The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra

, by Dalai Lama; Berzin, Alexander

Write a Review

Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.

ISBN: 9781559390729 | 1559390727
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 1/1/1997

Buy Used

Usually Ships in 2-4 Business Days

$29.36
Buy New

Usually Ships in 3-5 Business Days

$38.36

Summary

Author Biography

Supplemental Materials

Extensive teachings on the nature of mind, development of mental calm, levels of mahamudra, and the compatibility of Dzogchen and anuttarayoga tantra.

Preface

(6)

PART I. AN INTRODUCTION TO MAHAMUDRA AND ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO LIFE

(78)

Alexander Berzin

CHAPTER ONE: THE BUDDHIST FRAMEWORK

(16)

Overview of the Topic

(3)

The Four True Facts in Life

(3)

Taking Ourselves and Our Life Seriously

(2)

Safe Direction and Buddha-nature

(2)

Behavioral Cause and Effect

(1)

Renunciation

(2)

Eliminating Confusion

(1)

Compassion and a Dedicated Heart of Bodhichitta

(2)

CHAPTER TWO: THE PRELIMINARY PRACTICES

(14)

Recognizing Our Mental Blocks

(2)

Prostration

(1)

Vajrasattva Practice

(1)

Guru-yoga

(4)

The Relationship with a Spiritual Teacher

(3)

The Inseparability of Our Mind and Our Guru

(1)

Guru-mantras

(1)

Investigating the Meaning of Every Teaching

(2)

CHAPTER THREE: PREVENTING PRELIMINARY PRACTICES FROM BECOMING FLAT

(10)

Why Preliminaries Lose Meaning

(1)

Being Creative with Preliminary Practices

(1)

Transforming All Activities into a Spiritual Path

(1)

Building up Two Bountiful Stores

(1)

Fitting Together the Dharma Teachings

(2)

Avoiding Becoming Infatuated with the Teachings

(4)

CHAPTER FOUR: THE INITIAL LEVEL OF MAHAMUDRA MEDITATION

(12)

The Definition of Mind

(2)

The Non-duality of Subject and Object

(1)

Clarity -- the Arising of the Contents of an Experience

(2)

Awareness -- an Engaging with the Contents of an Experience

(1)

Merely

(1)

Summary of the Buddhist Definition of Mind

(1)

The Nature of Mahamudra Meditation

(1)

The Analogy of a Flashlight

(1)

The Initial Stages of Mahamudra Meditation

(2)

Benefits of the Initial Stage of Practice

(2)

CHAPTER FIVE: THE DEEPER LEVELS OF MAHAMUDRA MEDITATION

(26)

Mahamudra Meditation on the Conventional Nature of Mind

(2)

The Necessity for Meditating on the Conventional and Deepest Natures of "Me"

(1)

The Conventional and Deepest Natures of "Me"

(2)

Applying the Understanding of the Nature of "Me" to Mahamudra Meditation

(1)

The Relation Between the Conventional and Deepest Natures of Mind

(1)

Mahamudra Meditation on the Deepest Nature of Mind

(1)

Understanding That the Conventional "Me" Exists Like an Illusion

(1)

Understanding the Nature of Mind in Terms of Mental Labeling

(1)

Understanding the Deepest Nature of Mind To Be Like Space and Its Conventional Nature To Be Like Illusion

(1)

Further Applications of the Understanding of Voidness to Mahamudra Meditation

(2)

Non-conceptual Meditation

(1)

The Relation Between Ideas, Understanding and Conceptual Meditation

(1)

The Stages for Gaining a Non-conceptual Mahamudra Meditation

(4)

The Anuttarayoga Tantra Level of Mahamudra Meditation

(1)

Summary

(8)

PART II. THE ROOT TEXT BY THE FIRST PANCHEN LAMA A ROOT TEXT FOR THE PRECIOUS GELUG/KAGYU TRADITION OF MAHAMUDRA: The Main Road of the Triumphant Ones

(8)

PART III. DISCOURSE BY H. H. THE DALAI LAMA ON THE ROOT TEXT

105

(64)

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND PRELIMINARIES

105

(8)

Introductory Remarks

105

(2)

Opening Homage, Praise and Promise to Compose

107

(2)

The Common Preliminaries

109

(2)

The Uncommon Preliminaries

111

(2)

CHAPTER TWO: THE TANTRA AND SUTRA TRADITIONS OF MAHAMUDRA

113

(6)

The Tantra Tradition of Mahamudra

113

(2)

The Sutra Tradition of Mahamudra

115

(4)

CHAPTER THREE: MAHAMUDRA WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF VARIOUS BUDDHIST TRADITIONS

119

(11)

The Different Lineages of Mahamudra

119

(4)

The Harmony of the Two Correct Views of Reality

123

(2)

Confirmation from the Dzogchen System

125

(2)

Corroboration from the Chittamatra Practice of Tantra

127

(3)

