In this uniquely insightful overview and practice guide, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche presents a thorough introduction to the Kagyu Lineage's Mahamudra tradition. The author's approach is straightforward -- he presents the Mahamudra teachings as a means of seeing things in, as he says, "a positive open light. Even things we might normally regard as bad and undesirable can be interpreted in a more uplifting way due to the expansiveness of the Mahamudra vision." Mahamudra -- which means "great seal" or "great symbol," referring to the symbol or mark of ultimate reality, or emptiness -- points to the true nature of mind as well as the ultimate insubstantiality of all things.

The book includes an exploration of Mahamudra fundamentals and thorough explanation of Ground, Path, and Fruition Mahamudra, including meditation techniques for investigating, experiencing, and contemplating these teachings.
Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation Through Mahamudra Meditation, Traleg Rinpoche, Shambhala Publications, Paperback, 2004, 288 pp., $29.95

The Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was born in 1955 in Eastern Tibet. At the age of two, he was recognised by His Holiness the sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu lineage, as the ninth incarnation of the Traleg tulkus, which can be traced back to the time of Saltong Shogam, a contemporary of the first Karmapa. Traleg Rinpoche was enthroned as the Abbot of Tra'gu Monastery in Tibet and following the Chinese invasion of his country was taken to safety in India. There he continued the rigorous training prescribed for tulkus born with responsibilities as major lineage holders in the Tibetan tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. This training included five years at Sanskrit University in Varanasi and several years at Rumtek Monastery, the main seat of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. Not only has Traleg Rinpoche received the complete teachings of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, but he is also well acquainted with the practices and philosophy of the Drugpa Kagyu strand of the Kagyu lineage, having spent nine years studying with the Regent of the Drugpa mKagyu, the late Dungsse Rinpoche, at his monastery in Darjeeling.

Rinpoche came to Australia in 1980 in order to make the teachings and practices of the Kagyu tradition available there. He established the Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute in 1982 and regularly conducts courses and retreats in the practice and theory of Buddhism for the Institute. Rinpoche has travelled widely, giving lectures and seminars on Buddhism and related topics in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, South-East Asia and Europe.

CONTENTS: Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation Through Mahamudra Meditation
FOREWORD by Khenchen Thrangu		xi
PREFACE		xiii
INTRODUCTION		xv
Part One FUNDAMENTALS
1	What Is Mahamudra?	3
2	The Importance of Correct View	22
3	The Spiritual Path	32
4	Deluded Mind, Enlightened Mind	51
5	The Four Preliminaries	60
6	The Four Immeasurables	92
Part Two GROUND MAHAMUDRA
7	Buddha-Nature	121
Part Three PATH MAHAMUDRA
8	Tranquility Meditation	143
9	Insight Meditation	168
Part Four FRUITION MAHAMUDRA
10	The Four Yogas of Mahamudra	209
11	On the Spiritual Journey	225
APPENDIX: "PRECIOUS SUN"		229
NOTES		236
GLOSSARY		239
RECOMMENDED READING		247
TRALEG KYABGON'S CENTERS		250
INDEX		251

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@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Foreword by Khenchen Thrangu xi
Preface xiii
Introduction xv

Part One

Fundamentals
1 What Is Mahamudra? 3
2 The Importance of Correct View 22
3 The Spiritual Path 32
4 Deluded Mind, Enlightened Mind 51
5 The Four Preliminaries 60
6 The Four Immeasurables 92

Part Two

Ground Mahamudra
7 Buddha-Nature 121

Part Three

Path Mahamudra
8 Tranquillity Meditation 143
9 Insight Meditation 168

Part Four

Fruition Mahamudra
10 The Four Yogas of Mahamudra 209
11 On the Spiritual Journey 225

Appendix: "Precious Sun" 229
Notes 236
Glossary 239
Recommended Reading 247
Traleg Kyabgon's Centers 250
Index 251