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A Meditation Guide for Mahamudra

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A Meditation Guide for Mahamudra A Meditation Guide For Mahamudra Peter Barth 2 A Meditation Guide For Mahamudra Peter Barth Mahamudra Meditation Center Petaluma, California, USA 3 Dedicated to Thrangu Rinpoche and Karma Mahasiddha Ling Published by: Mahamudra Meditation Center P. O. Box 750681 Petaluma CA 94975-0681 USA Copyright © 1998, 2007 by Peter F. Barth All rights reserved. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Printed in USA Note: This book is not for sale in the trade. 4 CCCREDITS Mahamudra Mahamudra: The Quintessence of Mind and Meditation by Dakpo Tashi Nagyal, translated by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa. Copyright © 1986 by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa. Shambhala Publications, Inc., Boston, MA, USA. All quotations and paraphrases from Dakpo Tashi Nagyal are from this book. This book should be acquired as a companion book to A Meditation Guide to Mahamudra. Moonbeams of Mahamudra I-V by Thrangu Rinpoche, edited by Clark Johnson. Copyright © 1989-1995 by Namo Buddha Seminar. Namo Buddha Seminar, Boulder, CO, USA. These are the oral instructions which provide a basis for most of the practices. These should also be studied as companion texts to A Meditation Guide to Mahamudra. Mahamudra: Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance by Wangchug Dorje, translated by Alexander Berzin. Copyright © 1978 by Library of Tibetan Works & Archives. Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India. A great practice text for Mahamudra. Consulted in developing the MMC curriculum. Piercing the Autumn Sky: A Guide to Discovering the Natural Freedom of Mind by Peter Barth. Copyright © 1993 by Peter F. Barth. Lame Turtle Press, Petaluma, CA, USA. A basic introduction to Mahamudra view, practice and action. The Garland of Mahamudra Practices by Kunga Rinchen, translated by Khenpo Könchog Gyaltsen, co-translated and edited by Katherine Rogers. Copyright © 1986 by Khenpo Rinpochay Könchog Gyaltsen and Katherine Rogers. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, NY, USA. A great summary of Drikung Kagyu Mahamudra practice. Mahamudra Teachings by Garchen Rinpoche, translated by Khenpo Könchog Gyaltsen, edited by Peter Barth. Copyright © 1997 by Khenpo Könchog Gyaltsen. (to be published by Ratna Shri Dharma Center). 5 The Practice of the Co-Emergent Mahamudra by Padma Karpo Ngawang Norbu, translated by Anzan Hoshin. Copyright © 1983 by White Wind Zen Community, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Dzogchen The Buddha Mind: An Anthology of Longchen Rabjam’s Writings on Dzogpa Chenpo , by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, edited by Harold Talbott . Copyright © 1989 by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, NY, USA. An outstanding text and presentation of the key elements of Dzogchen. The Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Contemplation, by Namkhai Norbu, edited and translated by John Reynolds. Copyright © 1984, 1987 by Namkhai Norbu (Tibetan text) and John Myrdhin Reynolds (translation and commentary). Station Hill Press, Inc., Barrytown, NY, USA. A wonderful instruction on practice according to Garab Dorje from the long-de series of Dzogchen. The Golden Letters , translation, notes, and commentary by John Myrdhin Reynolds. Copyright © 1996 by John Myrdhin Reynolds. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, NY, USA. Wonderful commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche and Patrül Rinpoche on the ‘Three Statements of Garab Dorje.’ Time, Space, and Knowledge Time, Space and Knowledge: A New Vision of Reality by Tarthang Tulku. Copyright © 1977 by Dharma Publishing. Dharma Publishing, Emeryville, CA, USA. A challenging vision for anyone interested in exploring these three aspects of being. Bodhicitta and Dharma Treasury of Dharma: A Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Course by Geshe Rabten, traslated by Gonsar Rinpoche, edited by Brian Grabia. Copyright © 1988 by Gonsar Rinpoche. Tharpa Publications, London, UK. Great text on Bodhicitta and other fundamental Buddhist practices and concepts. Illusory Body The Illusory Body by Drikungpa Dharmakirti, translated by Khenpo Könchog Gyalsten. Copyright © 1983 by Khenpo Könchog Gyaltsen. A wonderful meditation manual for the illusory body practices. 6 CCCONTENTS CREDITS.......................................................................................................................................................5 CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................................7 FOREWORD ..............................................................................................................................................11 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................15 BODHICITTA ..............................................................................................................................................15 THE START OF A GROUP ............................................................................................................................15 AREAS OF DEVIATION ...............................................................................................................................17 THE PLAYGROUND ....................................................................................................................................18 1 - RESTING MIND SERIES....................................................................................................................21 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................................23 (1) JOYFUL RESTING ..................................................................................................................................26 (2) ATTENDING TO VISUAL APPEARANCES ................................................................................................28 (3) BLUE LIGHT AT THE HEART .................................................................................................................29 (4) SOUNDING AH.....................................................................................................................................30 (5) COUNTING BREATH .............................................................................................................................31 (6) FOLLOWING BREATH ...........................................................................................................................32 (7) GENTLE VASE BREATH ........................................................................................................................33 (8) JUST SIT ...............................................................................................................................................34 2 - EXPLORING MIND SERIES..............................................................................................................37 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................................39 (1) SHAPE OF MIND ...................................................................................................................................42 (2) COLORS OF MIND .................................................................................................................................43 (3) LOCATION OF MIND .............................................................................................................................44 (4) LUMINOSITY AND VOIDNESS OF MIND .................................................................................................45 (5) ORIGIN , ABODE , DESTINATION ............................................................................................................47 (6) SELF -AWARE PRIMORDIAL WISDOM ...................................................................................................48 3 - EXPLORING THOUGHTS AND APPEARANCES SERIES..........................................................49 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................................51 (1) SHAPE OF THOUGHTS ...........................................................................................................................53 (2) COLORS OF THOUGHTS ........................................................................................................................54 (3) LOCATION OF THOUGHTS .....................................................................................................................56 (4) LUMINOSITY AND VOIDNESS OF THOUGHTS ........................................................................................58 (5) ORIGIN , ABODE , DESTINATION ............................................................................................................60 (6) SELF -AWARE PRIMORDIAL WISDOM ...................................................................................................61 (7) INVESTIGATING APPEARANCES ............................................................................................................63 (8) INVESTIGATING THE PERCEIVER OF APPEARANCES ............................................................................. 64 (9) INVESTIGATING MOVING AND CALM MIND ......................................................................................... 65 (10) COMPARING POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ............................................................................ 66 (11) COMPARING
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