Vinaire's Blog

 Tilopa’s Ganges Mahamudra Oral Instructions

Translated by Daniel Brown, Ph.D.

http://www.pointingoutway.org/downloads/tilopa.pdf

NOTE (11/23/19) : Each verse is followed by my comment (in color). ~ Vinaire

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 1.    Out of respect for the lineage,

Who developed these instructions,

To counter an ocean of suffering in Samsara,

Let me pour this view into your mind, my friends.

The purpose of these instructions is to counter an ocean of suffering in this world. You may follow these instructions to alleviate your suffering.

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2.     Although Mahamudra isn’t anything I can really explain.

Just let go, and hold this vantage point of mind,

Without artificial meditation strategies, and freshly

[without conceptualization]

Just as space has no substance to it,

Likewise, the real nature of the mind, Mahamudra,

Has no substance that can serve as a support to focus on

Mahamudra is a viewpoint from which to observe without fixed ideas, prejudices or beliefs. Simply let go of such ideas, attitudes and beliefs.

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3.    Cling to nothing as I speak, and there is no doubt, liberation will come.

Take this view as if you were looking directly into awareness itself,

Like space, in such a way that you aren’t trying to see,

Because from this vantage point, awareness sees itself by itself.

And when all attempts to conceptualize cease,

You will attain perfect awakening.

Beyond these ideas, prejudices and beliefs is pure awareness. When you cease to have any fixations, you are simply experiencing awareness.

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4.    Clouds float through space,

But don’t go anywhere, or stay anywhere.

In the same way conceptualization arises in the mind,

But from the vantage point of the real nature of the mind,

Thought is like waves that become calm.

Ideas appear in the mind, form into different shapes, float around and then disappear just like clouds do in the sky. They have no real permanence.

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5.    Just as space has no color. It has no form.

It has no darkness. No light. It is changeless.

Likewise, the real nature of the mind has no color, no form,

Nor is it tinged by the darkness of bad,

Nor the light of virtuous actions.

The essence of mind is emptiness. It is empty of all phenomena, ideas, prejudices and beliefs.

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6.    For thousands of aeons, the sun that shines everyday day

Has never been clouded by darkness.

Likewise, the real nature of the mind’s clear light of awareness

Has never been clouded by the cycle of Samsara.

The sun’s inherent nature is to shine brightly. Similarly, the inherent nature of the mind is to be aware perceptively.

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7.    You’ll probably conceptualize about the mind in so many ways,

Calling it “empty space’ or ‘clear-light’

But you can’t really explain it in words.

This mind is…insubstantial, and words won’t make awakening happen.

One may refer to mind as “empty” or as “clear light”; but words are insubstantial and they fail to describe it, or make awakening happen.

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8.    The real nature of the mind is always right here,

Beginningless, endless,

Like vast space that saturates everything!

So my dear friends, now stop doing anything

To set up your body posture,

Shut your mouth, be quiet, and don’t think

About anything whatsoever.

Simply take this vantage point,

As the teaching beyond all practices.

Simply be there and face whatever comes up. You do not have to think or act in any way.

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9.    The body has no substance,

Like the hollow inside of a bamboo stalk.

And the mind, like space itself,

Is beyond any intended meditation ob­ject.

So let go of any artificial strategies of meditating.

Let go of meditating.

And when this mind reflects itself to itself,

Right here is Mahamudra awakening.

We are made up of our thoughts that have no real substance. There is nothing to meditate upon. Just BE there.

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10.  You will not see the clear-light of Mahamudra

By chanting mantras,

Reading the wisdom texts or sutras on emptiness,

Or, by practicing ethical precepts.

When the [ordinary] mind [incessantly reacts]

By moving away from practices it dislikes

And moving toward practices it likes

You stay obscured and will not see

The clear-light of Mahamudra-awak­ening.

Mahamudra is not accessible through practices that the mind is traditionally conditioned to, or it reacts to through likes and dislikes.

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11.  Having ideas about how you routinely keep your vows,

Trying to concep­tualize how you might [awaken],

Just makes to stray from this truth.

This truth is beyond the reactivity of the mind

Moving away or moving toward anything.

Don’t particularize anything,

And whatever seems to arise by itself,

Immedi­ately becomes calm by itself,

And so the mind remains like a still pool of water.

The truth of how you might awaken is beyond the reactivity of the mind. You cannot conceptualize it. You just have to let it happen.

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12.  Never leave That-ness, but don’t stay in it either,

And don’t try to repre­sent it.

Simply vow never to leave it,

And nothing will obscure the flames [of awakening!].

Beyond the reactivity of the [ordinary] mind

Moving toward and moving away,

Not trying to stay, not even trying to see it,

Then you will see everything there is to see!

Don’t try to be. Simply Be without thinking and acting. Then you see everything there is to see!

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13.  Conduct an examination-meditation right now on the Truth,

And you will become liberated from the prison of Samsara.

