The Ocean of Definitive Meaning by the Ninth Karmapa (1556-1603) is the most in-depth and famed text on Mahamudra ever written and is of vital importance in the living Kagyu tradition. It offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation of instructions on both the view and the practice. In the teachings contained in this book, Thrangu Rinpoche has distilled the essence of the Ninth Karmapa's massive text into manageable proportions and has given pointed guidance on the implementation of its instructions.

According to Thrangu Rinpoche, Mahamudra practice is especially appropriate for Westerners and contemporary practitioners because it can be realized in the context of virtually any lifestyle. Mahamudra dissolves the artificial separation between phenomena and emptiness, revealing the radiant display of mind.

The availability of the translation of this text has traditionally been restricted to advanced students. However, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has kindly consented to the publication of these core teachings on the text, which were transcribed from a wonderful 2001 retreat he led in the mountains of British Columbia for one hundred and forty Western students.

His compelling presentation provides teachers and students with a systematic approach to some of the highest practices in the Kagyu tradition. Thrangu Rinpoche's extraordinary wisdom and insight make this new commentary a peerless jewel in the canons of spiritual literature.

Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning,Thrangu Rinpoche, Snow Lion Publications, Paperback, 143 pages, $21.95

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master known for his deep compassion and the clarity of his teachings. He was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as the principal tutor to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje. Thrangu Rinpoche is a full holder and teacher of the Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. He founded the Namo Buddha retreat center in Nepal, has established two shedras (monastic universities) in Nepal and India, and serves as Abbot of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. He also built Tara Abbey, where nuns receive a full dharma education qualifying them to become khenpos or teachers. Thrangu Rinpoche teaches entensively throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He has centers in Maine and California, and is building the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado.

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CONTENTS: Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning
Introduction		1
1.	First One Tames the Mind with the Practice of Tranquility	23
2.	Grasping the Mind That Has Not Been Grasped	33
3.	Stabilizing the Mind after It Has Been Grasped	41
4.	Bringing Progress to the Mind That Has Been Stabilized	51
5.	The Practice of Insight, Which Eradicates the Kleshas	59
6.	More on the First Insight Technique, Looking at the Mind within Stillness	67
7.	Looking Carefully at the Experience of Not Finding Anything	73
8.	Within Stillness, Looking, Scrutinizing, Identifying Awareness/Emptiness	85
9.	Looking at the Mind within the Occurrence of Thought	91
10.	Looking at the Mind within Appearances	99
11.	The Actual Meditation on the Relationship between Appearances and Mind	109
12.	Pointing Out That Emptiness Is Spontaneous Presence	119
13.	Pointing Out That Spontaneous Presence Is Self-Liberation	125
14.	Bringing Gradual Improvement to the Practice	133
Notes		139