Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators

Thrangu Rinpoche has published commentaries on a number of the finest Mahamudra (MM) works including the 9th Karmapa's "Ocean of Definitive [& Ultimate] Meaning" & "Pointing Out the Dharmakaya" (POD) & this one based on talks he gave on Dakpo [or Takpo] Tashi Namgyal's "Clarifying the Natural State" (CNS) which, unlike the others, is also available in translation. Namgyal's other famed text, "Moonbeams of Mahamudra" is available in English: "MM: The Quintessence of Mind & Meditation." The 9th Karmapa's 3rd text is also available: "Mahamudra: Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance." Along with the 3rd Karmapa's MM Prayer (see Tai Situ's book on this), these are the best MM primary texts available in English translation/commentary. Jamgön Kongtrül (p. 164). said POD & CNS were the most practical & easiest to apply. Thrangu's commentaries tend to be rather loose & not stanza-by-stanza. He attempts to reveal the work's essence & elaborate on difficult points. In this book, he gives the best exposition I've read on the relation between Mind-Only and Madhyamaka/MM views-- p. 72: "The Mind-Only School as well as Vajrayana, teaches that all external perceptions are mind." He also provides information on p. 142: "The 2nd type is the `skipping-the-grades type" (in addition to the instantaneous & gradual types of students) & p. 158: innate vs. imputed emotions. He elucidates Namgyal's expositions on mingling meditation & post-meditation [I'd call it meta-meditation], the 4 MM yogas compared with the 10 bhumis & 5 paths. While the mapping seems a bit contrived to me, these are, after all, simply models. Models are a type of analogy & no analogy is perfect. I do wish translators would avoid negative terms-i.e. "impermanent" rather than "transient" which I find more meaningful. He also makes some controversial, pithy statements which succinctly summarize the text: p. 70: "We have wavelike thoughts." [like an EEG]p. 73: "Actually the mind and the mental image are of one identity, and cannot be separated."p. 78: "The word `emptiness' is used expediently to dispel the tendency to cling to a concrete nature in phenomena."pp. 79-80: `We train in innate mind essence as Dharmakaya and innate perception as the light of Dharmakaya...One also trains in seeing that innate thoughts are the expression of Dharmakaya."p. 100: "Everything is meditation training when you have naturally aware presence of mind, and nothing is meditation when you are distracted."In summary, it's a fine book-especially if you haven't yet read the original in translation. If you have, it's still a nice refresher-and repetition can be valuable. In any case, it's beneficial to read the original too.

This book will help you 'recognize' your experience, especially, if you had it still at the preliminary stage. Now, as soon as one says 'your experience' one is strengthening "I" who experienced it (which in fact needs to be forgotten or transcended or weakend), however, keeping this subtlety aside Rinpoche has very clearly demonstrated what one needs to do and how. It also allows you with a point of entry (every time you want to meditate) and allows you to continue with your meditation.This is a beautiful and also a practical book.

Fantastic book for new meditators as well as those that have been practicing for years. Wish I this had been available when I frist started meditating. I highly recommend this and all books by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. He writes in a clear and personable manner without losing Buddha's teachings.

This small book is a gem of practical step-by-step instruction - providing careful and heartfelt guidancefor both the beginning meditator and the more experienced one.

Perfect if you are studying Mahamudra

Great

VALUABLE BOOKAn incredible text for mid-level practitioners . . . Succinct yet full of treasure, to be read and pondered many times.

A very good service and book. Thank you

this is a book you can read over and over again and get different meanings and information from, every time you read it, you get something else from ita wonderful key to the subconscious mind... educational in matters of lifes pathas well as profound dharma teachings..........

Seriously powerful teachings for spiritual liberation. Beats anything contemporary by a mile. It is a shame that Mahamudra is not better known in the West, yet.

Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators.Crystal Clear by the learned and realized Tibetan Master Thrangu Rinpoche, is a companion volume to the classic meditation manual - Clarifying the Natural State. In his straightforward and lucid style Rinpoche gives us an indispensable guidebook for insight practice (vipashyana).For people who want more than just theory, this is a handbook that begins with watching the breath and leads practitioners through stages of realization, all the way to complete enlightenment.

Schöne und eminent praktische Ausgabe von Khenchen Thrangu Ripoche's Belehrungen aus den späten 90er-Jahren zum Stamm-Text von Dakpo Tashi Namgyals Mahamudra-Klassiker aus dem 16Jh. ("Claryfing the Natural State"). Dankenswerterweise ist auch "Crystal Clear" von Erik P. Kunzang übersetzt und von Michael Tweed editiert. Ein exzellenter Begleitband zum Stamm-Text.

My teacher is a student of Thrangu Rinpoche and recommends this book. Taking my time with it ... also see Clarifying the Natural state