I received this from the bookstore today - Mahamudra - The Moonlight - Quintessence of Mind and Meditation, which is of course by Dakpo Tashi Namgal (translated by Lobsang Lhalungpa.
The book's reputation precedes it, and I have always just heard the very best about it, even from teachers.
Has anyone here read it? It seems a practical manual and guide for actual practice, so not just a theoretical waffling about Mahamudra.
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Mahamudra - The Moonlight
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Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by mindyourmind » Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:53 pm
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by heart » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:24 pm
My favorite Mahamudra book by the same author as above http://www.amazon.com/Clarifying-Natura ... pd_sim_b_1
Very clear and short instructional text.
With a commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Clear-Pra ... 9627341517
And please read also this excellent texts by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Lamp-Matter ... d_sim_b_20
/magnus
Very clear and short instructional text.
With a commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Clear-Pra ... 9627341517
And please read also this excellent texts by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Lamp-Matter ... d_sim_b_20
/magnus
"The direct, hard to understand, subtle field of knowing, the Great Path, is non-conceptual (akalpana), and entirely beyond the grasp of intellectual thought. Divorced from verbal ideation, it is difficult to point out and as difficult to enquire into. It cannot be communicated through words and [therefore] is not within the scope of the neophyte (adikarmika). Nevertheless the path is to be approached through studying scriptures (sutra) of the World-Teacher and following the personal instructions (upadesa) of one's Guru-ji."
Bodhicittabhavana by Acarya Sri Manjusrimitra
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by Astus » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:18 pm
Yesterday I was re-reading the Drikung Kagyu Mahamudra Teachings (PDF) by Garchen Rinpoche.
"Regarding the manner of imparting the profound path [of Mahamudra], the venerable Gampopa considered it to be an independent path of tantra. So he did not make the esoteric empowerment a prerequisite for receiving the Mahamudra teachings. He spoke about the method of directly guiding the disciple toward the intrinsic reality of the mind." (Mahamudra: The Moonlight, p. 123)
connected to that statement, from Shenpen Ösel:
The Very Essence of Mind, Mahamudra, the One Sufficient Path by Gampopa
"Regarding the manner of imparting the profound path [of Mahamudra], the venerable Gampopa considered it to be an independent path of tantra. So he did not make the esoteric empowerment a prerequisite for receiving the Mahamudra teachings. He spoke about the method of directly guiding the disciple toward the intrinsic reality of the mind." (Mahamudra: The Moonlight, p. 123)
connected to that statement, from Shenpen Ösel:
The Very Essence of Mind, Mahamudra, the One Sufficient Path by Gampopa
"While teachers of the middle way, mind only, transcendent wisdom, mantra, and other schools may have their own assertions, the fulfillment of those intentions is the same. There is not a single thing that is not contained within mind."
(Gampopa to Düsum Khyenpa, in "The First Karmapa", KTD Pub, p 254)
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(Gampopa to Düsum Khyenpa, in "The First Karmapa", KTD Pub, p 254)
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by Silent Bob » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:44 pm
I wholeheartedly second the book suggestions offered by Magnus. These three offer a readable approach to the topic of MM without the MEGO (Mine Eyes Glazeth Over) effect of "Moonlight...".
Thrangu Rinpoche gave a legendary series of five ten-day retreats at Big Bear, CA between 1990-95, where he gave extensive commentaries on "Moonlight of Mahamudra". The book was chosen at the request of the translator for the first year's retreat, Ken McLeod, and Rinpoche himself remarked not once but several times during the next few years that the book was actually intended for instructors of MM rather than audiences of laypeople. I attended these retreats and was already somewhat familiar with the book, but the sheer amount of material covered was sometimes overwhelming. Be that as it may, since you already have the big book you'll find that the three books recommended by Magnus are excellent, even necessary, companion volumes.
