Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Rinpoche Thrangu

This book is the longest of the Ninth Karmapa's three important texts on Mahamudra and one of the most extensive texts on it in the Kagyu tradition.

The Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning

When one dies, the mind takes an intense and very important journey through the bardo - that intermediate state between death and rebirth in the next body. To prepare for this journey, we must understand what is happening to us in the bardo and also how we can prepare for this journey while still living. In these extraordinary teachings Rinpoche gives us a fresh perspective on the bardo. He de-emphasizes the detailed descriptions of the appearances and emphasizes more the relationship between various aspects of one's dharma practice - shamatha, vipashyana, Mahamudra, Ngondro, deity meditation and other aspects of the stages of creation and completion - and one's experience of death and the intermediate state between death and rebirth itself. The instructions given in these teachings are, therefore, very practical and not at all impossible to include in one's daily life. This was originally published by Shenpen Osel.

Teachings on the Bardo

Journey of the Mind

This is a brief look at the bardo, (in between state of one life and the next) in which Rinpoche describes the Bardo of Dharmata and then goes through what happens to one, and what one sees during the first 12 days (or phases) following death. He then explains the Bardo of Becoming in which one exchanges one's old existence for a new one. Rinpoche gives descriptions and examples of the appearances that arise and the choices at each stage for liberation in the Buddha realms or further samsaric rebirth. Included is a chart detailing the characteristics of each Buddha family and the bardo day they appear along with several bardo prayers.

An Overview of the Bardo Teachings

The Ocean of Definitive Meaning by the Ninth Karmapa (1556–1603) is the most profound and famous text on Mahamudra ever written and is of vital importance in the living Kagyu tradition. It offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation of instruction 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 instruction. 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 Ninth Karmapa's text has traditionally been available only to advanced students. However, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has kindly consented to the publication of these core teachings on the text, which he gave in the context of a retreat he led in 2001 in the mountains of British Columbia for 140 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.

In this rare gem we learn more that just details of this particular Medicine Buddha practice. Rinpoche, has king included many basic principles of tantric theory and practice in general.

Medicine Buddha Teachings

A Biography of Milarepa's Disciple

Rechungpa

The most in-depth and famed text on Mahamudra ever written, The Ocean of Definitive Meaning by the Ninth Karmapa offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation. Thrangu Rinpoche has distilled the essence of the Ninth Karmapa’s massive text and gives guidance in implementing the instructions. The availability of the translation of this text has traditionally been restricted to advanced students only. However, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has consented to the publication of these core teachings. He believes Mahamudra is especially appropriate for Westerners because it can be realized in the context of virtually any lifestyle, revealing the radiant display of mind.

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

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