Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature

by Thubten Yeshe

Relish these direct, experiential meditation instructions from the author of the bestselling Introduction to Tantra .

Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality” and its unique characteristic is its emphasis on “With mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.”

He relies on the First Panchen Lama’s well-known Root Text of Genden Mahamudra, which in a few short pages provides the pith instructions for, first, overcoming distraction and resting in meditative stillness on the clarity of one’s own mind, and then, with subtle awareness, penetrating its ultimate nature, its emptiness.

As always, Lama Yeshe’s words are direct, funny, and incredibly encouraging. He gets us to go beyond ego’s addiction to a limited sense of self and to taste the lightness and expansiveness of our own true nature.

Genres: Spirituality, Buddhism

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2018

About the author

Lama Thubten Yeshe was a monastic teacher of Tibetan Buddhism most closely associated with the Gelug school of the Dalai Lamas. He established the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), and was succeeded in leadership of that organization by his heart-disciple Lama Thubten Zopa in 1984.

Reviews

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lama Yeshe's humor and direct manner of teaching the Mahamudra from the Gulekpa perspective is refreshing. He explains the Panchen Lama’s root text of Genden Mahamudra and often referencing Tsongkhapa's lamrim, I can see why Lama Yeshe was so crucial to appealing to the West. His very traditional teachings are infused with light manner. He seems like a pleasure to have known. A very useful introduction to Mahamudra that is from a specific perspective--most of the Mahamudra introductions I have encountered are from various Kagyu lines--but is general and non-sectarian enough to be useful as a basic introduction to Vajrayana Buddhists from various traditions.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a really helpful introduction to Mahamudra. I have some questions still, and I suspect that a lot of teachers would not consider me qualified to practice anything just from having read this book, but this helped me understand some things that were less clear (or just explained in too much detail for me at this time) in other texts. I have some confidence and a lot of excitement to practice Mahamudra, starting with the preliminaries, and finding a teacher.

[Sean Glover]

“In order to experience mahamudra, we need to destroy ego’s conception, the hallucinated idealistic picture, the concrete view, this is me, ... If we can't recognize how ego mind projects it's hallucinations onto reality our mahamudra meditation will become mickey mouse meditation”

[Linus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to Mahamudra, both from a Sutric and Tantric point of view, presented in a very clear, accessible and practical language. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism and Nondual practice in general.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I studied this book as part of my daily meditation practice. Lama Yeshe is funny, profound, highly approachable. I’d recommend to anyone interested in Mahamudra, who is a Buddhist.

[Tee Mohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fundamental reality explained in such a simple manner

A must read for anyone seeking the truth. A practical approach to meditation and a glimpse into the nature of reality.

[Daniel yarlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight to enlightenment, clearly written but nothing new tbh, some different terminology to the same concepts of traditional Buddhism