Chris
Thrangu Rinpoche gave a legendary series of five ten-day retreats at Big Bear, CA between 1990-95, where he gave extensive commentaries on "Moonlight of Mahamudra". The book was chosen at the request of the translator for the first year's retreat, Ken McLeod, and Rinpoche himself remarked not once but several times during the next few years that the book was actually intended for instructors of MM rather than audiences of laypeople. I attended these retreats and was already somewhat familiar with the book, but the sheer amount of material covered was sometimes overwhelming. Be that as it may, since you already have the big book you'll find that the three books recommended by Magnus are excellent, even necessary, companion volumes.
Chris
"All the sublime teachings, so profound--to throw away one and then grab yet another will not bear even a single fruit. Persevere, therefore, in simply one."
--Dudjom Rinpoche, "Nectar for the Hearts of Fortunate Disciples. Song No. 8"
--Dudjom Rinpoche, "Nectar for the Hearts of Fortunate Disciples. Song No. 8"
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by Silent Bob » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:48 pm
This is embarrassing--I forgot to recommend Thrangu Rinpoche's "Essentials of Mahamudra" http://www.namobuddhapub.com/Essentials ... p000em.htm
which is a well-edited compilation of his talks from all the Big Bear retreats.
Chris
which is a well-edited compilation of his talks from all the Big Bear retreats.
Chris
"All the sublime teachings, so profound--to throw away one and then grab yet another will not bear even a single fruit. Persevere, therefore, in simply one."
--Dudjom Rinpoche, "Nectar for the Hearts of Fortunate Disciples. Song No. 8"
--Dudjom Rinpoche, "Nectar for the Hearts of Fortunate Disciples. Song No. 8"
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by PadmaVonSamba » Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:17 am
I think i have read through "Essentials of Mahamudra" a couple of times now. WOW!
There are also some excellent teachings on Mahamudra at the Shenpen Osel website:
http://www.shenpen-osel.org/
and while you can read them online for free, it is well worth the price to get any available back issues (in print).
You can order directly from them.
There are also some excellent teachings on Mahamudra at the Shenpen Osel website:
http://www.shenpen-osel.org/
and while you can read them online for free, it is well worth the price to get any available back issues (in print).
You can order directly from them.
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The Chinese characters are Fo (buddha) and Ming (bright). The image is of a student of Buddhism, who, imagining himself to be a monk, and not understanding the true meaning of the words takes the sound of the words literally. Likewise, People on web forums sometime seem to be foaming at the mouth. Original painting by P.Volker /used by permission.
The Chinese characters are Fo (buddha) and Ming (bright). The image is of a student of Buddhism, who, imagining himself to be a monk, and not understanding the true meaning of the words takes the sound of the words literally. Likewise, People on web forums sometime seem to be foaming at the mouth. Original painting by P.Volker /used by permission.
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by mindyourmind » Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:18 am
heart wrote:My favorite Mahamudra book by the same author as above http://www.amazon.com/Clarifying-Natura ... pd_sim_b_1
Very clear and short instructional text.
With a commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Clear-Pra ... 9627341517
And please read also this excellent texts by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Lamp-Matter ... d_sim_b_20
/magnus
Thank you, Magnus
I thought I had a very comprehensive Mahamudra library, but I definitely need to get those three, they look like important works.
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by Jnana » Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:28 am
mindyourmind wrote:I thought I had a very comprehensive Mahamudra library, but I definitely need to get those three, they look like important works.
Very important works indeed. Tsele Natsok Rangdrol's writings are amazing. Here's another of his texts with good advice on mahāmudrā and the rest of the path:
Empowerment and the Path of Liberation by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol.
All the best,
Geoff
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Re: Mahamudra - The Moonlight
by mindyourmind » Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:36 am
Silent Bob wrote:This is embarrassing--I forgot to recommend Thrangu Rinpoche's "Essentials of Mahamudra" http://www.namobuddhapub.com/Essentials ... p000em.htm
which is a well-edited compilation of his talks from all the Big Bear retreats.
Chris
My favourite MM book, by one of my favourite people
As bad as bad becomes its not a part of you
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mindyourmind - Posts: 443
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