Mahamudra

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Marpa Lotsawa courtesy of Shechen Archives

Mahamudra (Skt. Mahāmudrā; Tib. Chakgya Chenpo; Wyl. phyag rgya chen po), or ‘Great Seal’ is the meditation tradition of the Kagyü lineage which passed from Maitripa and Naropa in India to Marpa Lotsawa in Tibet.

Definition

Mudra means that it encompasses all phenomena of samsara, nirvana, and the path. In other words, they are 'sealed' within it. It is called maha or “great,” because nothing is superior to it.

Subdivisions or Levels of Interpretation

  • Mahamudra of the sutra system refers to the attainment of perfect enlightenment through the five paths and ten bhumis.
  • Tantric Mahamudra is related to the inner yogas and the practice of dzogrim.
  • Essence Mahamudra (Tib. ངོ་བོའི་ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ་, Wyl. ngo bo'i phyag rgya chenpo) is closer to Dzogchen and is described in terms of a meditative practice leading to the nature of mind.

Relationship to Dzogchen

Jamgön Kongtrul said that Mahamudra corresponds to the Semdé teachings of Dzogpachenpo.[1]

Notes

  1. *Ringu Tulku, The Ri-me Philosophy of Jamgön Kongtrul the Great, Shambhala Publications, 2006

Further Reading

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