![Moonbeams of Mahamudra: The Classic Meditation Manual by [Kyabgon, Traleg]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/418yHv3F54L._SY346_.jpg)
"Moonbeams of Mahamudra: The Classic Meditation Manual" is one of the most highly regarded texts of Tibetan Buddhism, having been called its “most important sacred text” by Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche (1916-1983) and others. Although a monumental and highly-regarded English translation of this work is already available ("Mahamudra - The Moonlight: The Quintessence of Mind and Meditation" by Lobsang Lhalungpa), as a student and teacher of this path for more than forty-five years, I have found it not to be uncommon to hear from students that the parts of this earlier translation are difficult to understand.
I find this new translation to be both remarkably easy to read and highly accurate, with footnotes clarifying important points. It was carried out by Traleg Kyabgon (1955-2012), a very well-known and highly-respected teacher of this tradition, who possessed completely fluent command of both Tibetan and English, and was fully trained in this approach (including under Thuksey Rinpoche.) Encapsulating the wisdom of generations of “great meditators” from ancient India and Tibetan regions, this extensive root text has already proven its worth by serving as “one of the most important meditation manuals” of Tibetan traditions for almost five centuries. It will be of interest to anyone who practices meditation or has an interest in exploring the nature of mind.
The manual starts with considering “why we mediate on the nature of mind” and then summarizes the key common elements of Tranquility and Insight meditation as presented in the general Buddhist sutras. It then moves into a thorough presentation of the treasured, uncommon Mahamudra meditations, including (a) an explanation of Mahamudra and its history, (b) the instructions for practice of its Tranquility and Insight meditations, (c) the essential pointing-out instructions of coemergent mind, thoughts and appearances, (d) guidance on how to recognize and deal with flaws in meditation and (e) the profound “leaping over to confidence,” as inseparable from the natural clarity or self-awareness of the nature of mind itself. Finally it teaches us how to (1) bring adversities such as disturbing thoughts and emotions, suffering, disease and fear and facing the process of death, “on to the path,” and (2) how to come to understand and practice the renowned four yogas of Mahamudra.
If explored systematically and carefully, the practices in this book will prove themselves to be useful guides to self-understanding and self-discovery of the most profound type. In support of doing so, many students may find oral instructions traditionally presented along with the text, to be helpful. An example of these may be found in the book "Essentials of Mahamudra: Looking Directly at the Mind" by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Thrangu Rinpoche and Traleg Rinpoche were true “spiritual brothers,” so these teachings serve as a harmonious and illuminating companion to Traleg Kyabgon’s oral translation of Dakpo Tashi Namgyal’s manual.
This splendid translation completes one more essential step in the transmission of Mahamudra teachings to English speaking students in West. A teacher who presents essential Mahamudra teachings, upon doing so, will usually add, “Now that you have received these sacred, treasured teachings, the main thing is to put them to practice.” This book makes that possible and provides essential support for successfully doing so.
I trust that this text will be a source of inspiration for practice and joy for many generations to come.
- File Size: 1225 KB
- Print Length: 521 pages
- Publisher: Shogam Publications; 1 edition (August 1, 2017)
- Publication Date: August 1, 2017
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B074BGMCF2
- Text-to-Speech:
Enabled
- Word Wise: Not Enabled
- Lending: Not Enabled
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#283,823 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #129 in Tibetan Buddhism (Kindle Store)
- #391 in Tibetan Buddhism (Books)
- #688 in New Age Meditation
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