Then, in you samadhi-meditation, right now,

The flames of this Truth will burn up

All the bad karma and obscurations.

Those who are unable to appreciate this Truth

Toss about in the sea of Samsara.

As you examine the truth and meditate upon it, you become liberated from the concerns of this existence, as all your doubts, perplexities and confusions are resolved.

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14.  Those foolish beings who continuously get caught up

In negative states of misery and sorrow.

All these sorry folks who wish to be free,

Need only depend on the teacher’s pointing out instructions.

Freedom does not come from wishing, postulating or making efforts toward it. Freedom comes from following the natural evolution. Natural evolution is the invisible teacher.

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15.  So my friends, everything that exists within Samsara

Is only the cause of suffering, not the cause of Truth.

The essence of this teaching is: to do nothing,

Other than taking the vantage point of what is the essence of Truth.

The cause of suffering is the existence itself because it does not provide the vantage point of Truth. You have to let go of the conditioning of this world and simply seek that vantage point.

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16.  The King of Views is: Going beyond subject/object duality

The King of Meditation is: Holding this vantage point uninterruptedly.

The King of Practice is: Do nothing. Do not search for anything.

Be without any expectation of gain or fear of failure,

And your realization will directly come to fruition.

The duality simply represents the two ends of a scale that extends to infinity on both sides. Meditate on the whole scale rather than on either end. Do nothing. Just let your awareness straighten itself out.

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17.  So now move beyond any intended meditation object

To the real nature of the mind’s awareness

Self-illuminating itself to itself.

There is no path to walk….

and you are already facing Buddha-mind as your mind.

And when you are familiar with what it’s like meditating in this way,

Without any intended meditation object,

And it is perfect, now you awaken!

Ultimately there is no object to meditate on, there is no path to walk. The mind is simply immersed in its own awareness. Now you are awaken.

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18.  So my friends, please understand me well.

Everything that seems to ex­ist in this world is impermanent,

Like a mirage or a dream,

And as such, mirages and dreams are not the Truth.

Everything that we see, feel and experience are appearances. They are projections of our mind. They are impermanent. The truth is much deeper.

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19.  So at least for now put aside everyday activities,

Break connection with [ordinary] sensory experience.

It only generates more desire and aversion.

Dwell in the forests or mountains and meditate.

Yet, [above all] stay in this vantage point of non-meditation,

And when you don’t try to attain it,

You will attain Mahamudra-awak­ening.

Realize that ordinary sensory experience is simply a reaction to something much deeper. Desire and aversion are part of this reaction. When you go beyond this reaction, you attain Mahamudra.

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20.  The leaves and branches of a tree

Wither and wilt when its roots are cut.

Likewise, cut the roots of the mind,

And the leaves and branches of Sam­sara end.

The roots of the mind is its reaction to things. That generates all the experience.

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21.  The smallest lamp can eliminate darkness

That has accumulated for thousands of eons.

Likewise, a single flame of the clear-light

Of the mind’s awareness self-illumi­nating itself to itself,

In a single instant,

Eliminates all the ignorance, obscurations, and defilements,

That have accumulated for eons.

It only takes a simple realization that reaction is at the root of all experience, to remove all accumulated ignorance in a single instant.

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22.  So my friends, don’t conceptualize this,

Or you won’t see the Truth that is beyond all conceptualization.

Don’t engage in any artificial meditation strategies,

Or you won’t see the Truth that is beyond all doing.

So if you want this Truth,

It is beyond all conceptualization

And all artificial meditation strategies.

The truth is beyond all conceptualization and artificial meditation strategies.

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23.  Use your sword of emptiness everywhere,

And cut to the root,

And hold the vantage point freshly.

Purify the muddy water of conceptualizing

Until it becomes clear.

Ease up so you let whatever arises

Come forth in its own right [self-con­tentedly].

Don’t do anything.

Do not make anything happen

Nor prevent anything from happening.

The following is a tall order in meditation: Don’t do anything; do not make anything happen nor prevent anything from happening.

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24.  Do not hold onto anything, nor let anything go,

And right here, is Maha­mudra-awakening,

And you are freed from Samsara.

All that obscures, even the subtlest propensities cease.

The awakened mind, always right here,

Self-illuminates the storehouse of all potential experience.

Be just what you are. You will reduce to your simplest, continuous, harmonious and consistent form automatically.

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25.  Complete liberation from all extreme [views].

This is the Supreme View.

Wide and deep and limitless.

This is the Supreme Medita­tion.

Beyond any intention or cutting anything off.

This is the Supreme Practice.

Beyond all expectation of outcome or fear of failure,

The mind frees it­self.

This is the Supreme Fruition.

In the deepest meditation you reside in the widest context possible. Nothing is avoided or excluded.

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26.  At first awakening the mind is like a fast-moving waterfall.

Then, it flows gently like the vast Ganges,

And finally, it is a great ocean wherein

The infant of individual consciousness

And the dharmakaya mother consciousness

Flow into one another.

