Mahamudra

Lit. "The Great Seal", a meditation system that was propagated in India, mainly by the Mahasiddha Saraha, from whom it was handed down in various lineages. Two of these lineages were introduced into Tibet by the great translator Marpa, the founder of the Kagyu lineage in Tibet. One of these lineages originated with the buddha Vajradhara and continued through Nagarjuna, Charyapa, Lavapa and Sukhasiddhi to Tilopa, and then via Naropa to Marpa. The other lineage also originated with Vajradhara. It then continued via Ratnamati, Saraha, Nagarjuna, Shavaripa and Maitripa to Marpa.
Mahamudra is one of the most direct practices for realising one's own buddha nature and forms the basis of the Vajrayana view of the Kagyu schools. Students are introduced to their fundamental nature without any philosophical argumentation and are encouraged to train in that experience. Mahamudra practice begins with the preliminaries and continues with training in shamata and vipashyana, progressing into what is called the "Four Yogas of Mahamudra" (phyag rgya chen po'i rnal 'byor bzhi) which are one-pointedness (rtse gcig), simplicity (spros bral), one taste (ro gcig), and non-meditation (sgom med).

further suggested reading

• Everyday Consciousness and Buddha-Awakening, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.
• Clarifying the Natural State, Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, ISBN 9627341452
• Crystal Clear, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, ISBN 9627341517
• Garland of Mahamudra Practices, Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche
• King of Samadhi, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, ISBN 9627341193
• Lamp of Mahamudra, Tsele Natsok Rangdröl, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, ISBN 9627341312
• Mahamudra Teachings of the Supreme Siddhas, the Eighth Situpa Tenpai Nyinchay, H.H. the Third Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, intro. by Thrangu Rinpoche, trans. & ed. by Lama Sherab Dorje.
• Mahamudra: The Ocean of Definitive Meaning, the 9th Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje
• Mahamudra: The Quintessence of Mind and Meditation, Takpo Tashi Namgyal, trans.& annotated by Lobsang Lhalungpa, Shambhala Publ.
• Present Fresh Wakefulness, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, ISBN 962734147
• Rain of Wisdom, the Ocean of the Songs of the Kagyü Gurus, translated and published by Nalanda Translation Committee, Shambhala Publ, ISBN 1570624917
• Songs of Naropa, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, ISBN 9627341282
• An Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning, Teachings on Mahamudra, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Shambala Publ., ISBN 1590300556