Shamatha Vipashyana in the Mahamudra Tradition: Exploring Tashi Namgyal’s Moonbeams of Mahamudra
10 Tuesdays from February 20 thru April 23, 2024, 7-9:15 pm EST
Based upon the text: Moonbeams of Mahamudra by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, translated by Elizabeth Callahan.
To start the Wood Dragon Year, Rime Shedra NYC celebrates its 20th year by turning to the practices of shamatha and vipashyana as presented in the Mahamudra tradition - the pinnacle of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. This will be the first of four courses focused on what is widely recognized as the core text on the subject, Moonbeams of Mahamudra by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal. His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje says in his Preface to the Translation: “Although…Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal was composed in the sixteenth century it is still regarded as the definitive guide to mahāmudrā, providing the blueprint for the practice itself and also clearly explaining the scriptural authority and logical reasonings that support the practice.” What more is there to say about this choice?
We will begin our exploration of Mahamudra Shamatha-Vipashyana with the development of a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of shamatha-vipashyana as known in the tradition shared by all schools of the Mahayana tradition. This will include the key aspects of each practice as passed down by the key masters in India along with numerous quotes which serve as perfect supports for practice. This course will conclude with a comparative analysis of the variations of these practices to establish a common core view of their ground, path and fruition and eliminate doubts about their differences.
The format of classes is close reading with commentary and discussion, rather than presentation and Q&A. If you would like to participate, please let Derek know by email at dkolleeny@gmail.comand obtain a copy of the source text.