CHAPTER FOUR: MEDITATION ON THE CONVENTIONAL NATURE OF MIND

130

(13)

Preliminaries for Shamata Meditation

130

(2)

Focusing on the Conventional Nature of Mind

132

(2)

Employing Mindfulness and Alertness

134

(3)

Techniques to Employ When Mind Gives Rise to a Thought

137

(3)

The Attainment of Shamata Focused on the Conventional Nature of Mind

140

(3)

CHAPTER FIVE: MEDITATION ON THE DEEPEST NATURE OF THE CONVENTIONAL "ME" AND ALL PHENOMENA, INCLUDING MIND

143

(14)

Promise to Compose

143

(1)

Scrutinizing the Manner of Appearance and Manner of Existence of "Me"

143

(2)

Refutation of the "Me" To Be Refuted

145

(2)

The Conventional Existence of Phenomena That Is Not To Be Refuted

147

(2)

Total Absorption on Voidness Which Is Like Space

149

(3)

Voidness of Mind Itself

152

(1)

Understanding Voidness in Terms of Dependent Arising

153

(3)

Dedication

156

(1)

CHAPTER SIX: THE DEEP AWARENESS SUBSEQUENTLY ATTAINED

157

(12)

Recognizing Anything to Which Mind Gives Rise

157

(2)

Applying Our Understanding to All Phenomena

159

(1)

Alternating Total Absorption and Subsequently Attained Deep Awareness

160

(2)

Simultaneous Perception of the Two Levels of Truth

162

(1)

Closing Dedication and Colophon

163

(2)

Concluding Advice

165

(4)

PART IV. DISCOURSE BY H. H. THE DALAI LAMA ON THE AUTO-COMMENTARY

169

(182)

SESSION ONE

169

(18)

The Source of the Teachings

169

(2)

Special Features of the Teachings

171

(1)

Setting the Appropriate Motivation

172

(1)

Homage and Praise to the Gurus

172

(3)

Promise to Compose and General Presentation of the Preliminaries

175

(1)

Safe Direction and the Four True Facts in Life

176

(2)

The Wish for Happiness

178

(3)

Bodhichitta

181

(1)

Mandala Offering

181

(1)

Vajrasattva Practice

182

(1)

Guru-yoga

183

(1)

The Qualifications of a Guru

183

(3)

Practice Before Finding a Guru

186

(1)

SESSION TWO

187

(29)

Taming the Mind

187

(3)

Visualization of the Sources of Safe Direction

190

(2)

The Four Levels of Mandala Offering

192

(3)

All Appearance-making and Appearances as Reflexive Play

195

(2)

The Relation Between Appearances, Clear Light Mind, Death and Rebirth

197

(3)

The Relation Between Mind, Karma and Environment

200

(3)

The Two Levels of Vajrasattva Practice

203

(1)

Guru-yoga -- External and Inner Gurus

203

(1)

Parting from the Four Forms of Clinging -- the Common Preliminaries

204

(1)

The Importance of Preliminaries

205

(2)

Paying Attention to Definitions of Technical Terms

207

(1)

Confident Belief in the Guru

208

(1)

Premature Commitment to an Unsuitable Guru

209

(1)

Premature Commitment to Tantra and Daily Recitation Practices

210

(1)

Visualization of Ourselves as a Buddha-form

211

(3)

Establishing the Dignity of Being a Form of Buddha

214

(1)

Six-session Guru-yoga

215

(1)

SESSION THREE

216

(24)

Different Presentations of the Four Types of Seals

216

(2)

Penetrating Vital Points of the Vajra-body

218

(2)

Those Who Progress Through Graded Stages and Those for Whom Everything Happens at Once

220

(3)

Dzogchen in Comparison to Mahamudra

223

(3)

The Coarse and Subtle Primordial Minds

226

(1)

The Dzogchen Tradition in Bon

227

(2)

Summary of the Anuttarayoga Tantra Tradition of Mahamudra

229

(1)

The Appropriateness of this System of Mahamudra Being Called "Gelug/Kagyu"

230

(4)

Other-voidness and Self-voidness

234

(6)

SESSION FOUR

240

(19)

The Authenticity of the Traditions of the Dohas and Dzogchen

240

(2)

Division Schemes of Maha-, Anu- and Atiyoga, and Father, Mother and Non-dual Tantra

242

(2)

Unconventional Behavior of the Most Highly Realized Practitioners

244

(5)

Compassion and Wisdom Within the Context of Anuttarayoga Tantra

249

(1)

How Chittamatra Practitioners of Tantra Gain a Madhyamaka View

250

(2)

All Phenomena as the Play of Primordial Clear Light Mind

252

(1)

Primordial Clear Light Mind as Buddha-nature

253

(1)

Relying on a Sealing Partner

254

(1)

Summary of the Tantra Level of Mahamudra Practice

255

(1)

The Differences Between the Sutra and Tantra Levels of Mahamudra

256

(3)

