The Song of Mahamudra
by Tilopa
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 naught.
Without making an effort, but remaining natural,
One can break the
yoke thus gaining liberation.
If one looks for naught when staring into space;
If with the mind
one then observes the mind;
One destroys distinctions and reaches
Buddhahood.
The clouds that wander through the sky have no roots, no home,
Nor
do the distinctive thoughts floating through the mind.
Once the
Self-mind is seen, Discrimination stops.
In space, shapes and colors form
But neither by black nor white is
space tinged.
From the 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 eons of
Samsara ne'er can hide the Mind's brilliant light.
Though words are spoken to explain the Void, the Void as such can never
be
expressed. Though we say "the Mind is a bright light," it is beyond
all words and
symbols. Although the Mind is void in essence, all things
it embraces and contains.
Do naught with the body but relax;
Shut firm the mouth and silent
remain;
Empty your mind and think of naught.
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 naught.
Thus
practicing, in time you will reach Buddhahood.
The practice of Mantra and Perfections, instructions in the Sutras
and
Precepts, and teaching from the 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.
One who keeps the Tantric Precepts yet discriminates, betrays the vows
of
Awakening,
Cease all activity; abandon all desire; let thoughts
rise and fall as they
will like the ocean waves.
One who never harms
the Non-abiding nor the Principles of non-distinction,
upholds the
Tantric Precepts.
He who abandons craving and clings not 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 Dharma's supreme torch.
Those who
disbelieve it are fools who ever wallow in misery and sorrow.
To strive for liberation one should rely on a Guru. When your mind
receives
the Guru's 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 Kingly View; to conquer distractions is
the
Royal Practice; the Path of No-practice is the Way of the Buddhas.
0ne who
treads that Path reaches Buddhahood.
Transient is this world; like phantoms and dreams,
Substance it has
none. Grasp not the world nor your kin;
Cut the strings of lust and
hatred; 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 root of the tree and the leaves will wither;
cut the root of
your mind and Samsara falls.
The light of any lamp dispels in a moment the darkness of long
eons;
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-practice.
One should cut cleanly through the root of the mind
and stare naked.
One should thus break away from all distinctions and
remain at ease.
One should not give and take but remain natural, for Mahamudra is
beyond all
acceptance and rejection.
Since the consciousness is not
born, no one can obstruct it or soil it;
Staying in the "Unborn" realm
all appearances will dissolve into the
ultimate Dharma.
All
self-will and pride will vanish into naught.
The supreme Understanding
transcends all this and that.
The supreme Action embraces great
resourcefulness without attachment.
The supreme Accomplishment is to
realize immanence without hope.
At first a yogi feels his mind is tumbling like a waterfall;
In
mid-course, like the Ganges, it flows on slow and gentle;
In the end,
it is a great vast ocean,
Where the lights of Child and Mother merge in
one.
From: Teachings of the Buddha, Ed. Jack Kornfield
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