Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation through Mahamudra Meditation

by Traleg Kyabgon

A detailed introduction to the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Mahamudra meditation as a means of alleviating suffering and seeing the true beauty of the worldIn 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.

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2004

About the author

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche (1955–2012) was the ninth incarnation of the Traleg tulku line, a line of high lamas in the Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana. He was a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia.

Traleg Rinpoche was born in 1955 in Kham (Eastern Tibet), and two years later was recognized by HH 16th Gyalwa Karmapa as the ninth incarnation of the Traleg Tulkus and enthroned as the Abbot of the Thrangu monastery. He was taken to safety in India during the 1959 Chinese Communists invasion of Tibet. There he was given a traditional tulku education, supplemented by five years of schooling at Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India. He lived and studied for several years at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the main seat in exile of the Kagyu Lineage. He died on July 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

In 1980 Rinpoche transmitted the Dharma in Australia where he established Kagyu E-vam Buddhist Institute in Melbourne. He relinquished his monastic vows, became a lay teacher and married. He earned a Masters degree in Comparative Philosophy from La Trobe University. In 1989, he taught extensively at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, visiting the North American affiliates of HH Gyalwa Karmapa. In 2004 he established the Evam Institute in New York in Chatham, NY. He also taught extensively in the Karma Thegsum Choling network of the Karmapa's centers and at Shambhala Buddhist centers. His wife, Felicity Lodro, is also an active dharma teacher.

Reviews

[Brenda C Kayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a fascinating text on a particular form of Tibetan meditation called "Mahamudra". When I read "Mind at Ease" several years ago, I knew very little about Buddhism in general, so the book was quite an eye-opener. In re-reading it, I realized I received in the first read merely a superficial understanding. This next go-round has been wonderfully enriching. I suppose I could re-read it several times and gain something else from it.

The book is complex but with a theme of the basic spaciousness of being, a concept that is not complex in of itself but very difficult to grasp. I best understand it by affixing a sense of "God-ness" with it, and though the author (a Buddhist holy man who is not theistic) may think I am a bit off base, I do think I have come to understand the meat of his message. To me, this way of looking at life substantiates the concept of immanence as well as the acknowledgement that our deepest nature is accessible to us and is ultimately pure and untainted.

What is also cool is that the Mahamudra school of meditation acknowledges rather than condemns the ordinary mind and its "discursive thoughts" and "conflicting emotions". They are considered to be vehicles toward discovering or experiencing a deeper wisdom and are not disavowed as in the traditional Buddhist view. The Mahamudra discipline is non-dualistic in which one looks at life as having complementary aspects rather than opposing forces. That resonates with me.

[Todd Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books anyone could read concerning how to train one's mind and heart. The second half of the book is phenomenal for presenting HOW to actually work with one's mind. It is extremely rare to find a book that presents such excellent applied meditation instruction. This sort of "mixed" meditation method (working through multiple stages within one session of sitting) is just right for modern life and non-monk/nun non-experts. The Mahamudra perspective is one of the most relevant Buddhist perspectives for non-Buddhists and modern life in general. It's rare to say, "This book can make you a better person," but this book can make you a better and happier person.

[Jampa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't like writing notes, dog-earing, or underlining passages in my books. Needless to say, this wonderful book, a gift from a dear friend, now looks like a school notebook! An amazing text on the subject of Mahāmudrā. Indispensable guidebook for a practitioner and anyone interested in understanding and approaching their condition. Many basic detailed instructions on meditation. Rinpoche walks us through every step showing us how to discern experience from realization. I've read classical texts on the subject, but this book really condenses the matter at hand... transcending the understanding of nature of mind, to the realization, of nature of mind.

[Eugene Pustoshkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the 2/3rds of the book. However, I found the last part significantly less moving (to me personally) than Traleg Rinpoche’s commentary to OCEAN OF CERTAINTY (which was highly informative and moving to me). It seems I crave for a more integral form of tantric Buddhism. Is it a good craving or bad one, I wonder?

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most modern and accessible description, philosophy, and practice of managers in the Kathy tradition that I have found.

[David Steven Jacoby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profoundly transformational

This book made me do more deep thinking than any book I’ve ever read. It’s very deep, so I read some sections in little pieces, paragraphs or a page or two, to make sure I digested the material completely. Quite literally I do believe that the book has put my mind more at ease, and I am extraordinarily grateful for that. My only criticism of the book is that there are many sections which I got nothing out of at all, so I ended up deeply reading about half and skimming over others. Bottom line: Reading this book is not easy, but it may change your understanding of your mind and your soul.

[Bryan Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is a great teacher of Tibetan Buddhism for the west. He spent a great deal of time and energy studying western philosophy and psychology in order to be able to effectively explain Buddhists concepts to westerners. This effort really shows in his books. I find his books make difficult concepts easy to understand. I will eternally be grateful for the wisdom I’ve learned from all of his books.

[Христо · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book you want if you're in any way interested in Mahamudra, period.

[Martinxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on Buddhism I have read. Really, there is not much else you need to know. If I could only take two 'spiritual' books with me to a desert island, this would be one. (The other, of course, is Sri Nisargadatta's peerless 'I Am That')

[Ralph Zoontjens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great comprehensive explanation in both theory and practice of the great Mahamudra Buddhist path. Everything is already stamped with the seal of ultimate reality. There is nothing to be found.