The practice of Mahamudra is done through transmission of few of the texts verbally and also through empowerments and 'reading transmissions'. Before realising the formless practices a practitioner first needs to practise various Tantric practices. These meditative practices of Mahamudra are divided into two approaches that have been described below. Mahamudra Samatha and Vipasyana According to the Buddhist schools of meditation, the two meditative approaches of mahamudra have been divided into Samatha which means tranquillity and Vipasyana that means special insight. Mahamudra Samatha Mahamudra Samatha deals with instructions on different postures and breathing exercises for meditation. It also guides the practitioner with instructions on identifying our subtle mind. The Mahamudra Samatha also preaches about the teachings on how to control a mind that is overwhelmed with various obstacles and thoughts. There are usually two types of Mahamudra Samatha that are taught, samatha with support and samatha without support. Mahamudra Samatha with support engages the utilisation of an item of attention to which the mediator continually returns his attention. One of the main techniques involved in Mahamudra samatha with support is mindfulness of breathing. It helps in calming the mind to prepare it for the stages that follow. For the Kagyupa, in the context of mahamudra, mindfulness of breathing is thought to be the ideal way for the meditator to transition into taking the mind itself as the object of meditation and generating vipasyana on that basis. Mahamudra Samatha without support engages in objectless meditation. Here the practitioner rests the mind without the use of a specific focal point. Mahamudra Vipasyana For Mahamudra Vipasyana, Wangchuck Dorje had given ten separate contemplations that help to unveil the essential mind within; five practices of 'looking at' and five of 'pointing out' the nature of mind. They all presume some level of stillness cultivated by mahamudra shamatha. These elaborate directions for the insight practices make mahamudra exclusive in Tibetan Buddhism. |