Monday, August 26, 2013

Naropa - The Summary of Mahamudra


Homage to the state of great bliss!
    Concerning what is called Mahamudra
    All things are your own mind.
    Seeing objects as external is a mistaken concept;
    Like a dream, they are empty of concreteness.

    This mind, as well, is a mere movement of attention
    That has no self-nature, being merely a gust of wind.
    Empty of identity, like space.
    All things, like space, are equal.

    When speaking of 'Mahamudra'
    It is not an entity that can be shown.
    There the mind's suchness
    Is itself the state of Mahamudra.

    It is neither something to be corrected nor transformed,
    But when anyone sees and realizes its nature
    All that appears and exists is Mahamudra,
    The great all-encompassing Dharmakaya.

    Naturally and without contriving, allowed simply to be,
    This unimagined Dharmakaya,
    Letting it be without seeking is the meditation training.
    But to meditate while seeking is deluded mind.

    Just as with space and a magical display,
    While neither cultivating nor not cultivating
    How can you be separate and not separate!
    This is a yogi's understanding.

    All good deeds and harmful actions
    Dissolve by simply knowing this nature.
    The emotions are the great wisdom.
    Like a jungle fire, they are the yogi's helpers.

    How can there be staying or going?
    What meditation is there by fleeing to a hermitage?
    Without understanding this, all possible means
    Never bring more than temporary liberation.

    When understanding this nature, what is there to bind you?
    While being undistracted from its continuity,
    There is neither a composed nor an uncomposed state
    To be cultivated or corrected with a remedy.

    It is not made out of anything
    Experience self-liberated is dharmadhatu.
    Thinking self-liberated is great wisdom,
    Non-dual equality is dharmakaya.

    Like the continuous flow of a great river,
    Whatever you do is meaningful,
    This is the eternal awakened state,
    The great bliss, leaving no place for samsara.

    All things are empty of their own identities.
    This concept fixed on emptiness has dissolved in itself.
    Free of concept, holding nothing in mind,
    Is in itself the path of the Buddhas.

    For the most fortunate ones,
    I have made these concise words of heartfelt advice.
    Through this, may every single sentient being
    Be established in Mahamudra.


This was given orally by the great pandita Naropa to Marpa at Pullahari.
(Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang.

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