The Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the freedom that comes from perceiving the emptiness of all phenomena—teachings known collectively by the name Mahamudra—are presented here with remarkable clarity through commentary on a twelfth-century text. The text is "Gampopa's Great Teachings to the Assembly," by Gampopa, the foremost disciple of the legendary figure Milarepa and founder of Tibetan Buddhism's Kagyu school. The commentary is by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, a contemporary teacher of deep learning and profound practice with a remarkable gift for presenting these traditional teachings in a way that is accessible to Western hearts and minds.
Gampopa in his teaching combined the general Mahayana teachings he received from the Kadampa tradition of Atisha with the quintessential Vajrayana teachings, which he received from his teacher, Milarepa. These became the basis of the Kagyu lineage teachings that he founded. This particular text, which includes both Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings, is representative of the classic teachings of the Kagyu tradition in general.
"I am pleased that Ringu Tulku has chosen to share in Gampopa’s spirit of offering the Dharma, in publishing this translation and commentary on Gampopa’s Great Community Talks. I am confident that the coming together of these two—root text and commentary, Gampopa and Ringu Tulku—will be a source of goodness in the world."—Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Seventeenth Karmapa
"Pithy and to the point, Gampopa’s heart advice to his assembly captures in poetic fashion the importance of seeing the mind as it is, recognizing pitfalls along the path, visualizing the tantric deity, and listening to the dharma. Much of his advice is directed toward experienced meditators in retreat, and though Gampopa’s verses on the intricacies of meditation are concentrated, Ringu Tulka adds water with his stories and commentary, making these teachings vibrant and refreshing for practitioners of Mahamudra."—Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly
The Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the freedom that comes from perceiving the emptiness of all phenomena—teachings known collectively by the name Mahamudra—are presented here with remarkable clarity through commentary on a twelfth-century text. The text is "Gampopa's Great Teachings to the Assembly," by Gampopa, the foremost disciple of the legendary figure Milarepa and founder of Tibetan Buddhism's Kagyu school. The commentary is by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, a contemporary teacher of deep learning and profound practice with a remarkable gift for presenting these traditional teachings in a way that is accessible to Western hearts and minds.
Gampopa in his teaching combined the general Mahayana teachings he received from the Kadampa tradition of Atisha with the quintessential Vajrayana teachings, which he received from his teacher, Milarepa. These became the basis of the Kagyu lineage teachings that he founded. This particular text, which includes both Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings, is representative of the classic teachings of the Kagyu tradition in general.
Praise
"I am pleased that Ringu Tulku has chosen to share in Gampopa’s spirit of offering the Dharma, in publishing this translation and commentary on Gampopa’s Great Community Talks. I am confident that the coming together of these two—root text and commentary, Gampopa and Ringu Tulku—will be a source of goodness in the world."—Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Seventeenth Karmapa
"Pithy and to the point, Gampopa’s heart advice to his assembly captures in poetic fashion the importance of seeing the mind as it is, recognizing pitfalls along the path, visualizing the tantric deity, and listening to the dharma. Much of his advice is directed toward experienced meditators in retreat, and though Gampopa’s verses on the intricacies of meditation are concentrated, Ringu Tulka adds water with his stories and commentary, making these teachings vibrant and refreshing for practitioners of Mahamudra."—Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly
