Mahāmudrā Series

• Memorandum on the Subject of Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen Instructions by Dongak Chökyi Gyatso

The author makes a distinction between “instructions that apply more generally” and “teachings that are intended for specific individuals” in order to argue for a gradualist approach that culminates in Mahāmudrā or Dzogchen for all but those of the very sharpest faculties (who are able to proceed to the highest teachings directly).

• Mahāmudrā Preliminaries, Main Part & Conclusion by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

Drawn from the collection of advice called Ambrosia of the Heart (snying gi bdud rtsi) this brief text offers a very simple guide to practising Mahāmudrā.

• Mahāmudrā: the Swift Way to Become a Lord of Realization by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

This brief explanation of how to meditate on the Mahāmudrā of the innate (lhan skyes phyag chen) on the path of liberation (grol lam) is taken from the Ambrosia of the Heart collection of advice.

• The Kusāli's Instruction on the Nature of Mind by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

In this text Jamgön Kongtrul, referring to himself as a "kusāli"—a virtuous beggar—offers instruction on how to sustain an experience of the essential nature of mind in meditation.

• From the Mahāmudrā Preliminary Practices: Continuous Integration with Ground, Path, and Fruition by Khenpo Gangshar

Basic instructions on the preliminary contemplations of the rarity of the freedoms and opportunities, impermanence, karma and the sufferings of saṃsāra, followed by a simple explanation of the ground, path and fruition according to Mahāmudrā.

• Aspiration of the Mahāmudrā of Definitive Meaning by Third Karmapa

Among the most celebrated texts in the whole Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this beautiful prayer of aspiration succinctly conveys the spirit and profundity of the Mahāmudrā view and practice.

• A Casket of Sacred Dharma: Stages of Meditation on Dependent Arising by Pema Karpo

Belonging to the set of instructions known as the Seven Excellent Interdependent Connections (rten 'brel rab bdun ma), this text by the great Kagyü teacher Pema Karpo (1527–1592) explains meditative equipoise, which is "the dependent arising that gives rise to excellent qualities", and post-meditation, which is the "dependent arising for perfecting the capacity".

• The Excellent Path of Definitive Meaning: An Unmistaken Expression of the Definitive Mahāmudrā by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A short song of realisation that succinctly describes the ground, path and fruition of Mahāmudrā.