Source Text
times. The Sanskrit mahāmudrā (Tibetan, phyag rgya chen po) literally means “great seal” or “great gesture”
profound, ultimate, absolute reality that is otherwise called nirvāṇa, emptiness-compassion-womb, bliss-void-indivisible, clear-light relativity, buddhahood, truth realm, reality body, nonduality.
Mahāmudrā conveys in its own context the Buddha’s foundational discovery that reality, when it is mentally and viscerally, intellectually and experientially known as it truly is, is perfect freedom, infinite life, omnicompetent love and compassion, bliss.
It is given the name of the ultimate goal, great embrace, because it proceeds directly to the tender reality of blessed release; in all aspects of space and time, it perceives our existence as nondually and blissfully embraced in absolute freedom. Our extraordinary happiness automatically overflows as glorious love and compassion for all other beings, who are seen swimming with us in the ocean of luminosity.
As Westerners it is easy to take for granted how comfortable the conditions of our lives are, as compared to all the masters who ever walked the spiritual path throughout history.
We can practice meditation very comfortably, in a temperature-controlled environment, and we don’t have to worry unduly about eating healthily, getting sick, or getting distracted from our practice by invasions, robbers, animals, or insects. As the Tibetans would say, we as modern Westerners have a rare and precious opportunity.
For my research I used the Rorschach to measure changes in perception among practitioners who developed some proficiency in deep concentration.
research the kind of clinical problems that Western students encountered during intensive retreats, specifically how unresolved psychopathology interfered with progress in meditation.
and colleague Andrea Lindsay, LICSW. She helped show me that meditation is
an activity conducted while sitting on the pillow but a way of being, a way of living with complete awareness.
AI Summary
Pointing Out the Great Way by Daniel Brown Ph.D., Robert Thurman, and Robert A.F. Thurman presents key insights from the Tibetan Buddhism tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
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Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
This entry was generated from Readwise highlights. Expand with additional context as appropriate.