SESSION FIVE

259

(13)

The Way to Listen to Teachings

259

(1)

Non-sectarianism

260

(1)

Brief Resume of the Text

261

(2)

The Simultaneously Arising as Merged Tradition of Karma Kagyu

263

(1)

The Amulet Box Tradition of Shangpa Kagyu

264

(3)

The Possessing Five Tradition of Drigung Kagyu

267

(2)

The Drugpa Kagyu Tradition of the Six Spheres of Equal Taste

269

(1)

The Four Syllables Tradition Common to All Dagpo Kagyu Lineages

270

(1)

The Pacifier Tradition of Pa Dampa-sanggyay

270

(1)

The Object to Be Cut Off, Dzogchen and Madhyamaka Discursive View Traditions

271

(1)

SESSION SIX

272

(19)

The Basic Prerequisites for Achieving Shamata

272

(2)

Cleaning the Place of Practice, Preparing the Seat and Assuming the Proper Posture

274

(1)

Generating an Initial Neutral State of Mind with the Nine Tastes of Breath

275

(1)

Generating a Constructive State of Mind

276

(1)

Focusing on Mind Itself

277

(2)

Recognizing Mere Clarity and Awareness

279

(1)

Focusing with Mindfulness and Alertness

280

(1)

Degrees and Varieties of Distraction and Dullness

281

(1)

How to Cultivate Alertness and Absorbed Concentration

282

(1)

Reducing Conceptual Thoughts

283

(2)

Loosening the Tightness of Mindfulness

285

(1)

Seeing that the Settled and Moving Minds Are Mixed Together

286

(1)

Recognizing the Nature of Conceptual Thought

287

(1)

Six Techniques for Achieving Shamata

288

(1)

Bringing Our Meditation from Absorbed Concentration to a State of Shamata

289

(2)

SESSION SEVEN

291

(13)

Working to Benefit Others

291

(1)

A Life of Intensive Meditational Practice Versus a Life of Service

292

(2)

Providing Ourselves with Strength to Maintain a Life of Service to Others

294

(1)

Broad Guidelines for Meditation

295

(2)

Stages of Focusing Mind on Mind

297

(1)

Boon Experiences

298

(1)

The Importance of Realizing the Devoid Nature of Mind

299

(1)

Five Traditions for Cutting Down to the Deepest Nature of Mind

300

(4)

SESSION EIGHT

304

(10)

Removing the Obstacles Preventing Liberation and Enlightenment

304

(2)

General Discussion of Identitylessness

306

(1)

Avoiding the Two Extremes in Recognizing the Object To Be Refuted

307

(2)

The Three Ways of Apprehending "Me"

309

(1)

The Simultaneously Arising, Incorrect View of a Transitory Collection That Apprehends Everything in Terms of "Me"

310

(2)

Scrutinizing the Manner of Appearance and Manner of Existence of "Me"

312

(2)

SESSION NINE

314

(13)

Approaching the Challenge of Taming the Mind

314

(1)

Searching for the "Me" To Be Refuted

315

(3)

Recognizing the Mode of Appearance-making To Be Refuted

318

(1)

Differentiating the Mode of Appearance-making of Conventional Reality from the Mode of Appearance-making To Be Refuted

319

(2)

The Analogy of Dreams and Illusions

321

(2)

Refutation of the "Me" To Be Refuted

323

(2)

Total Absorption on Voidness Which Is Like Space

325

(1)

Subsequently Attained Deep Awareness That Everything Is Like Illusion

325

(2)

SESSION TEN

327

(24)

Realizing the Voidness of Mind Itself

327

(2)

Corroboration of the Voidness of Mind by Great Meditational Masters

329

(1)

Re-affirming Conviction in Voidness by Merely Seeing the Appearances to Which Mind Dependently Gives Rise

330

(3)

Further Cultivation of Subsequently Attained Deep Awareness

333

(1)

The Extinction of Discordant Appearance-making

334

(1)

Re-affirmation of the Conventional Level of Truth

334

(2)

Conventional Existence by Virtue Simply of Names

336

(1)

Refutation of the Svatantrika-Madhyamaka Position

337

(2)

The Prasangika-Madhyamaka Position

339

(1)

Dependent Arising -- "The King of Lines of Reasoning"

340

(1)

Supplementing the Understanding of Dzogchen with Tsongkapa's Presentation of Voidness and Vice Versa

341

(1)

Valid Cognition of the Conventional Level of Truth

342

(1)

Applying the Understanding of Voidness to Every Appearance to Which Mind Gives Rise

342

(1)

Voidness and Dependently Arising Appearance Being Synonymous

343

(2)

The Stages to Enlightenment Through Mahamudra

345

(2)

Dedication and Concluding Advice

347

(4)

Tibetan Text: A Root Text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra

351

(6)

Glossary

357

(20)

Index of Text Titles

377

(6)

Index

383

Please wait while the item is added to your bag...

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials