Previously published by Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal as The Spiritual Song of Lodro Thaye.

For our practice to proceed correctly, we have to possess a proper understanding of the view which is called Mahamudra. Mahamudra is the very essence of all the teachings of the Buddha including the words of the Buddha, the Middle Way teachings practiced in Buddhist universities of India, and the Vajrayana techniques that examine the mind directly.

The texts of Mahamudra were often written by highly accomplished siddhas who explained their realization after many years of meditation. To help their student's realization, they would condense their experience into spiritual songs called dohas which are still taught and have been sung with a tune by lamas today. These spiritual songs often contain profound instructions using metaphors of great beauty that make Buddhist insights easily understood.

This Spiritual Song of Mahamudra by Jamgon Kongtrul is a doha or spiritual song that covers the entire path of Mahamudra. However, to fully understand this spiritual song, we need a teacher accomplished in Mahamudra to explain its full meaning. Thrangu Rinpoche who not only established the curriculum of the Kagyu lineage after 1959, but he has also taught major Buddhist teachers that included the third reincarnation of Jamgon Kongtrul.

Mahamudra begins with the practice of Shamatha to prepare the mind so that it can focus on a thought without distraction. Once this is achieved, Vipashyana is practiced by looking directly at the mind without any conceptualization. As most practitioners know, this is not an easy thing to do. But by taking slow careful steps they will gradually realize that the mind itself is insubstantial or, as it is said, "empty." Once they have truly realized that mind and all outside phenomena are insubstantial, they can begin to progress on the path of a bodhisattva to complete enlightenment.

Spiritual Song of Lodro Thaye, Thrangu Rinpoche, Namo Buddha Publications, Paperback, 140 Pages, 13.95

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, Ogyen 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 extensively 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.

	Contents: The Spiritual Song of Lodro Thaye
	Foreword by Venerable Choje Lama Shedrup	11
	Preface by Clark Johnson	13
	THE SONG OF LODRO THAYE	17
	INTRODUCTION	29
	Chapter 1 The Importance of the Lineage Lamas	29
	(verses 1 to 40)
	Chapter 2 The View in Mahamudra	45
	(verses 41-62)
	GROUND MAHAMUDRA
	Chapter 3 Ground Mahamudra	51
	(verses 63-121)
	PATH MAHAMUDRA
	Chapter 4 Path Mahamudra	75
	(verses 122-153)
	Chapter 5 Obstacles in the Practice of Mahamudra	89
	(verses 154-186)
	Chapter 6 Progress Through the Various Stages	99
	(verses 187-233)
	FRUITION MAHAMUDRA
	Chapter 7 Fruition Mahamudra	113
	(verses 234-273)
	Appendix
	The Six Realms of Samsara	127
	The Five Paths	128
	The Bodhisattva Levels	129
	Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom	130
	Notes	131
	Glossary of Terms	141
	Glossary of Tibetan Terms	163
	Bibliography	167
	Index	169