
Remaining in the State of Determinate Awareness throughout the Day and Night
Perfecting the Efficacy [of Awareness] through the Sublimation of the Path
The Ideal Time Conducive to the Practices
The Vital Significance of This Practice in General
The Six Ways of Sublimating the Practices
Elevating Dualistic Thoughts to the Path by Transforming Any Agonizing Crisis into Blessed Conditions
Elevating Crude Emotions to the Path through the Spiritual process Called "Transforming Poison into Ambrosia"
Elevating Obstacles Emanating from the Superior and Subordinate Spiritual Forces to the Path
Elevating Miseries to the Path by Transforming Them into the Spirit of Enlightenment [Bodhicitta]
Elevating the Afflictions of Disease to the Path, the Even Flavor of the Elements
Elevating One's Dying to the Path by Unifying One's Primal Consciousness and Recollected Contemplative Awareness, the Way a Mother and Her Daughter Are Reunited

Chapter Nine: The Resultant Dawning of Realization

Differentiating the Ways of Realization
How Realization of the Four Stages of Yoga Takes Place
How the Sutras and Tantras Show the Four Stages of Yoga
The General Meaning of the Four Stages of Yoga: The Essence of These Four Stages of Yoga
The General Meaning of the Distinct Nature of Each [of the Four Yoga Stages]
The Difference of Realization between the Yoga Stages
The Somber Realm of Inner Sensations
How Postabsorption Is Maintained
How Stains of the Mind Are Purified
How Postabsorption Is Pacified
The Difference between Absorption and Postabsorption
The Time of Realization for Each of the Four Yoga Stages
Some other Characteristics of These Four
The Detailed Elucidation of Each of the Four Yoga Stages
Differentiating Each of the Four Yoga Stages
Differentiating the Levels of Each Stage Separately: The One-pointed Yoga
The Differentiation of the One-Pointed Yoga
How Inner Sensation and Experience Will Dawn
How This Yoga Is Maintained
Differentiating the Levels of Each Stage Separately: The Nondiscriminatory Yoga
The Differentiation of the Nondiscriminatory Yoga
How inner Sensation and Experience will Dawn
How This Yoga Is Maintained
Differentiating the Levels of Each Stage Separately: The Yoga of One Flavor
The Differentiation of the One-Flavor Yoga
How Inner Sensation and Experience Will Dawn
How this Yoga Is Maintained
Differentiating the Levels of Each Stage Separately: The Yoga of Nonmeditation
The Differentiation of the Yoga of Nonmeditation
How inner Sensation and Experience Will Dawn
How This Yoga Is Maintained
Differentiating the Levels of Each Stage Separately: The Summary of Their Vital Significance
How the Various Grounds and Paths [of Enlightenment] Are Reached through the Four Yogas

Dedication

Colophon

Translator's Notes

Bibliography

Index of Quotations

Of Related Interest:

Complete Collection of Books on Meditation