This text contains Mahamudra teachings given by Garchen Rinpoche during his first visit to the United States in 1997. These teachings are based on the teachings of Lord Jigten Sumgon as clarified by Rinpoche's own experience and realization and thus represent a unique record of the transmission of Mahamudra in the Drikung Kagyu lineage. In this respect, this is truly a remarkable set of teachings, stemming from the father of the Drikung Kagyu lineage.
Mahamudra Teachings, H.E. Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche, Beach Books, Paperback, 122 pp, $12.95

His Eminence Gar Konchog Nyidon Nyima Chokyi Senge was born in 1936. His Holiness Zhiwe Lodro (the prior Chetsang Rinpoche, 1886 1943) recognized him to be the incarnation of Garchen Thrinley Yongchap. From the age of seven to twenty-two he stayed at the Drikung monastery called Lho Miyel-gon. At a young age he was given a special ordination during which he recognized Lord Jigten Sumgon in a portrait and said, This is my lama. During this period his former disciple, Chime Dorje, taught Rinpoche. When Garchen Rinpoche was thirteen, Chime Dorje gave him the Mahamudra teachings. Thereafter he received all the Drikung Kagyu empowerments and teachings, started ngondro practice, and studied the Six Yogas of Naropa. During the Cultural Revolution there were no Dharma teachings. However, he secretly received instructions from Khenpo Munsel. With great perseverance, he practiced the teachings for twenty years. Khenpo Munsel was very pleased and said; "He is a very special bodhisattva incarnation. Of this there is no doubt." Garchen Rinpoche is currently establishing a Buddhist College at his monastery Lho Longkar Gon for about one hundred monks. Whatever food or wealth he receives as offerings is always used for the monks and nuns. He keeps nothing for himself. He is very respectful to all persons. With loving-kindness, compassion and bodhicitta he thinks only of how to benefit others.

CONTENTS: Mahamudra Teachings
PREFACE			5
INTRODUCTION			9
	THE ESSENCE OF INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE		9
	THE STREAM OF REALIZATION AND TRANSMISSION OF LORD JIGTEN SUMGON		10
	A UNIQUE JUNCTURE AND OPPORTUNITY		14
PREPARATION			16
	THE COMMON PRELIMINARIES		16
		Cause and Effect	16
		Precious Human Life	16
		Impermanence	18
		Actualizing Freedom in Our Own Mind	19
		Reality and Illusion in the Duality State	20
		The Importance of the Common Preliminaries	21
	THE SPECIAL, PROVEN ROLE OF DEVOTION		22
	THE SPECIAL PRELIMINARIES		25
		The Practice of Guru Yoga, Devotion and Confidence	25
		The Practice of Vajrasattva, Indestructible Pure Being	29
		The Mandala Practice, Offering Everything	31
		The Importance of the Special Preliminaries	33
PRACTICE			36
	INTRODUCING THE UNCHANGING NATURE OF THE MIND		36
		Shamatha, Calmly Abiding, With Support	36
		Shamatha, Calmly Abiding, Without Support	42
		Awareness, Mindfulness and Relaxation	44
		Not Too Loose, Not Too Tight, Just Right	46
		Responsibility for Our Condition and The Power of Mind	47
		The Many Ways and Bodhicitta	50
		Vipashyana, Special Insight	51
		Progressing From Cascading Stream to Wide River to Vast Ocean	53
		Two Methods and the Method of Realization	56
	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS		58
		Intellectual Understanding vs. Actual Realization	58
		Of Fame and Fortune	59
		Plow and Sky Metaphors	60
		Ngondro and Mahamudra	61
		The Lama of Many Lifetimes and When One Can't Find a Teacher	61
		Experiencing Difficulties with Rituals	65
	BUDDHA NATURE		66
		Mahamudra, Buddha Nature Within All Sentient Beings	66
		"I Think I Can"	68
		The Meaning of Sangye	69
		Outer, Inner, and Ultimate Refuge	71
		Mind "Free-From-Elaboration"	73
	PROGRESSING IN PRACTICE		74
		The Four Yogas	74
		Distinguishing Between Practice and Non-Practice	75
		Fanning the Embers of Practice	76
		Sustaining Mind, Free From Acceptance and Rejection	77
		Bringing Suffering and Confusion to the Path	78
		An All-Inclusive Practice	78
		The Three Kayas	85
		Practice and Establishing the View of Clarity	87
		All Within One, One Within All	88
		Inseparable Emptiness and Compassion	90
		Ending Karma and the Unity of the Two Truths	91
		Arising and Completion	92
		The Nature of Realization	93
		One-Taste and Impermanence	95
		Practice in Daily Life and the Highway Toward Enlightenment	96
		Inner and Outer Deities and Demons	97
		One-Taste and Non-Meditation	97
	INTRODUCING WHATEVER ARISES AS THE NATURE OF MIND		100
		The Essence of Conceptual Thoughts as Dharmakaya	100
		Actions Free as the Wind and Meditation Free From Fear or Attachment	101
		Mindfulness and Meditation Sessions	103
		Confusion Dawning as Wisdom	103
		"To Realize or Not to Realize"	104
		The Luminosity of Great Bliss	106
		The Five Wisdoms	107
		Ignorance and Sleep Dawning as Wisdom	111
		Hesitation and Complete Confidence	112
		Realization of the One Meaning and the Five Wisdoms	113
		The King of Old Yogis	114
		View, Meditation and Conduct -- Advice for Various Levels	114
CONCLUSION			117
	THE PRACTICE OF REALIZATION		117