Interesting article on 100-day transmission retreat for the Ocean of Certainty teachings. Interesting to me that there was a whole contingent of lay practitioners at what I think could fairly be called advanced practice teachings. Also, Tai Situ's wardrobe and teaching throne are stunning. Wish ida been there

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/100-day-mahamudra-transmission-at-palpung-sherabling-the-silent-and-far-reaching-call-of-the-ultimate/

I’ve had very powerful experiences of vivid spontaneous clarity both while meditating and between sessions going about my day where the self seems to completely drop away but uncultivated spontaneous concentration arise as I go about my day in what ever I’m doing. Ive been practicing the direct approach by Stephan bodian on the waking up app along side readings from longchenpas natural perfection, and flight of the Garuda, these books seem to come alive for me in clear understanding after having had this experience of Rigpa stabilize for several days at a time but can’t help wondering if a teacher would be my best option at this stage to have that final and complete letting go. My ego seems to grab hold and try to hold on to this pure state of bliss and I feel anxious about how “I” will keep it up. I know this is also a flaw in my practice but letting go into that final freefall seems mysterious.

Hi, I would like to share a series of insights during my meditation practice, and see if they fit into the Mahāmudrā practice.

First insight: “All experience happens in the mind.”

Question arising from insight: “Where in my experience is the mind, then?”

Second Insight: “The mind is all encompassing.”

Then, I spontaneously settled within this all encompassing mind. Nothing was excluded.

Would this be the right direction? It is increasingly more clear. So I intuitively see that I am looking at the mind with the mind. I also call it awareness.

I often hear that our primordial awareness is available to everyone and can be realized, but then I also hear teachers saying that an initiation or teacher is necessary. No teachers are available near me.

I am currently practicing the stabilization of Mahamudra. Should I proceed without a teacher or put my practice on hold?

I joined because I thought I knew what it was according to a certain yoga text I read a while back, but according to some posts I’ve seen here it seems like my interpretation of the technique is not the same as others. What do you think mahamudra is?

And how long did it take to master it? Did you learn directly from the master - online or live? From books and internet & videos? What is the main benefit youd say? Thank you!

does one taste mean everything lacks inherent existence? just answer yes or no

ChatGPT

No.

Me:

📷please explain

ChatGPT

Certainly. The concept of "one taste" in Mahamudra doesn't mean that everything lacks inherent existence. "One taste" refers to the understanding that all phenomena share a fundamental nature of emptiness, meaning they lack inherent, fixed, or independent existence. This understanding comes from the insight into the ultimate nature of reality, which is a central aspect of Mahamudra practice.

However, while everything shares this empty nature, it doesn't mean that the appearances or experiences in the world are denied or disregarded. The concept of "one taste" is about recognizing the emptiness underlying all phenomena while still engaging with the conventional world and experiencing its diverse appearances.

In Mahamudra practice, the aim is to see through the illusory nature of appearances and recognize their lack of inherent existence, but this doesn't negate the relative functioning of the world. It's more about understanding the interplay between the ultimate and the conventional aspects of reality.

Me:

📷you wrote - "One taste" refers to the understanding that all phenomena share a fundamental nature of emptiness, meaning they lack inherent, fixed, or independent existence. Isn't that what i stated above

ChatGPT

I apologize for any confusion. You are correct, and I appreciate your clarification. Your initial statement accurately captured the essence of "one taste" in Mahamudra. It refers to recognizing that all phenomena lack inherent existence, and they share a fundamental nature of emptiness. Thank you for pointing that out.

📷does one taste mean everything lacks inherent existence? just answer yes or no ChatGPT

Yes.

10 mantra lines:

1. "This seeing is my very mind."
2. "Thoughts arise, and I rest in awareness."
3. "Sensations come and go; I remain in non-conceptual presence."
4. "Inseparable from awareness, all experiences arise."
5. "Distractions arise within the boundless space of awareness."
6. "I rest in the unchanging nature of consciousness."
7. "Beyond good and bad, I abide in non-dual awareness."
8. "Thoughts, emotions, all are mind's dance in awareness."
9. "No subject, no object; just pure experiencing."
10. "In the ever-present now, awareness shines."

10 prayer lines:

1. "May the illusion of self dissolve, revealing the unbound awareness within."
2. "In the timeless now, may non-dual wisdom awaken within me."
3. "May the veils of conceptual thinking be lifted, revealing the naked truth of mind."
4. "In the boundless expanse of awareness, may all dualities merge."
5. "May the direct experience of reality shine, free from the rule of mental constructs."
6. "Let go of grasping and aversion; may equanimity and clarity prevail."
7. "In the simplicity of presence, may the essence of mind be revealed."
8. "May all experiences arise and dissolve, like waves on the ocean of awareness."
9. "Rest in the unconditioned nature of mind, beyond time and space."
10. "May the non-dual heart of compassion guide my every step."

The First Panchen Lama had something specific in mind when he used the term “Gelug/Kagyü tradition of mahamudra.” We find evidence for Tsongkapa himself being the source of this Gelug/Kagyü synthesis in Gungtangzang’s Notes from a Discourse on the Gelug Tradition of Mahamudra and Aku Sherab-gyatso’s two Notes from a Discourse on “A Ritual to Honor the Spiritual Master” Interspersed with Mahamudra. Gungtangzang’s notes were based on a discourse by his teacher Yongdzin Yeshey-gyeltsen, a disciple of the Third Panchen Lama and the first to comment on the First Panchen Lama’s mahamudra texts in conjunction with A Ritual to Honor the Spiritual Master. Aku Sherab-gyatso’s two works are notes on discourses by two more of his teachers, Detri Jamyang-tubten-nyima and Welmang Könchog-gyeltsen, both of whom were disciples of Gungtangzang. All these masters have concurred that Tsongkapa had given a restricted discourse on mahamudra to Gungru Gyeltsen-zangpo and some others at Gaden Jangtsey Monastery. This is only reasonable since Tsongkapa himself had received numerous mahamudra teachings, for example from Lama Umapa, one of his Karma Kagyü teachers, following the tradition of the latter’s Drugpa Kagyü master Barawa Gyeltsen-zangpo, disciple of the Third Karmapa, Rangjung-dorjey.

When it comes to your journey in life what is the most beautiful thing you have learned?

It could be a verse, a quote that really sums it all up or hits you in a profound way, or an experience, everything is open :)

But what is that one thing that really stands out and you felt the most close to the truth in hearing or experiencing or learning it?

"Like mercury consumes iron ..."

"One can meditate:

like mercury consumes iron;

our nature as empty form,

in continuous practice."

Bokar Rinpoche Meditation Advice, Mirik 1996

https://mobile.twitter.com/middleway/status/1551108391841325057

Kia ora. I'm doing a solo retreat in a remote hut here in Aotearoa New Zealand for 3 weeks from the 10th of July till the start of August.

I am hoping that people in this sub might have links to recordings that will take me on a three week progression through direct "pointing out" instructions. Ideally this would include both meditation instructions (not necessarily guided meditations, but that would be welcome), and a daily dharma talk.

A two week progression would also be fine as I can pad it out to three weeks with loving kindness.

I'm familiar with Adyashanti's work from his course on the Waking Up app. I have been following Sam Harris and other non-dual teachers such as John Astin, Stephen Bodian and Richard Lang (the headless way) for about two years. Before that, I practiced for several years with long daily vipassana meditations (Theravada). I was then a student for three years in the tradition of Namgyal Rinpoche, practicing shamatha-vipashyana. In total about a dozen silent retreats, solo and in groups, ranging from ten days to three weeks duration.

Since a certain retreat in 2015, the mind naturally settles into perceiving its skylike nature, including that perception, when mindful, on or off cushion. But there are many fluctuations within that settling, which could probably be investigated fruitfully by formal sitting for long periods. That's my vague goal heading into this.

