Naked Awareness: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen [Paperback]

Karma Chagme (Author), B. Alan Wallace (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2000

This is a 17th-century presentation of the union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Karma Chagme, one of the greatest partiarchs of Tibetan Buddism.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by the 17th century adept Karma Chagme, is widely regarded as an unusually elegant synthesis of the leading Tibetan approaches to Buddhist meditation. Students and practitioners of meditation will be especially grateful to the Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche and his translator B. Alan Wallace for these ample and lucid elaborations of these instructions as they are traditionally taught."-- Matthew Kapstein, author

In this classic 17th-century presentation of the union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, Karma Chagme, one of the great teachers of both these lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, begins with an overview of the spirit of awakening and the nature of actions and their ethical consequences. Next, drawing from his enormous erudition and profound experience, Karma Chagme gives exceptionally lucid instructions on the two phases of Dzogchen practice--the "Breakthrough" and the "Leap-over"--followed by an accessible introduction to the practice of the transference of consciousness at the time of death. The concluding chapters of this treatise present a detailed analysis of Mahamudra meditation in relation to Dzogchen practice. This tour de force of scholarly erudition and contemplative insight is made all the more accessible by the lively commentary of the contemporary Nyingma Lama, Gyatrul Rinpoche. Although this book stands alone, it is the concluding section of a single body of teachings by Karma Chagme, the earlier section published under the title A Spacious Path to Freedom. Karma Chagme was a major teacher of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and his writings have also become central to the Payul Nyingma order, making him an ideal figure to integrate these two great meditation systems. Born in 1925 and recognized as a reincarnation of the great Payul contemplative Sampa Kunkyap, Gyatrul Rinpoche was educated in Payul Dhomang Monastery in Eastern Tibet. Trained by renowned adepts, he spent much of his life in Tibet in meditative retreat. Since the early 1970's, Gyatrul Rinpoche has taught thousands of students in North America, where he has established several centers for the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. B. Alan Wallace is a student of Gyaltrul Rinpoche and a seasoned scholar and translator of Buddhist texts.

About the Author

Karma Chagme was a major teacher of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and his writings have also become central to the Payul Nyingma order, making him an ideal figure to integrate these two great meditation systems. Born in 1925 and recognized as a reincarnation of the great Payul contemplative Sampa Kunkyap, Gyatrul Rinpoche was educated in Payul Dhomang Monastery in Eastern Tibet. Trained by renowned adepts, he spent much of his life in Tibet in meditative retreat. Since the early 1970's, Gyatrul Rinpoche has taught thousands of students in North America, where he has established several centers for the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism.

B. Alan Wallace is a student of Gyaltrul Rinpoche and a seasoned scholar and translator of Buddhist texts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (March 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559391464
• ISBN-13: 978-1559391467
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #954,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1st part of a definitive text, November 4, 2004

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Naked Awareness: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen (Paperback)

This book is the initial portion of Gyatrul Rinpoche's commentary on a portion of Karma Chagme's 17th century text, "The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen." The 2nd volume is called, "A Spacious Path to Freedom." A related text (all 3 are translated by B. Alan Wallace) is entitled, "Natural Liberation" and is attributed to Padmasambhava. However, even the 3 together do not completely communicate the original text. Chokyi Rinpoche also wrote a small commentary on the original text entitled: "The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen." All 4 of these books are well worth reading. They are among the clearest and pithiest of currently available English translations of Mahamudra and Dzogchen texts and help one to not only understand their relationships, but more importantly to understand the underlying truths within them. Mahamudra is contended to be the highest teaching within the Kagyu tradition (among the 4 Tibetan Buddhist traditions). Dzogchen is similarly regarded for the Nyingma tradition. Thus, the original work can be said to address the very highest Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhist) teachings. It is obvious (even in translation) that Karma Chagme was a great, enlightened master. This may very well be the best of the 4 volumes cited above. It contains a wealth of material including Trekcho and Togal--the 2 primary Dzogchen practices. It is highly recommended.

12 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important, insightful contribution to Buddhist Studies., June 4, 2000

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Naked Awareness: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen (Paperback)

Karma Chagme's Naked Awareness reviews the spiritual beliefs of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, considering the two phases of Dzoghchen practice and perspectives on consciousness and philosophy.