Shamarpa

Meditation Of The Great Seal, Mahamudra

     Those who appear in the lineage of Karmapas, the highest Victorious, the highest of Teachers! With faith I bow before You three gates (body, speech and mind)! The great text for reciting the Teachings before the king should be proclaimed to all who show a special aspiration towards the essence of the Victorious family!

     So the "Great Seal, Mahamudra" is the proper nature of cyclic existence and Nirvana, being the unity of manifestation and emptiness. "The difference between cyclic existence and Nirvana is only in (the presence of) error (dual perception) and liberation."
     Since it is said so, when there is a delusion - (appears) cyclical existence. If you purify it, Nirvana will be revealed. This misconception is "fabrications". Thus: "Cyclical existence is only an invention. And if there are no mental constructions, then there is Nirvana."
     So cyclical existence as it is is the Great Seal of the Foundation.

     Meditation for the renunciation of cyclic existence is the Great Seal of the path. The attainment of the state of Enlightenment when cyclic existence is dropped is the Great Seal of the fruit.
As for the method of meditation and the path (which is explained) based on this, there are three points: the view that should be understood; the meditation that corresponds to the view; the behavior that strengthens the meditation.

     The first (view).
     All dharmas are, by their nature, manifestations of their own mind. They do not exist anywhere outside the mind, like dreams during sleep.. Saint Naropa spoke about this: "All Dharma-particle has a mind of its own. What is perceived as external objects is a deluded mind. But like a dream, they are essentially empty."
     When you look into this mind, the past day and the current day are not the same. And what was recently is not the same as what is now. But all dharmo-particles are empty and impermanent, changing from moment to moment throughout the day. In Tantra it is said: "One's own mind is inherently unborn and empty in its characteristics."
     Also, being empty, it is not nonexistent, because the manifestation of day and night occurs incessantly. If you die, then there are visions of an intermediate state and visions of future birth. These manifestations cannot be stopped. It is the same as the reflection of the moon in water, even if it is empty in essence. In Tantra it is said: "Everything is neither true nor false. The yogi should know his desires as similar to the moon on the surface of water."
     If we understand this nature of the view as not a false fiction, it is called "self-liberation".
     After all, after you see a multi-colored rope like a snake, you will be afraid. Later, when you see the rope, (it turns out that there is no) snake that must be eliminated. (Also) there is no pre-existing rope to bring in. The only thing to bring in is that the rope is a "rope".
     The victorious Maitreya spoke: "There is nothing worth adding here. And there is nothing worth deleting. Look at the right (state of Affairs) in the right way. And if you see the highest reality, you will be completely free."

     Point two. The practice of meditation is a meditative immersion.
     You should generate the mood as follows: "All living things are my parents. Previously, considering them enemies, he caused them harm and suffering. The maturation of these acts is like a hook that is caught on a column. So I also wander in a cyclical existence and misery. Having turned away from it, from this moment on I will perform good (acts) towards others. Others will also do good to me. In this way, the good of me and others will be realized and I will attain the state of Enlightenment."
     Meditate on the Teacher above your head. As for the body, it should remain in solitude, having discarded everything that is not related to holding the proper position. As for speech, perform prayers to the teacher and keep your speech private (i.e. be silent), let the wind remain in its natural state.
     Further, as far as the mind is concerned, it should not follow the memory of the past. You should not think "I did this before" or "it turned out this way". Don't strive for what comes after. Do not think "after it will be like this" or "I will do the next". Do not concentrate on the present, I.e. do not think "Yes", "no", "exists", "does not exist" , etc. Keep the mind aloof in nature without clinging to the manifestations of the six assemblies of the senses. Stay, diligently using these three memories over and over again.
     Lord Marpa said: "The heart essence of the highest Chariot is that the mind does not form anything and is free from extremes. This is the introduction to the Teachings of the great Seal. And this manifestation of objects that are perceived as external, manifests itself as an unceasing flow in the great space. Consciousness, the inner perceiving mind, comprehend as the unborn body of the Teaching."
     Tilopa said: "If you find something that cannot be found by staying in nature outside of meditation, you will find the Great Seal."

     The third point is behavior after meditation.
     Said: "Relate to the behavior that is present and absent in Tantra. After all, if the behavior does not correspond to the Teaching, then there will only be empty and gratuitous conversations about the implementation of the view and meditation. It is also a true sign of contemplation and meditation. Therefore, as far as behavior is concerned, there is no phenomenon that is not related to an interdependent occurrence. Therefore, there is no teaching that is not connected with emptiness."
     If you perform good deeds, the fruit will be happiness. If you perform negative actions, the fruit will be suffering. This is the infallible nature of the doctrine of dependent origination.
     "When heat and moisture come together as concomitant conditions for the seed – causes of moisture, barley cannot arise from the fruit of the fruit (tree)." Therefore, relate to the act and the fruit until you understand the natural state. When you understand it, you will see the spontaneous realization of the devil's efforts for your own good and for the good of others, since the behavior of appearing with effort is an illusion.

     Then follows the method of following the levels and paths.
     The direct comprehension of the essence of the mind, which is free from fabrications and attributions, is the unity of clarity and emptiness. And this will be the first level, which is called Joyful.
     Why then do not the qualities of the [higher] levels immediately appear?
     Quality occur in sequence. So Zhang Drag said: "Understanding is due to the higher (vision). And this will be the level of perfect joy on the path of vision."
     It is also said, " although there are no qualities or possibilities, you are on the path of vision. When the sun rises, the ice gradually melts. And if there is no earth, stones, and heat, then there is no need for the sun."
     "Even if heat and clouds come together as accompanying conditions for the seed – cause, the bean cannot arise from the fruit of the fruit (tree)." Therefore, relate to the act and the fruit until you understand the natural state. When you understand it, you will see the spontaneous realization of the devil's efforts for your own good and for the good of others, since the behavior, the phenomenon with effort is an illusion.

     These are the instructions about the only cure for a hundred diseases, the white great Seal, the introduction to the nature of the mind.
     May all beings be freed by this!
     In accordance with the request of Agyal and the Royal family, it was expressed by the monk Shakya Kenchog Bang (the Fifth Shamarpa) from the Ngomgang monastery.
     Translated into Russian by Lama Karma Paljor (O. E. Filippov)