" The essence and pith of the Lord Buddha's teachings is Mahamudra, which is the jewel of contemplative practice and the profound instruction of the Kagyu lineage. The Third Karmapa's influence and benefit to the Kagyu Lineage is incalculable and one of the many profound texts he composed is the Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra, which arose from his own realisation. The prayer contains the entire path and view of Mahamudra, and its depth and beauty is unveiled in this line by line commentary."

Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra, Tai Situ Rinpoche/Rangjung Dorje, Zhi-sil Cho-kyi Gha-Tsal, 130pp, $18.95

The twelfth Tai Situpa, Pema Donyo Nyingche Wangpo, was born in the male wood-horse year (1954) in the Palyul District of the Kingdom of Derge, to a family of farmers. The details of his birth were completely in accordance with the prediction of the sixteenth Karmapa. He was later taken to Palpung monastery and at eighteen months was enthroned there by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. At this time it was acknowledged that he clearly recognised his old attendants and disciples.

When he was 6 years old the political conditions forced him to leave Tibet, travelling first to Bhutan, and later joining the Gyalwa Karmapa, his spiritual master and supreme head of the Kagyu lineage, in Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, India. He received his formal religious training from the Gyalwa Karmapa and many other teachers under his guidance. In 1975, at the age of 22, he assumed his traditional responsibilities by founding the monastic project, Sherab Ling, at the request of his Tibetan followers who had settled in northern India. In 1980 he made his first tour to Europe, and has since travelled widely in North America, Europe and South-East Asia teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation at the request of Buddhist, humanitarian and multi-faith organisations.

In the winter of 1984 the Tai Situpa made his first return to Tibet. "It was a completely non-political religious trip," he emphasised, "prompted by the spiritual needs of the people." He was invited to an enormous number of monasteries of all traditions, where he gave teachings and empowerments, one of which was attended by over 100,000 people - which is astonishing given the remoteness of Palpung monastery. In 1989 he lead the Pilgrimage for Active Peace to inspire people to take an active involvement in world peace. A documentary was made of the event which included an audience with Pope John Paul II, an exchange with the Benedictine monks in Assisi, prayers for peace on Mt. Shasta and an interfaith dialogue with the spiritual leaders of the world's main religions in India. He returned to Tibet in 1991 where he ordained more than 1200 monks and nuns and transmitted a series of empowerments, (Dam Nga Zod), that was attended by over 65 reincarnate lamas, an estimated 2000 ordained Sangha from 92 monasteries and countless laypeople.

His root-teacher Karmapa Rigpai Dorje, passed away in 1981 and on 25th June 1985 took rebirth into a nomad family in Eastern Tibet. In 1992, following traditional methods, he was recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and soon after enthroned in his monastery in Tibet by the Tai Situpa.

In January 2000 the XVII Karmapa, Orgyen Trinlay Dorje, made a daring escape from his monastery in Tibet, to be able to continue his religious studies. The Tai Situpa is now guiding his spiritual training in exile near to Dharamsala, IndiaThe XII Tai Situpa continues the traditions of the practice lineage of the Tai Situpas'. A renowned Buddhist teacher, training in turn the next generation of Buddhist masters.

On a more personal level the Tai Situpa is a scholar, poet, calligrapher, artist, author, architect and geomancer (the science of studying the properties and relationships between the environment, the elements and their interaction with lines, angles, surfaces and solids). As a person concerned for the future well being of the planet and its people, the Tai Situpa both organises and participates in conferences throughout the world attempting to make compassion and wisdom a part of the reality of life on earth. As a Buddhist master, he regularly tours the world giving teachings and empowerments at the request of the Dharma Centres, and holds long-term Mahamudra courses to introduce the most profound and sacred of the Karma Kagyu teachings. �

	Contents: The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra
	Biography of Tai Situ Rinpoche	xi
	Foreword	xiii
	Preface	xv
	The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra	xxi
	Introduction	1
I.	The Preliminary Prayer	7
II.	The Main Body of the Prayer
	A. General Dedication of Merit Towards Enlightenment	13
	B. Specific Dedication Prayers Towards Enlightenment
	1. Prayer for Perfect Conditions for the Path
	a. Common Prayer for Perfect Conditions for the Path	16
	b. Uncommon Prayer for Perfect Conditions for the Path	17
	2. Prayer for Perfect Wisdom that Understands the Path	26
	3. Prayer for an Unmistaken Path	29
	4. Prayer for Unmistaken Practice on the Path
	a. General Prayer for Unmistaken Practice on the Path	37
	b. Specific Prayer for Unmistaken Practice on the Path Prayer for Correct View, Meditation, and Action	42
	i. The View
	Prayer for the View of Mahamudra	45
	Extensive Explanation of the View
	Prayer to Understand all Phenomena as Mind	56
	Prayer to Abandon the Limitations of Existence and Non-Existence	59
	Prayer to Understand the Unity of Emptiness and Interdependence	63
	Prayer to Overcome All Doubts Concerning the Ground	64
	ii The Meditation
	General Prayer for Mahamudra Meditation	65
	Specific Prayers for Mahamudra Meditation	68
	Prayer for Shamatha	68
	Prayer for Vipashyana	70
	Prayer to Recognize the Essence	71
	Prayer to Understand the Great Unity	72
	Prayer for Perfect Meditative Experience	73
	iii The Action
	Prayer for Compassion	78
	Prayer for the Unity of Emptiness and Compassion	80
	iv The Fruition
	5. Prayer for the Final Accomplishment of the Fruition of the Path	81
III.	The Conclusion of the Prayer	85
	Notes	97
	Glossary of Terms	101
	Index	123
	About the Karmapas	127
	Long Life Prayer for Tai Situ Rinpoche	130
	Sherab Ling	131
	Meditation Centre Information	133