An Offering of Mahamudra

[DharmaSpace]

Recently, one of the most honored Gelugpa lineage masters, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, presented 500 copies of ‘The Oral Instructions of Mahamudra’ to the monks of Shar Ganden Monastery. Authored by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, this book, written in Tibetan, is based on the root text of Mahamudra called ‘The Main Path to Attainment of the Conqueror Buddha’.

In Sanskrit ‘Mudra’ means ‘absolute necessity’ and ‘Maha’ means ‘great understanding’. The root text, also known as ‘The Great Seal of Voidness’ was composed by the 4th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662), who was the tutor of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama as well as Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen.

The world of Tibetan Buddhism must indeed pay the greatest tribute and honor to this great teacher and master. Why? Just like his incomparable root guru, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has reached out and touched the lives of millions of people worldwide. Thousands of monks, nuns and lay practitioners have gained success in the spiritual path through his teachings and guidance.

Born in 1931 in Yangcho, Eastern Tibet, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso escaped Tibet with only two scriptural texts in 1959. Today, his achievements are near unbelievable. Apart from founding the largest international Tibetan Buddhist organization in the world with over 700 ordained monks and nuns, he has authored over 20 Dharma books in the English language for Buddhists of all levels, from beginners to tantric practitioners.

His greatest works include Joyful Path of Good Fortune (a commentary on the Lamrim), The New Guide to Dakini Land (a commentary on Vajrayogini’s practice) and Heart Jewel (a commentary on Dorje Shugden’s practice), along with various other commentaries on Indian texts such as Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’.

This great Lama’s incredible success can only be attributed to his unwavering faith and confidence in his lineage and protector, Dorje Shugden, which can be traced back to the teachings he received from Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang and Kyabje Pabongka Dorje Chang. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s greatest mission now is to preserve the precious tradition of Lama Tsongkapa and by extension, the practice of Dorje Shugden who is the special protector of Tsongkapa’s lineage.

The world rejoices in the achievements of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and his wisdom in writing and publishing such an important book which will escalate the pure lineage of Lama Tsongkapa to further unprecedented heights. We await his next book with great anticipation and offer prayers for his continued good health, long life and the growth of his works.

This is great great news those of us who have read Geshela's books know the kind of quality it is. All the books are written to suit the modern practitioner, every sentence conveys the dharma fully and it seems that Geshela's writings nothing is written for any purpose but the propagation of buddha dharma.

I was thinking that NKT is different from the rest of the Gelug organisation who mainly takes their teachings from the monasteries if Serpom and Shar Gaden. I do think there is tremendous benefits if NKT were to collaborate with Serpom and Shar Gaden for more things in the future it is a win win situation for Tsongkhapa's tradition and benefit to all.

[Losang_Tenpa]

I have heard many of the monks praising this text. Very special gift from Geshe la.

[psylotripitaka]

We look forward to a translation, though this Supreme Mahasiddha with undefiled commitments has already written and given oral pointing out instructions on the subject. The books Clear Light of Bliss, Mahamudra Tantra, and Modern Buddhism contain this material. However, he is always releasing material with new presentations that contain profound blessings to connect through it.

As a side note, people may be interested to know that in Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen's commentary to Lama Chopa translated as Manjushri's Innermost Secret, Lotsawa David Gonsalez Losang Tsering included a translation of the Panchen Lama Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen's Mahamudra text entitled "The Main Path of the Conquerors". This is available from Dechen Ling Press. As for the Lama Chopa commentary, I could never praise it highly enough!

It appears to principally be a commentary on Sutra Mahamudra. In the books by Supreme Siddha Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he explains Mahamudra from the point of view of both Sutra and Tantra and reveals special oral instructions such as the 6 stations, and meditation on the nature of mind from the point of view of completion stage.

Now if we could only generate bodhichitta and meditate on that stuff everyday!

[psylotripitaka]

In last paragraph I mean that the Panchen Lama's commentary appears to be one on Sutra Mahamudra, since he discusses the conventional and ultimate nature of mind without mentioning either completion stage or the clear light mind.

[christine V]

Thanks For sharing this article DharmaSpace. Rejoice to see the greatness of Dorje Shugden's lama. They are so powerful and intelligent.

[grandmapele]

It is always heart-warming to see great teachers present books to monasteries for the younger generation. Especially if the book is written by a teacher as attained as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso who thinks only of benefiting the people.
Thank you, DharmaSpace for sharing this article. May you be blessed by the Three Jewel for all your sharing.

[Blueupali]

We look forward to a translation, though this Supreme Mahasiddha with undefiled commitments has already written and given oral pointing out instructions on the subject. The books Clear Light of Bliss, Mahamudra Tantra, and Modern Buddhism contain this material. However, he is always releasing material with new presentations that contain profound blessings to connect through it.

As a side note, people may be interested to know that in Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen's commentary to Lama Chopa translated as Manjushri's Innermost Secret, Lotsawa David Gonsalez Losang Tsering included a translation of the Panchen Lama Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen's Mahamudra text entitled "The Main Path of the Conquerors". This is available from Dechen Ling Press. As for the Lama Chopa commentary, I could never praise it highly enough!

It appears to principally be a commentary on Sutra Mahamudra. In the books by Supreme Siddha Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, he explains Mahamudra from the point of view of both Sutra and Tantra and reveals special oral instructions such as the 6 stations, and meditation on the nature of mind from the point of view of completion stage.

Now if we could only generate bodhichitta and meditate on that stuff everyday!

So, then, what you are saying is that Geshe-la's text would be unique in that it explains Mahamudra from both the point of view of sutra and tantra, rather than one or the other? 
  I know that "How to Understand the Mind" is really helpful in that it explains things, at least according to the teacher I heard talking about this, from the Madyamika-Prasangika perspective, whereas most (if not all) other lorig texts are from mostly the Chittamatrin point of view... so for a lot of modern people the Madyamika-Prasangika is a more relevant connection, since it has to do with more their experience of meditation whereas the Chittamatrin one is better for people who have a lot of time to devote to studying it.
  At any rate, what I find so really lovely about Geshe-la is that he is so kindly pointing out the teachings in like the clearest way possible for people like me (western, non-monastic) to understand.... not that others could not understand them, just that even with our modern lives this is possible....