6. Prayer for the Definitive Meaning, the Mahamudra

KARMAPA RANGJUNG D O RJE ( 1 2 84- 1 3 3 9 )

[ 10 3 ] Namo guru.

1 . Gurus, deities of the yidam mandalas, conquerors and their children in the three times and ten directions, regard me with love and give me your blessing so that my prayer will be perfectly fulfilled.

2. May the rivers of accumulations of virtue, unpolluted by the triple aspects,

that come from the snowy mountains of the pure thoughts and actions

of myself and all endless beings enter the ocean of the four kayas.

3· Until the time that we attain that, may we throughout every lifetime never even hear the words "bad actions" and "suffering" and enjoy the glorious ocean of good actions and happiness.

4· May I obtain the supreme freedoms and opportunities ; have faith, diligence, and wisdom;

rely on an excellent spiritual friend; obtain the quintessence of the teachings;

practice them correctly and without any obstacle ; and thus practice the sublime Dharma throughout all my lifetimes.

1 70 Mahdmudrd and Related Instructions

S · Hearing the scriptures and logic brings freedom from the clouds of ignorance.

Contemplating the instructions defeats the darkness of doubt. The light of meditation illuminates the true nature, just as it is. May the radiance of the three wisdoms increase.

6. The two truths, free from the two extremes of eternalism and nihil-ism, are the meaning of the basis.

The two accumulations, free from the extremes of embellishment and denigration, are the supreme path.

The attainment of the two benefits, free from the extremes of existence and peace, is the attainment of the result.

May we meet this Dharma that is free of error.

7. The basis for purification is the mind-the union of clarity and emptiness.

The purifier is the great vajra yoga of mahamudra. The purified are the stains of extrinsic delusion. May the result of purification, the stainless dharmakaya, become

manifest.

8. The confidence of the view cuts through doubts about the basis. The essential point of meditation is to remain undistracted from

chat. The supreme conduct is training in the entire meaning of meditation. May there be the confidence of view, meditation, and conduct.

9· All phenomena arc manifestations of the mind. The mind is without mind, devoid of an essence of mind, empty and unceasing, appearing as anything whatsoever. May it be perfectly examined and be completely understood. [ 1 04]

10. The self-appearances that have never existed are mistaken as objects. Through the power of ignorance, self-knowing is mistaken for a selt�

Through the power of dualism, we wander in the vastness of existence.

May the error of ignorance be thoroughly understood.

Pra_y�r for tlu Dqinitit'� .Afraning, thr Mahamudra 1 7 1

1 1 . It has no existence : Even the conquerors have not seen it. It is not nonexistent: It is the basis for all samsara and nirvana. There is no contradiction : It is the path of the middle way. of union. May the true nature of the mind, free from extremes, be real ized.

1 2. It cannot be indicated by saying, "It is this." It cannot be refuted by saying, "It is not this." The true nature that transcends the intellect is noncomposite. May there be certainty in the extreme of the true meaning.

1 3 . If this is not realized, there will be circling within samsara. If this is realized, there is no other buddhahood. There is no " This is it; this isn't it" anywhere. May we know the true nature, the hidden secret of the alaya.

I 4· Appearances are mind and emptiness is mind. Thoughts are mind and delusion is mind. Origination is mind and cessation is mind. May we cut through all conceptual embellishments in the mind.

I S . Unadulterated by mentally fabricated, forced meditation ; unshaken by the winds of ordinary preoccupations ; knowing how to naturally rest in unaltered naturalness-may we master and maintain the practice of the meaning of the mind.

I 6. The waves of obvious and subtle thoughts cease by themselves ; the undisturbed river of the mind becomes naturally calm. May there be an untroubled peaceful sea of samatha, free from the polluting impurities of dullness and agitation.

I 7. When we look again and again at the mind that cannot be seen, we will perfectly see that which is not seen, just as it is. May we cut through doubts as to what the meaning is or isn't and have unmistaken knowledge of one's own nature.

1 8 . Looking at objects, there are no objects : They are seen to be mind. Looking at the mind, there is no mind : It's devoid of essence.

172 J.,fahdmudrd and Related Instructions

Looking at both spontaneously extinguishes dualism. May we realize luminosity, which is the nature of the mind.

1 9. The freedom from attention is the mahamudra (Great Seal) . The freedom from extremes is the mahamadhyamaka (Great Middle

Way). This is also named the all-inclusive dzokchen (Great Perfection). May there be the confidence that through knowing one all will be

realized.

20. Continuous great bliss, free from attachment; unveiled luminosity, free from fixation on attributes ; naturally present non thought, transcending the intellect: May there be a continuity of these effortless experiences.

21 . Attachment to good and fixation on experiences [1osJ is spontaneously liberated.

Bad thoughts and illusion are naturally purified in the element. The ordinary mind has no rejection and adoption, no elimination and

no attainment. May we realize the truth of the true nature, free from conceptual

elaborations.

22. The nature ofbeings is always buddhahood, bur nor realizing that, they wander in endless samsara. May I have overwhelming compassion for beings in limitless, endless suffering.

2 3· When rhere is love with the unceasing power of overwhelming compassion,

the meaning of the empty essence appc•us nakedly. May I meditate inseparably, day and night, on the union, the supreme path. which is free from error.

2. 4. Through rhc power of meditation. there is sight and d.l.irvoyancc ; beings ;uc ripened and buddha realms .uc purified, and the prayers tor accomplishing rhc qualities ofbuddhahood arc

pcrtC:ctcd.

Prayer for the Definitive Meaning, the Mahdmudrd 1 73

May there be buddhahood, where perfection, ripening, and fulfill

ment are brought to completion.

25 . Through the compassion of the conquerors and their children in the ten directions,

and through the power of all the good karma there can be, may my pure prayers, and those of all beings,

be perfectly fulfilled.

This Prayer for the Definitive Meaning, the Mahdmudrd, was composed by the lord Karmapa Rangjung Dorje .