4 Stages of Mahamudra Meditation
by Kunchen Pema Karpo 

Taught by H.H. Shamar Rimpoche at Bodhi Path Menlo Park, April 6-7, 2007

On April 6th and 7th H.H. Shamar Rimpoche provided a two-day teaching on the 4 Stages of Mahamudra Meditation, by Kunchen Pema Karpo. The teaching was held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and was hosted by the Bodhi Path Karma Kagyü Buddhist Center of Menlo Park.

There were more than 100 attendees from Bodhi Path centers across North America and Europe. The teachings were given in English, with Chinese translation by Lama Tashi.




Rinpoche translated and explained the text by Kunchen Pema Karpo, and provided additional commentary. (For supplementary reading, an English translation of the text exists, albeit an old one: Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines: Seven Books of Wisdom of the Great Path, According to the Late Lama Kazi Dawa-Samdup's English Rendering, by W. Y. Evans-Wentz).

These Mahamudra teachings represent an advanced stage of Kagyü practice and the Bodhi Path curriculum. The teachings covered preliminary advice on sitting and keeping the mind focused, detailed explanation of the two ordinary mahamudra yogas and two extraordinary mahamudra yogas, and a concluding explanation of methods.

Rinpoche also provided the initiation, or lung, for the practice.

Also in attendence were the Ven. Sabchu Rinpoche, Lama Tsony, Lama Khedrub, Lama Dawa, Lama Julia, and Lama Yandak.

At the end of the teachings, the attendees presented Rinpoche with an offering, a tankha of the lineage masters Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa.

In addition to the two-day teaching, on Sunday, April 8 Shamar Rimpoche gave Bodhisattva vows to approximately 130 people in the temple of the Menlo Park center.

© Bodhi Path Karma Kagyu Buddhist Centers

updated 4/10/08
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