The Third Karmapa's Mahamudra Prayer

This work includes a brief introduction, a stanza-by-stanza commentary on the 3rd Karmapa's (1284-1339) short root text, a short Q&A section, & 2 appendices: teachings in Berlin 1986 on "eternalism & nihilism" & the 5 Buddha families. The author acknowledges sources including-16th Karmapa, Thrangu Rinpoche, Salje Rinpoche, & Kalu Rinpoche's texts. The book is written in a very easy-to-read style in which the author very simply explains erudite, complex principles & issues directly-related to the valuable root text. Unusually, the commentary is as good as the root text! Some of the author's assertions are controversial, but he succinctly and convincingly gets his points across. By design, it is not a comprehensive text (e.g. Namgyal's "Mahamudra: Quintessence of Mind and Meditation"), but provides tremendous insight into some of the more difficult Mahamudra (MM) views/concepts with modern/pithy examples (i. e. the blind men and the elephant). Some main topics: p. 40: types of lamas (lineage, root, of blessing, in general), pp. 70-1: Madhyamaka & Chittamara vs. MM, p. 105: ego & MM, p. 109: feminism, & Appendix 2: the 5 kleshas vs. 5 wisdoms. Overall he provides a practical, balanced, down to earth, & insightful viewpoint. I've recorded almost 2 pages of quotes for my collection. Notably:He has an integrative approach to psychology with many parallels to Jung.p. 82: "We have to accept the quality of our effort and also our shortcomings, and then to work on this basis. This is another example of what I meant by saying that we first need a structured ego."p. 103: "U. F. E. = Unidentified Flying Ego"p. 106: "To first see our own ego very clearly, to recognize and accept it, is a very good foundation. In this way Dharma practice can really dissolve into a person."p. 119: "As long as we call ourselves `I," we are under the total control of karma."p. 139: "We need to develop a state of mind that will not succumb to confusion when facing something that goes beyond our conventional way of thinking."p. 140: "We understand in accordance with who we are and with our individual makeup."An understanding approach to the relationship between Buddhism, human society, & change:p. 31: "Nowadays people are able to understand greater and deeper things far more easily then a 100, 200, or 300 years ago."p. 46: "The Buddha managed to attain enlightenment without the present form of Buddhism; therefore every sentient being in the 10 directions and the 3 times will manage to do the same."p. 101: "The outer appearance-the robes, the rituals, and so forth-will transform slowly. Slow transformation is allowed. The Buddha himself said that the essence has to remain pure, whereas the way in which it is presented can gradually and naturally transform. But they cannot be changed intentionally."p. 144: "Buddhism is a new term that came into use in the West about 300 years ago."Most of the book is about mind. Tai Situ cogently relates mind to the interdependence of sentient beings & phenomena-stressing the union of subject & object in relation to the absolute nature or essence of mind or MM (bringing to mind Kabbalah & holograms). Many of his observations are quite profound:p. 69-74: "Our mind does not exist as something solid; it does not have any dualistic reality...The essence of mind is limitless...Truly seeing the non-dualistic nature of mind, which is union, which has no solid reality & yet is the essence of everything, we follow the Middle Way...Mind is inconceivable; it is beyond thoughts & concepts; thoughts result from not having realized the nature of mind, & for this reason the description will never be accurate as long as thoughts are used to discover or describe the nature of mind...Mind is not a composite...the mind is ultimate truth...the nature of mind, which is the final ultimate truth."p. 83: "We see our mind and its connection with everything else. This is what Mahamudra teachings describe as "clear light" or as `luminosity'. It is the characteristic of the mind, the way the mind exists. This means that everything we perceive as an object out there, and everything we hold to be the perceiving subject, is interdependent." [p. 75: union of emptiness & interdependence (non-duality)]p. 134: "'One-pointedness' is reached when one is able to see the absolute truth within everything, including oneself."p. 135: It [Mahamudra] involves the continuous presence of a sense of mindfulness, awareness, and connection with our basic nature, which is neither solid nor blank. This basic nature is within everything. It has the sense of voidness, and at the same time clarity. It has ultimate intelligence beyond eternalism and nihilism. It cannot be restricted to any extreme."p. 144: "Because of non-existence everything exists. Without vastness or space nothing could exist."Some of his more interesting, if controversial statements include:p. 50-1: "The blessing of the Buddha, or any kind of blessing, is just a facilitation...Every blessing that we request constitutes a facilitation, a favorable condition for our prayers to come true."p. 87: "Every sentient being suffers unnecessarily-suffering is not the nature of sentient beings, it is not in accord with their potential."p. 89: "When the union of compassion and emptiness is reached, everything is of equal importance."p. 102: "There is nothing wrong with Bön, it is almost identical to Buddhism."p. 139: "Within the Vajrayana everything that needs to be explained and understood is relative."My favorite quotes from the root text of the 3rd Karmapa are:p. 70: "Under the domination of ignorance, self-awareness is mistaken for a self."p. 72: "[Mind] is unity, the path of the middle."p. 73: "The true state is beyond intellect, it is uncreated."

The Appendix that so clearly explains how the Five Poisons become the Five Wisdom Energies is priceless.

In my humble opinion, anything written by HE The Tai Situpa is as wonderful. This particular teaching, which is all encompassing, becomes very understandable in his words.

It met my expectatiins

This is an ok book on the view of Mahamudra which is closely related to Dzogchen. There are many mental concepts presented and elaborated here that will gently help cultivate realization. However, you should really have some amount of preliminaries to get much out of this. Things/steps like taking refuge, understanding the four noble truths, and having some time spent in meditation. Then this book would be ok to help cultivate the view of Mahamudra. But as a first book on Mahamudra it will be a little challenging to get much out of it. Overall this book is generally NOT an indispensable member of your Buddhist library. A more fulfilling book on Mahamudra overall is  The Practice Of Mahamudra .But there are many titles on the topic of Dzogchen which are more succinct and strike the vital point someone more clearly. Seek out  Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection  or  The Great Secret of Mind: Special Instructions on the Nonduality of Dzogchen  as good examples.

Very beautiful , clear and inspiring text

És el llibre que volia.Dharma en estat pur, sense contaminar, com no podia ser d'altra manera, sent un ensenyament de Situ Rimpoché.