When the mind first awakens there is a lot that flows quickly towards ultimate resolution.

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27.  For those less intelligent who can’t stay [continuously]

In the vantage point of awakened wisdom [once you taste it]

You can [once again] stay on the breath,

And distill the nectar of awareness

With many concentration practices,

[And when your concentration is strong again]

Above all learn to hold the vantage point of awareness-itself

If you happen to attain the vantage point of awakened wisdom, but then lose it, you can attain it again with much concentrated practice.

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28.  If you take that vantage point as your support,

Awakened Wisdom arises, its radiance, its emptiness.

Through empowerment, entering samadhi, then insight,

[The seeds of] this Awakened Wisdom

Are gently drawn into the mandala [in your heart],

Then manifest in various sites in your body,

Then saturate your entire be­ing.

When you don’t grasp for it,

Awakened Wisdom arises, its radiance, its emptiness.

Once you attain that vantage point of Mahamudra, support yourself with it, and let it express itself through your entire being.

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29.  You will seem ageless and healthy like the waxing moon.

You become radiant.

You’ll seem to have the strength of a lion,

And all the ordinary [positive states]

And special powers of a Buddha will flourish.

This is my oral advice to you, my friends,

On the essence of Mahamudra-awakening.

Let it stay uninterruptedly in your heart,

And in the hearts of all sentient beings!

Mahamudra expresses itself though perfect health and beingness.

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Vinaire’s Summary

This Song of Mahamudra provides instructions that may help you alleviate your sufferings (verse 1).

Mahamudra is is a viewpoint from which to observe without fixed ideas, prejudices or beliefs. Simply let go of such ideas, attitudes and beliefs (verse 2).

Beyond these ideas, prejudices and beliefs is pure awareness. When you cease to have any fixations, you are simply experiencing awareness (verse 3).

Ideas appear in the mind, form into different shapes, float around and then disappear just like clouds do in the sky. They have no real permanence (verse 4).

The essence of mind is emptiness. It is empty of all phenomena, ideas, prejudices and beliefs (verse 5).

The sun’s inherent nature is to shine brightly. Similarly, the inherent nature of the mind is to be aware perceptively (verse 6).

One may refer to mind as “empty” or as “clear light”; but words are insubstantial and they fail to describe it, or make awakening happen (verse 7).

Simply be there and face whatever comes up. You do not have to think or act in any way (verse 8 ).

We are made up of our thoughts that have no real substance. There is nothing to meditate upon. Just BE there (verse 9).

Mahamudra is not accessible through practices that the mind is traditionally conditioned to, or it reacts to through likes and dislikes (verse 10).

The truth of how you might awaken is beyond the reactivity of the mind. You cannot conceptualize it. You just have to let it happen (verse 11).

Don’t try to be. Simply Be without thinking and acting. Then you see everything there is to see (verse 12)!

As you examine the truth and meditate upon it, you become liberated from the concerns of this existence, as all your doubts, perplexities and confusions are resolved (verse 13).

Freedom does not come from wishing, postulating or making efforts toward it. Freedom comes from following the natural evolution. Natural evolution is the invisible teacher (verse 14).

The cause of suffering is the existence itself because it does not provide the vantage point of Truth. You have to let go of the conditioning of this world and simply seek that vantage point (verse 15).

The duality simply represents the two ends of a scale that extends to infinity on both sides. Meditate on the whole scale rather than on either end. Do nothing. Just let your awareness straighten itself out (verse 16).

Ultimately there is no object to meditate on, there is no path to walk. The mind is simply immersed in its own awareness. Now you are awaken (verse 17).

Everything that we see, feel and experience are appearances. They are projections of our mind. They are impermanent. The truth is much deeper (verse 18).

Realize that ordinary sensory experience is simply a reaction to something much deeper. Desire and aversion are part of this reaction. When you go beyond this reaction, you attain Mahamudra (verse 19).

The roots of the mind is its reaction to things. That generates all the experience (verse 20).

It only takes a simple realization that reaction is at the root of all experience, to remove all accumulated ignorance in a single instant (verse 21).

The truth is beyond all conceptualization and artificial meditation strategies (verse 22).

The following is a tall order in meditation: Don’t do anything; do not make anything happen nor prevent anything from happening (verse 23).

Be just what you are. You will reduce to your simplest, continuous, harmonious and consistent form automatically (verse 24).

In the deepest meditation you reside in the widest context possible. Nothing is avoided or excluded (verse 25).

When the mind first awakens there is a lot that flows quickly towards ultimate resolution (verse 26).

If you happen to attain the vantage point of awakened wisdom, but then lose it, you can attain it again with much concentrated practice (verse 27).

Once you attain that vantage point of Mahamudra, support yourself with it, and let it express itself through your entire being (verse 28).

Mahamudra expresses itself though perfect health and beingness (verse 29).