The Song of Mahamudra
The following song is the
spiritual heritage of the tantric master Tilopa,
which he is giving to his diciple Naropa. Naropa had been with
him for many years, while the master was meditating on a
graveyard. After so many years of service and meditation Naropa
finally is ripe for the last initiation - to receive this song:
Mahamudra*
is beyond all words and symbols
but for you, Naropa, earnest and loyal
must this be said:
÷
The void needs no reliance,
Mahamudra rests on nought.
Without making an effort,
but remaining loose and natural,
one can break the yoke-
thus gaining Liberation.
If one sees nought when staring into space;
if with the Mind one then observes the mind**,
one destroys distinctions
and reaches buddhahood
The clouds that wander trough
the sky
have no roots, no home;
nor have the distinctive thoughts
floating through the mind.
Once the Self-mind is seen,
discrimination stops.
In space shape and colours
form,
but neither by black nor white is space tinged.
From Self-mind all things emerge,
the Mind by virtues and by vices is not stained
The darkness of ages
cannot shroud the glowing sun;
the long kalpas of samsara***
never can hide the Minds brilliant light
Though words are spoken to
explain the Void
the Void itself can never be expressed.
Though we say "the Mind is a bright light",
it is beyond all words and symbols.
Also the Mind is void in essence,
all things it embraces and contains
Do nought with the body but
relax;
shut firm the mouth and silent remain;
empty your mind and think of nought.
Like a hollow bamboo rest at ease your body.
Giving not nor taking, put your mind at rest.
Mahamudra is like a Mind that clings to nought.
Thus practising in time you will reach buddhahood
The practice of mantra and
paramita,
instruction in the sutras and precepts,
and teachings of all schools and scriptures,
will not bring realization of the Innate Truth.
For if the mind when filled with some desire
should seek a goal,
it only hides the Light.
He who keeps the tantric
precepts, yet discriminates,
betrays the spirit of samaya.
Cease all activity, abandon all desire,
let thoughts rise and fall,
as they will like ocean waves.
He who never harms the samaya of the non-abiding,
nor the principle of non-distinction,
upholds the tantric precepts.
He who abandons craving
and clings nor to this or that,
perceives the real meaning given in the scriptures.
In Mahamudra all one's sins
are burned;
in Mahamudra one is released
from the prison of this world.
This is the Dharmas supreme torch.
Those who disbelieve it are fools,
who ever wallow in misery and sorrow.
Who strives for liberation
should rely on a Guru.
When your Mind receives his blessing
emancipation is at hand.
Alas, all things in this
world are meaningless,
they are but sorrow's seeds.
Small teachings lead to acts-
one should only follow teachings that are great.
To transcend duality is the royal view.
To conquer distractions is the royal practice.
The practise of no-practise is the way of all Buddhas.
He who treads that path reaches Buddhahood.
Transient is this world,
like phantoms and dreams, substance it has none.
Renounce it and forsake your kin,
cut the strings of lust and hatred,
and meditate in woods and mountains.
If without effort
you remain loosely in the natural state,
soon Mahamudra you will win
and attain the Non-attainment.
Cut the roots of a tree and
the leafs will wither;
cut the roots of your mind and samsara falls.
The light of any lamp dispels in a moment
the darkness of long kalpas;
the strong light of the Mind in but a flash
will burn the veil of ignorance
Whoever clings to mind
sees not the truth of what's beyond the mind.
Whoever strives to practice Dharma
finds not the truth of beyond-practise.
To know what is beyond both mind and practise
one should cut cleanly through the root of mind
and stare naked.
One should thus break away from all distinctions
and remain at ease.
One should not give or take
but
remain natural - for Mahamudra
is beyond all acceptance and rejection.
Since alaya is not born,
no one can obstruct or soil it;
staying in the unborn realm
all appearance will dissolve into the Dharmata,
and self-will and pride will vanish into nought.
The supreme understanding
transcends all this and that.
The supreme action
embraces great resourcefulness without attachement.
The supreme accomplishment
is to realize immanence without hope.
At first a yogi feels his
mind
is tumbling like a waterfall;
in midcourse, like the ganges,
it flows on slow and gentle;
in the end it is a great vast ocean
where the lights of son and mother merge in one
÷
Notes:
*Mahamudra: The Great Gesture - The last and total
relaxation into being
Back to Mahamudra
** Mind and
mind: intentonally you find a Mind with a big 'M'
meaning the greater spirit of a person and the mind with the
small 'm' standing for the functional part - the mechanism of
psychological patterns
Back to Mind
*** kalpas of samsara: Long ages of delusion
Back to kalpas
I warmly recommend a book of
the spiritual master Osho Rajneesh on
the song: "Tantra - the supreme understanding" which is containing
commentaries and explanation. To order via OshoCommune.
Zu diesem Lied gibt es ein Buch mit Kommentaren und
Erläuterungen
des spirituellen Meisters Osho Rajneesh, das ich sehr empfehlen kann:
"Tantra - die höchste Einsicht" Zu bestellen ist es beim Oshoverlag
über:
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