Mahāmudrā in India and Tibet

Book Description

Discover the profound meditation tradition that has shaped Tibetan Buddhism for centuries through this comprehensive scholarly exploration of Mahāmudrā, known as "the great seal." This illuminating collection brings together leading European and North American researchers to trace the remarkable journey of one of Tibet's most influential spiritual practices from its origins in ancient India to its sophisticated development across various Tibetan lineages.

The volume reveals how this transformative meditation approach evolved through different Buddhist schools and masters, examining its presence in foundational texts like the Mahāyāna Samādhirājasūtra and the Indian tantric Seven Siddhi Texts. Readers will encounter the teachings as they developed through pivotal figures including Mar pa's lineage, the influential Karma pa masters, and the scholarly Dge lugs tradition of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Through careful analysis of historical manuscripts, including rare Dunhuang texts and specialized literature from the 'Bri gung tradition, the contributors illuminate how Mahāmudrā's essential insights were preserved, interpreted, and transmitted across cultures and centuries. This scholarly yet accessible work offers practitioners and students of Buddhism a deeper understanding of how ancient wisdom traditions adapt while maintaining their transformative power.

For those seeking to understand the roots of Tibetan meditation practices or exploring the intersection of Indian and Tibetan spiritual thought, this collection provides invaluable insights into one of Buddhism's most enduring contemplative traditions.