THE MEANING OF MAHAMUDRA

E Ma Ho!

How wonderful!

Remain relaxed, without clinging or contrivance

Within mind’s nature, like space,

Free from any reference point

And with the vigor of vivid, mindful awareness.

Whatever outward or inward movement of thought arises,

Don’t lose hold of the vital inner glow of the expanse of mindfulness.

Don’t fabricate [mental states].

Rest your mind as it is -

It will be liberated into the absolute expanse.

Kalu Rinpoche

 

Mahamudra, chagchen in Tibetan, translates as Great Seal or Great Symbol.  It is a body of teaching and practice that is practiced by all new translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism, i.e., Kagyu, Shakya and Gelugpa.  Mudra refers to the vivid way phenomena appear, and Maha indicates that the way they appear is beyond concept, beyond imagination, beyond perception.  The teachings closely resemble those of Dzogchen as practiced by the Nyingma (old translation) School with very minor differences.  It is a completion stage practice that focuses on manipulating the mental and physical forces of the subtle body to attain the enlightened state.  Like Dzogchen, it is necessary to complete this practice under the close guidance of one’s teacher.  This is not a practice that can or should be done on one’s own as it is too easy to go off the path and end up more confused than one started or insane.

Mahamudra meditation, as described by the great 20th Century master Kalu Rinpoche of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage founded by the female Bodhisattva Niguma, involves resting in awareness, no point of reference, no discursive thought involving “this” and “that”.  It is not just zoning out.  Awareness is the key, just resting in the experience of whatever is happening, either externally or internally.  When one is able to just rest in luminous emptiness without grasping, knowing will arise of its own accord, and liberation is right there.

The practice of Mahamudra begins with basic shamatha (shi-ne)/vipasyana (lhag-tong) meditation to cultivate tranquility and insight into the nature of reality.  When one gains a glimpse of Mahamudra as a result of this practice, the four faults naturally dissolve, allowing one to progress further in the practice.  In the final stage practice, one manifests the Trikaya (the three bodies of the Buddha) spontaneously and the Mahamudra becomes fully manifest.

The Buddha is said to have taught 84,000 teachings, which is equivalent to the number of afflictive emotions of sentient beings.  In truth there is no limit to the Buddha’s teaching, just as the nature of mind is limitless.  Through such teachings and practices as Mahamudra and Dzogchen we ourselves have the possibility of experiencing the limitlessness of primordial wisdom mind in this life.

Eh Ma Ho!

Marshall Duncan aka William Cassidy writes the Fire Marshal

A Buddhist temple recently received an unexpected visit from the fire marshal as the result of an online complaint. The following complaint was submitted by Marshall Duncan, an alias of William Cassidy:

“There are literally hundreds of open flames in the building, candles, oil lamps and so forth. Meanwhile, dozens of people are sleeping upstairs, and the ingress and egress points are narrow. I directly asked somebody there how the Fire Marshal felt aboI ut all of this, and was told, “We’re lucky they never go upstairs when there is an inspection.” There are zip cords and cheap heaters all over the place. This is a DISASTER waiting to happen! Somebody needs to go out there and bring that place into full compliance before there is a terrible tragedy.”

Based on this inaccurate information, the fire marshal brought along two police officers to inspect the premises. What they found when they arrived were Buddhists praying and candles offered on the altars which is of course a traditional offering. Once the fire marshal saw the temple, he sent the cops home. He described what needed to be done for the building to be in compliance. The Buddhist temple is following his suggestions and working with the fire marshal to bring the building into compliance.

Current Activity Update

We have received some material from contacts at Kunzang Palyul Choling which indicate Cassidy is not only propagating slander and liable on his various blogs, but has also posted what members of their community are concerned may be “veiled threats.”

They have reported that he is using his radiofreepalyul blog to communicate messages to their teacher. His pattern now, after they have taken action with both blogger and wordpress to have liablelous material removed, is to post a message for a day or two and then take it down.

Below is a screenshot sent of a post he did the day after the funeral of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, one of the great masters of Tibetan Buddhism in modern times. His complete focus was not on the religious event, but on the absence of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo.

screenshot of a blogpost from radiofreepalyul posted on 4-9-09

For all those who may be tempted to follow Cassidy’s “Digital Tibetan Altar” blog on blogspot, and who may be persuaded by his presentation as an authority on Dharma, please be aware he is also the author of the above material and much more defamatory content on his other blogs. Sources have confirmed this as he continues to post private material he took without authorization from their Sedona Center.

KPC has asked that we share this information with the public in order that others may not fall prey to Cassidy’s cunning deceptions. We wish also to point out we have not shared anything in this post that he did not himself publish on his own blog.

From Jetsunma Akhon Lhamo

Anyone who turns the mind of a sentient being away from the profound blessings of a living Buddha, like His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is either insane, stupendously ignorant or demonic.

This has gone too far. The sangha should pick up pen and paper and write about His Holiness. His Holiness is peerless; nobody has done what he has done. The extent of his Dharma activity is unmatched anywhere in the world; the loving care which he has provided for his students is unmatched, and the sublime purity with which he has kept his three levels of vows; outer, inner and secret cannot be denied.

Christianity says, and I would like to borrow the phrase, “…by their fruits you will know them.”

Those who would put him down are dealers of hate. They speak hate, they breathe hate, and the vile pus of their hatred is their nectar.

At the time of their death they will see what they have done.

–Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Discernment

Guru Rinpoche says that in these degenerate times demonic forces (demons, negative spirits, and harmful entities) are intentionally manifesting, sending forth deceptive emanations of themselves in the form of spiritual teachers, appearing as great scholars and realized ones, honorable and disciplined on the outside yet actually harmful entities on the inside. They are intentionally trying to lead sentient beings into lower realms.

Guru Rinpoche also said that during these degenerate times there are many demons and spirits who will say they are deities when they are not. Specifically, there are nine types that will come into human realms to lead beings astray on the spiritual path in these times. These negative spirits will manifest deceptive displays, making it appear that they have reached the first, second and third bhumis when in fact they haven’t. They will display magical signs to cause you to believe they have. They will even appear as bodhisattvas when they are not. They will manifest different signs and miraculous displays, through body, speech, and mind, so inconceivable that they will take your mind away. Seeing these deceptive displays of power, beings with weak merit and karma will experience the arising of faith in their minds and will focus all their devotion on these negative beings.

-Great Perfection Buddha in the Palm of the Hand, Commentary by Gyaltul Rinpoche, Yeshe Melong Publications