I have considered using three of Adyashanti's recorded week-long retreats. But I imagine that each of these retreats has a seven day arc, that when combined will lead to three peaks instead of a longer, potentially deeper progression. Can anyone confirm this?

Nga mihi / thankyou

I practiced mahamudra for 2 weeks, DAKPO TASHI style. I read his book.

​

I got mentally ill after 2 weeks. I couldn't sit in his meditation style taught in his book. I started to hallucinate again. I realized mahamudra for 4 days , on and off.....awareness and object of awareness are 1 taste.I became toothbrushes, tables, walking, breath, blinking of eyes. Bliss. I was kicked out of it. I start to think it was a delusion.

I have ngondro and annutaratantra initiations, years of study, practice, and some retreats, but I avoided tummo so far.

Is there any kind of material or teaching available online?

I have decided to commit on a spiritual path but my life's situations as it is doesn't allow me to attend to a spiritual advisor any time soon. I want to know if one can learn sutra mahamudra using this book alone? I feel so hopeless as my karmic propensities and spiritual capacity have rendered the pursuit of enlightenment so difficult.

Hey,

I'm looking for new moderators for /r/mahamudra. I am not a practitioner of Mahamudra, and also am very busy, so I don't really have time to spend on improving or revitalizing the subreddit.

If you're interested in becoming a moderator and/or taking over the sub, please PM me a very brief paragraph just outlining your experience with Mahamudra, your experience with reddit moderation, and what your plans would be for the subreddit.

Thanks!

“Join us for this retreat, open to the public, which will combine profound wisdom teachings and meditation on Mahamudra, the path of simplicity.”

Nalandabodhi

https://seattle.nalandabodhi.org/2021/07/27/mahamudra-online-retreat/

What we call "Mahamudra" is your very own awareness.

I thought I would provide my story just to see if some conversation can develop :)

I have always been someone that loves the "depth" and "breadth" of life.

As a kid I was inquisitive, in university I studied Religious Studies and Philosophy (Philosophy was my major as I enjoyed a secular analysis of concepts and thought).

I ended up discovering a real passion for buddhism in my early 20's.

Like many my first experience was to Mahayana buddhism and the sources available online/books.

I quickly found myself interested in Theravada and I felt this was the best "presentation" of "pure" buddhism.

I fell in love with deep writers like Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Bhikkhu Anālayo, and some of the more light but still pretty concept heavy writings of Ajahn Brahm (Mindfulness Bliss and Beyond) and Ajahn​ Amaro (The Island: Teachings on Nibbana).

I also enjoyed some of the more dense meditation instructions from Pa Auk, Mahasi, Ayya Khema, Ledi Sayadaw.

I have to be honest I fell in love with anapanasati as presented in the pali canon suttas. Same with mindfulness practice as described in the Satipatthana Sutta.

I did a bit of Jhana styled meditation.

I found this really "was" buddhism.

As I grew in experience and teachings I started to become a lot more humble and started to love aspects of the other traditions.

I got more into Mahayana. I did more study.

I fell in love with Soto Zen.

I ended up doing some training in a monastery.

My curious and adventurous side got me into Nyingma and in particular Dzogchen and Mahamudra practices/perspectives.

I will say at this point in my life after training a bit in the tradition of Kōdō Sawaki - Kosho Uchiyama through Shōhaku Okumura and having to humble myself fairly massively realizing my cup was way too full I really think Dogen and the practice of Zazen just captures it.

I don't say that from a primacy position I just think it was a dharma gate that when I finally got it I was like "Wow!"

So I thought maybe we could all tell a bit about our stories and what practices and styles finally just hit us and we realized "Oh shit I finally get this thing and this is the path".

:) thank you and may you all be well

Edit: I also spent some time in a theravada monastery :)

What do folks think of this work?

"On the level of Mahamudra, rituals are fully transcended. Saraha says practitioners of mahamudra no longer have to fiddle with mandalas and mantras; they have only to understand the nature of their own mind. Once we have understood that or had some experience of that, we no longer need to concern ourselves with the visualization of deities and that sort of thing."