Alex Wilding

This potential tension between Mahamudra and Dzogchen is a completely different thing from the competition between the cause and spontaneous narratives. In that context, Mahamudra and Dzogchen are very much on the same page, that is to say, on the spontaneous side of the argument. Perhaps a quick thumbnail of these two will help us not lose our way completely.

This potential tension between Mahamudra and Dzogchen is a completely different thing from the competition between the cause and spontaneous narratives. In that context, Mahamudra and Dzogchen are very much on the same page, that is to say, on the spontaneous side of the argument. Perhaps a quick thumbnail of these two will help us not lose our way completely.

Let's start with Mahamudra, because its roots in the Indian background are more obvious. Although that is where some of the confusion starts. Mahamudra, as we usually mean it these days, stands in a certain way outside the tantric scheme of practice. But the word is also used in different and very, very tantric contexts.

Let's start with Mahamudra, because its roots in the Indian background are more obvious. Although that is where some of the confusion starts. Mahamudra, as we usually mean it these days, stands in a certain way outside the tantric scheme of practice. But the word is also used in different and very, very tantric contexts.

For one, there are points in the structure of the tantric path where a number of different types of mudra, that is the karma mudra, often translated as action seal, the knowledge seal, the dharma seal, and indeed others are spoken of. That particular usage is an entire rat's nest that I'm keen to avoid in this episode. We must merely recognize that it is there.

For one, there are points in the structure of the tantric path where a number of different types of mudra, that is the karma mudra, often translated as action seal, the knowledge seal, the dharma seal, and indeed others are spoken of. That particular usage is an entire rat's nest that I'm keen to avoid in this episode. We must merely recognize that it is there.

The Mahamudra Knowledge Holder is also found at a specialised point in the Nyingma version of the Tantric Path. These usages are not at all the same, but they are both concerned with advanced stages in the manipulation of the channels, energies and drops of the subtle body. But again, that is something completely different, something I don't really want to be talking about today.

The Mahamudra Knowledge Holder is also found at a specialised point in the Nyingma version of the Tantric Path. These usages are not at all the same, but they are both concerned with advanced stages in the manipulation of the channels, energies and drops of the subtle body. But again, that is something completely different, something I don't really want to be talking about today.

What is important to this topic is that for one reason or another, Mahamudra became the name for a rather different system. This kind of Mahamudra proposed that this very same realization, the one that can be reached as a result of the whole tantric performance, can also be approached through a direct path based on the essence of the mind.

What is important to this topic is that for one reason or another, Mahamudra became the name for a rather different system. This kind of Mahamudra proposed that this very same realization, the one that can be reached as a result of the whole tantric performance, can also be approached through a direct path based on the essence of the mind.

Naropa, a famous figure from the 11th century, is often said to have been the main teacher encountered by Marpa the translator on his great quest for teachings.

Naropa, a famous figure from the 11th century, is often said to have been the main teacher encountered by Marpa the translator on his great quest for teachings.

In those days, travelling from Tibet to India as Marpa did was an extremely dangerous process, and an awful lot of Tibetans who attempted it either died as a result of the dangers of the travel itself, the rock falls, the bandits, the wild animals, or as a result of diseases encountered on the hot plains of India. Marpa has an extraordinary life story, and you might well like to look into it.

In those days, travelling from Tibet to India as Marpa did was an extremely dangerous process, and an awful lot of Tibetans who attempted it either died as a result of the dangers of the travel itself, the rock falls, the bandits, the wild animals, or as a result of diseases encountered on the hot plains of India. Marpa has an extraordinary life story, and you might well like to look into it.

The whole thing is a bit complicated, but Narapa was, through Marpa, the main source of the famous practices of the six doctrines of Narapa, which deal with inner heat, dream, clear light, and so forth. But another of Marpa's teachers was perhaps equally important, although in a different way. That is Maitripa or Maitripada, who was the source from which Marpa obtained the Mahamudra practices.

The whole thing is a bit complicated, but Narapa was, through Marpa, the main source of the famous practices of the six doctrines of Narapa, which deal with inner heat, dream, clear light, and so forth. But another of Marpa's teachers was perhaps equally important, although in a different way. That is Maitripa or Maitripada, who was the source from which Marpa obtained the Mahamudra practices.

Like many of the adepts from that extraordinary period, Maitripa started out as a monk, a very good one as I have been led to believe, practicing what was then the conventional style of both Sutra and Tantra. Later in his life, he travelled to South India,

Like many of the adepts from that extraordinary period, Maitripa started out as a monk, a very good one as I have been led to believe, practicing what was then the conventional style of both Sutra and Tantra. Later in his life, he travelled to South India,

where he encountered and adopted the transmission of Mahamudra outside of Tantra, which is the root of Mahamudra as we usually speak of it today. The sequence of meditation practices we have now, as taught very prominently by the Karju schools under the banner of Mahamudra, is relatively easy to understand, if not to perform.

where he encountered and adopted the transmission of Mahamudra outside of Tantra, which is the root of Mahamudra as we usually speak of it today. The sequence of meditation practices we have now, as taught very prominently by the Karju schools under the banner of Mahamudra, is relatively easy to understand, if not to perform.