Mon, 24 Aug 2009
Ganges Mahamudra
Lama Gursam left for North Carolina on Sunday. He finished up the visit with a bodhisattva vow ceremony and a reading transmission for Tilopa's Ganges Mahamudra Upadesha. And, of course, more shamatha meditation. I thought I would give my impressions of Arima's translation of Ganges Mahamudra. I can't really call it an explanation, because I'm out of my depth. But thinking about the text helps me a little and may also help others.
The text starts:
Intelligent Naropa, forbearing of suffering, you have endured hardships and are devoted to the guru. Thus, though mahamudra cannot be shown, take this to heart, you fortunate one!
The upadesha is addressed to Naropa. Naropa underwent many hardships as Tilopa's disciple and as a result of the merit he accumulated through being a faithful and devoted disciple he was able to benefit from this teaching. If anyone who is unable to bear the pains of a few prostrations during ngondro thinks they will understand mahamudra, they are only fooling themselves. No understanding of mahamudra comes except trough devoted practice. The text says mahamudra cannot be shown, which means that it cannot be directly conveyed through explanation, although explanation the teacher gives should be taken to heart.
