As I regard myself Mahamudra as the quickest and easiest path to reach insight in the essence of my mind and find there luminosity and spaciousness, I looked for good teachings to give more context to this ultimate path, and thus found this teaching.
His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, an esteemed master of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, I think herewith delivered a profound teaching on Mahamudra. These Mahamudra teachings, rare abut very important. Chetsang Rinpoche, a master of extraordinary wisdom brings the vastness of Mahamudra into our realm of personal experience, making it easier accesable.
Mahamudra, which translates to the “Great Seal,” is not a doctrine or a conceptual philosophy but a direct path to recognizing the mind’s intrinsic nature. In this discourse, Chetsang Rinpoche emphasized that Mahamudra transcends dualistic concepts, guiding practitioners beyond the limitations of thought, emotions, symbols, and language. It is an experiential journey into the recognizing of the unchanging essence of our mind.
The Nature of Mind
Chetsang Rinpoche began by describing the innate nature of the mind as pure, vast, and free from elaboration. He likened it to space—boundless, unchanging, and untouched by phenomena. This “nature of emptiness” does not imply nothingness; rather, it is luminous and self-aware, akin to the clarity of a stainless mirror reflecting everything without attachment. He pointed out that the mind’s purity is ever-present, even within the chaos of samsara, just as a lotus remains untainted despite growing in mud.
However, the tragedy of samsara arises from failing to recognize this intrinsic purity. By identifying with fleeting thoughts and emotions, beings obscure their natural clarity, perpetuating cycles of confusion. To recognize the mind’s true nature is to realize that samsara and nirvana are not separate realms but differing perspectives on the same reality. Comment: How true this is but how difficult to convey with words.
The Path: View, Meditation, and Action
Chetsang Rinpoche elucidated the three aspects of the Mahamudra path: view, meditation, and action.
- The View: The view refers to directly perceiving the innate nature of the mind. It is the recognition that all appearances—internal and external—are mere projections of mind. This recognition liberates practitioners from dualistic clinging, revealing the unity of emptiness and clarity. For those of high capacity, this realization can be instantaneous, like untangling a coiled snake by simply releasing it into open space.
- Meditation: Meditation in Mahamudra is the practice of stabilizing this recognition. Chetsang Rinpoche explained that it is not about fabricating a state of mind or controlling thoughts but about allowing the mind to rest in its natural state. For those of high capacity, this resting becomes effortless, like the sun shining perpetually in a clear sky. For others, meditation may initially feel intermittent, like sunlight breaking through clouds, requiring solitude and consistent practice to stabilize.He stressed that meditation is not about blocking thoughts or emotions but about seeing them as transient waves in the vast ocean of awareness. By neither chasing nor suppressing them, practitioners allow thoughts to self-liberate, dissolving back into their source.
- Action: The culmination of Mahamudra is the seamless integration of this recognition into daily life. Rinpoche emphasized that true realization transcends meditation cushions and ritual halls. In every activity—walking, speaking, or even resting—practitioners can embody the awareness of Mahamudra. The challenge lies in maintaining mindfulness and devotion while navigating the complexities of life.
The Gradual Path and Capacities
Rinpoche addressed practitioners of varying capacities, outlining different approaches to the Mahamudra path. Those of high capacity might achieve instantaneous recognition through devotion and the blessings of a realized teacher. For those of middle and lower capacities, gradual methods are necessary. This includes retreats, solitude, and step-by-step training in calming the mind (shamatha) and cultivating insight (vipashyana). He reminded practitioners that realization is not a race and that each moment of practice contributes to awakening.
Realization Beyond Words
Throughout his teaching, Chetsang Rinpoche repeatedly emphasized the ineffability of Mahamudra. Words, symbols, and even conceptual understanding fall short of capturing its essence. The wisdom of Mahamudra is absolute and beyond duality, transcending all notions of existence and non-existence. He cited the teachings of great masters like Naropa and Tilopa, whose instructions conveyed the profundity of Mahamudra through direct experience rather than intellectual explanation.
In a poignant story, Rinpoche recounted how Naropa, after years of study, realized the nature of mind when his teacher Tilopa struck him on the forehead with a sandal. This sudden act shattered Naropa’s conceptual framework, allowing him to directly perceive the luminous, empty awareness that is the hallmark of Mahamudra.
The Ultimate Fruition
Mahamudra, Rinpoche explained, is not about achieving something new but about recognizing what has always been present. At the fruition level, there is no longer a distinction between the meditator, the meditation, and the act of meditating. It is a state of complete unity and spontaneity, free from hope, fear, or effort. In this realization, the practitioner embodies the inseparability of samsara and nirvana, living in a state of unshakable joy and compassion.
Rinpoche concluded by reminding his audience that the essence of Mahamudra lies in simplicity. The base, path, and result are not separate entities but aspects of the same ultimate reality. The path of Mahamudra is not about adding or removing anything but about recognizing the innate perfection that has been present since primordial time.
Lets do it!
His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche’s teaching on Mahamudra is both a profound philosophical discourse and a practical guide. He urged his students to engage in practice with sincerity and devotion, to cultivate love and compassion for all beings, and to maintain unwavering mindfulness. Above all, he emphasized the importance of trusting in the innate wisdom of one’s own mind.
For those who attended or listened, his words were not merely teachings but a transmission—a direct pointing to the luminous, boundless awareness that lies at the heart of Mahamudra. Through his guidance, the timeless path of the Great Seal continues to inspire and illuminate the journey toward liberation. In our channel Vedicvibes we have many aspects collected for seekers related to recognizing the ultimate nature of our being, and here in this website too. We keep dedicated to the purity of this path. Shunyam Adhibhu
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