Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools

by Peter Alan Roberts (Contributor), Rangjung Dorje (Contributor), Gampopa (Contributor)

The Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism began in the eleventh century with such renowned figures as Marpa and Milarepa, and its seminal meditative traditions are Mahamudra and the six Dharmas of Naropa. Mahamudra teachings focus on the cultivation of profound insight into the nature of the mind. The Mahamudra texts in this volume include a lucid work by the celebrated master Tsele Natsok Rangdrol and works by the twelfth-century master Shang Rinpoche, the great Third Karmapa, the Eighth Tai Situ, and Drukpa Pema Karpo. The volume also contains an inspirational work by Gampopa, the Drigung Kagyu root text, The Single Viewpoint , the Sixth Shamarpa's guide to the six Dharmas of Naropa, and finally an overview of tantric practice by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, author of the famous Moonlight of Mahamudra . The texts in this volume were selected by the preeminent scholar of the Kagyu school, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.

Genres: Buddhism

800 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2010

Reviews

[Cian Kenshin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You definitely need prior context to get much out of this book. If you do, it's very explicit in the stages and growth potential you can achieve, all the way to buddahood. I really enjoyed how it was a compilation of various perspectives on the mahamudra, through different centuries even. I particularly found section 3, The Ultimate Supreme Path of.. by Lama Shang to be illuminating. Around page 111 he goes through the various phases of one-pointed yoga, meditation, post-meditation, sleep, and how to see the interplay of these evolve over the various stages (Samadhi, one-pointed, non-elaboration, one-taste, non-meditation). Great, if difficult read, at times.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way over my head, but so amazing to access such a detailed, old body of texts. Inspiration for meditation and further reading.