Mahamudra, or the ‘Great Gesture’, is a form of meditative practice that is central to the teachings of the Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Meeting weekly, each session is typically organized into two parts, a period of instruction and discussion, followed by meditative practice.
Mahamudra, or the ‘Great Gesture’, is a form of meditative practice that is central to the teachings of the Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism. This partiycular approach first appeared amongst the Indian Buddhist siddhas during the eighth century and its origin and transmission is attributed to two of the most famous of yogis, Saraha and Maitripa.
The Mahamudra method they developed is highly suited to modern urbanized life. The great siddhas of medieval Buddhist India were usually lay men and women with families and working for a living. Yet, so powerful were the methods that they developed, these were later merged within formal monastic practices. So, no matter what we are doing, no matter where we are, it is always possible to integrate the ‘right way’ of viewing life into our daily activities.
The basis of Mahamudra is simple to understand. As living creatures, we are all born with the innate capacity to become awakened and liberated. We lack nothing and there is no ‘something’ outside of our own minds that needs to be chased after. However, as we become so preoccupied with other matters in life the fundamental clarity of mind that is the actual freedom we seek appears to be lost, like a precious jewel dropped and trodden in mud. Fortunately it is only concealed,
In describing the Mahamudra method, the awakened basis of mind is often compared to the deep blue sky; it is always there, even when there are storms raging, it simply becomes obscured. The ‘right practice’ then, enables this clarity and fundamental spaciousness to be approached and recognized for what it is and allowed to freely penetrate through every moment of our lives
Meeting weekly, each session is typically organized into two parts, a period of instruction and discussion, followed by meditative practice.
Established Buddhist practitioners from all traditions are most welcome to join the group along with those who are completely new to the teachings of the Buddha.
