Maitripa

Maitripa
Author: Klaus Dieter-Mathes
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2021-11-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0834843986

Maitrīpa (986–1063) is one of the greatest and most influential Indian yogis of Vajrayāna Buddhism. The legacy of his thought and meditation instructions have had a profound impact on Buddhism in India and Tibet, and several important contemporary practice lineages continue to rely on his teachings. Early in his life, Maitrīpa gained renown as a monk and scholar, but it was only after he left his monastery and wandered throughout India as a yogi that he had a direct experience of nonconceptual realization. Once Maitrīpa awakened to this nondual nature of reality, he was able to harmonize the scholastic teachings of Buddhist philosophy with esoteric meditation instructions. This is reflected in his writings that are renowned for evoking a meditative state in those who have trained appropriately. He eventually became the teacher of many well-known accomplished masters, including Padampa Sangyé and the translator Marpa, who brought his teachings to Tibet. Drawing on Maitrīpa’s autobiographical writings and literary work, this book is the first comprehensive portrait of the life and teachings of this influential Buddhist master. Klaus-Dieter Mathes also offers the first complete English translation of his teachings on nonconceptual realization, which is the foundation of Mahāmudrā meditation.

Maitripa

Maitripa
Author: Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2021-11-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1611806704

Maitrīpa (986–1063) is one of the greatest and most influential Indian yogis of Vajrayāna Buddhism. The legacy of his thought and meditation instructions have had a profound impact on Buddhism in India and Tibet, and several important contemporary practice lineages continue to rely on his teachings. Early in his life, Maitrīpa gained renown as a monk and scholar, but it was only after he left his monastery and wandered throughout India as a yogi that he had a direct experience of nonconceptual realization. Once Maitrīpa awakened to this nondual nature of reality, he was able to harmonize the scholastic teachings of Buddhist philosophy with esoteric meditation instructions. This is reflected in his writings that are renowned for evoking a meditative state in those who have trained appropriately. He eventually became the teacher of many well-known accomplished masters, including Padampa Sangyé and the translator Marpa, who brought his teachings to Tibet. Drawing on Maitrīpa’s autobiographical writings and literary work, this book is the first comprehensive portrait of the life and teachings of this influential Buddhist master. Klaus-Dieter Mathes also offers the first complete English translation of his teachings on nonconceptual realization, which is the foundation of Mahāmudrā meditation.

A Fine Blend of Mahāmudrā and Madhyamaka

A Fine Blend of Mahāmudrā and Madhyamaka
Author: Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Publisher: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
Total Pages: 598
Release: 2015
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN:

The collection of 26 texts on non-imaginary realization is the result of a synthesis of the essence and tantric Mahāmudrā teachings of Saraha, Nāgārjuna and Śavaripa with a special form of the Madhyamaka philosophy called Not-Founded (apratiṣṭhāna), which addresses the fundamental overcoming of any conceptual determination of reality. This is accomplished by subtracting attention from the duality of an object to be perceived and a subject perceiving. The result is a "radiant self-initiation, " according to Maitrīpas (986-1063), who finally analyzed the term amanasikāra. The collection of texts on non-conceptual realization plays an important role, since together with Naropa's teachings it forms the main source of the bKa 'brgyud traditions. The edition and translation of this collection is followed by another text attributed to Maitrīpa, the * Mahāmudrākanakamālā, which was translated into Tibetan by Mar pa Lo tsā ba Chos kyi blo gros (11th century). The * Mahāmudrākanakamālā takes up the themes of the text collection and shows that all aspects of Maitrīpa's mahāmudrā were indeed conveyed to the early bKa 'brgyud masters. In addition to an English translation and analysis, the present publication contains a new edition of the existing Sanskrit texts based on Haraprasad Shastri's editio princeps, the edition of the Studying Group of Sacred Tantric Texts at Taisho University, the Nepalese manuscript NGMPP B 22/24 and Manuscript No. 151 of the Todai University Library. The Tibetan edition of all texts is based on the Derge and Peking bsTan 'gyur and the dPal spungs edition of the collection of Indian Mahāmudrā works (Phyag rgya chen po'i rgya gzhung) from the seventh Karma pa Chos grags rgya mtsho (1454-1506).

Practicing the Path

Practicing the Path
Author: Yangsi
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 562
Release: 2012-08-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0861717473

The Lamrim Chenmo, or Great Treatise on the Steps of the Path, by Je Tsongkhapa is a comprehensive overview of the process of individual enlightenment. Meditation on these steps has been a core practice of Tibetan Buddhists for centuries. The Lamrim Chenmo presents the Buddha's teachings along a continuum of three spiritual attitudes: the person who worries about rebirth, the person who wants to escape rebirth, and finally the person who strives for buddhahood in order to relieve the suffering of all beings--this is the supreme aspiration of the bodhisattva. Given over two months to a group of Western Students in Dharamsala, India, Yangsi Rinpoche's commentary revitalizes our understanding of Tsongkhapa's work, giving readers renewed inspiration.

Mahāmudrā

Mahāmudrā
Author: Bkra-śis-rnam-rgyal (Dwags-po Paṇ-chen)
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
Total Pages: 556
Release: 2001
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9788120810747

Mahamudra is the first English translation of a major Tibetan Buddhist presentation of the theory and practice of meditation-a manual detailing the various stages and practices for training the advanced student. The original Tibetan text of nearly 800 pages was composed by Takpo Tashi Namgyal (1512-1587), a great lama and a scholar of the kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. His text is so vast and thorough in scope that it is still the primary source used by living Tibetan meditation masters in instructing their disciples. The first major text representing the meditational methods of both mahayana and vajrayana Buddhism to appear in English, Mahamudra is an invaluable guide for advanced students, scholars, and Buddhist practitioners. Mahamudra is the first english translation of a major Tibetan Buddhist presentation of the theory and practice of meditation-a manual detailing the various stages and practices for training the advanced student. The original Tibetan text of student. The original Tibetan text of nearly 800 pages was composed by Takpo Tashi Namgyal (1512-1587) a great lama and a scholar of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The first major text representing the meditational methods of both mahayana and vajrayana Buddhism to appear in english. Mahamudra is an invaluable guide for advanced students, scholars, and buddhist practitionaers.

A Direct Path to the Buddha Within

A Direct Path to the Buddha Within
Author: Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 626
Release: 2013-02-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0861719158

Maitreya's Ratnagotravibhaga, also known as the Uttaratantra, is the main Indian treatise on buddha nature, a concept that is heavily debated in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. In A Direct Path to the Buddha Within, Klaus-Dieter Mathes looks at a pivotal Tibetan commentary on this text by Go Lotsawa Zhonu Pal, best known as the author of the Blue Annals. Go Lotsawa, whose teachers spanned the spectrum of Tibetan schools, developed a highly nuanced understanding of buddha nature, tying it in with mainstream Mahayana thought while avoiding contested aspects of the so-called empty-of-other (zhentong) approach. In addition to translating key portions of Go Lotsawa's commentary, Mathes provides an in-depth historical context, evaluating Go's position against those of other Kagyu, Nyingma, and Jonang masters and examining how Go Lotsawa's view affects his understanding of the buddha qualities, the concept of emptiness, and the practice of mahamudra.

Atisa Dipamkara

Atisa Dipamkara
Author: James B. Apple
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2019-07-23
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 161180647X

The first-ever biography with selected writings of one of the greatest Indian Buddhist masters in history. Few figures in the history of Buddhism in Tibet have had as far-reaching and profound an influence as the Indian scholar and adept Atiśa Dīpaṃkara (982–1054). Originally from Bengal, Atiśa was a tantric Buddhist master during Vajrayana Buddhism’s flowering in India and traveled extensively, eventually spending the remaining twelve years of his life revitalizing Buddhism in Tibet. Revered by all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Atiśa and his students founded what came to be known as the Kadam school, whose teachings have influenced countless Buddhist masters. These teachings, cherished by all major traditions, are preserved by the Geluk in particular, the school of the Dalai Lamas. Although Atiśa was an influential practitioner and scholar of Tantra, he is best known for introducing many of the core Mahayana teachings that are widely practiced throughout the Tibetan Buddhist world, including the Stages of the Path to Awakening and Mind Training (lojong), as well as having contributed to highly influential commentaries on Madhyamaka that synthesize various schools of thought. This succinct biography of Atiśa’s life, together with a collection of translations, represents for the first time the full range of Atiśa’s contribution to Buddhism. As the most comprehensive work available on this essential Buddhist figure, this book is an indispensable resource for scholars and Buddhist practitioners alike.