No Effort - Mahamudra Meditation and Buddhist Sound Healing

In this article we examine the Mahamudra prayerthe Teaching".
of Tilopa and its relvance to astro-yogicEven the ignorant who understand not
purification through buddhist sound healing. Tilopa isMahamudra,and fools who are lost for a time in
addressing his student Naropa and giving a pithSamsara,can be saved if they but rely on a holy
instruction on the Buddhist meditation known asLord (guru).
Mahamudra. My commentary follows Tilopa'sThrough grace (adhisthana) they may be sure of
writing in quotes.deliverance."
"Homage to the Vajra Dakini!The beauty of Tibetan Buddhism is that the
Mahamudra is beyond all words and concepts.monasteries have been enlightenment machines,
But for your sake, O Naropa, my most devotedburning away karmic impurities. By practicing
disciple,who is diligent in ascetic practice andBuddhist sound healing, we are blessed by our
exertion,this shall be said:connection to the one thousand years of
Space lacks any locality at all.unbroken lineage. The sounds we create with
Likewise, Mahamudra rests on naught.mantra connect us with the Gurus' wisdom and
Thus, without making effort, abide in the purecompassion. Surrendering to the power of sound
primordial state,and the fetters that bind you willbecomes grace in action, compassion in action.
simply drop away.""Know all the phenomena of Samsara as
The wonderful thing about sound healing is that itworthless;just the cause of attachment and
requires little or no effort on the part of theaversion.
recipient. The idea is to use the fruit of years ofAll created phenomena are without real
meditation practice on the part of the soundsubstance,therefore seek instead the nature of
healer to impart benefit to the listener. Thethe Ultimate.
relaxation experienced can be likened to anNon-duality is the King of Views.
enhanced meditation experience very much likeResting the mind without flux is the King of
Mahamudra. There is no reference point whenMeditations.
one is immersed in sound, just as "Space lacksNot choosing this or that is the King of Conduct.
any locality at all. . ."When there is neither hope nor fear, that is the
"Just as when looking into the open sky,fixedKing of Results.
concepts of centre and circumference dissolve,Once you let go of all objects-of-perception,the
So, if with mind one perceives the mind, mentaltrue nature of the mind shines forth.
activity ceases; then is it, that Enlightened-mind isNot trying to meditate is the supreme path of the
realized.Buddha.
Clouds that arise and take form in the sky,passBy the meditation of non-meditation Enlightenment
away quite automatically according to natural law.is won.
Likewise, the flow of concepts arising in theAlas! Impermanent is this world.
mind,naturally pass away when mind perceivesIt is like a mirage or a dream.
mind."Even the illusion of its existenceis not something
Listening to intentional music, music that is createdthat exists.
to benefit the listener by meditation adepts canTherefore, abandon worldly pre-occupations, caste
create the experience for the listener where alland position,and meditate alone in forest,
thoughts dissolve, and in a moment the listenermountains and solitary places.
may have the experience of their mind perceivingAbide without seeking; loosely remaining in the
its own true nature.natural state.
"Space has neither shape nor colour;it isBy attaining non-attainment, quickly shalt thou
changeless, and not tinged by either white orreach the state of Mahamudra.
black.If you sever the main root of a living tree,then all
Likewise, mind-in-itself has neither form northe many branches wither and die at once.
colour,nor can it be stained by virtue or vice.Cut through (kathinaccheda) the very root of
The burning stellar radiance of the suncan not beconsciousness,and all mental projections will
covered by the eternal darkness of space.immediately cease.
Likewise the luminous essence of mindcan not beThe darkness of long ages is dispelledinstantly by
shrouded by Samsara's endless duration."the lighting of a single lamp.
The purity of healing sound has the same qualities.One moment's experience of the mind of Clear
Sound is actually light given form, vibration thatLightimmediately rends the veil of ignorance for
for some listeners actually become fleeting visionsever.
of colors. This is an insight into the mystery ofAha! That which pertains to consciousness is
Buddhist sound healing. Though one may closeunable to perceive transcendental Gnosis (jnana).
one's eyes, through the mysterious power ofThat which pertains to created phenomena is
intentional sound, hidden worlds once imperceptibleunable to perceive the uncreate Reality.
are revealed.If you would attain the transcendent, beyond
"Though we say that space is empty,the actualconsciousness and creation;then look directly into
nature of this vacuity defies description.one's own mind, until awareness is revealed in its
Though we say that mind is Clear Light,it isbare nakedness.
actually beyond all words and concepts.Let the polluted pool of mental activity clear itself.
In that mind is like space, it encompasses all.Merely watch the flow, just as it is.
Therefore cease with bodily movement and sitDo not engage with appearances as they arise,for
relaxed;close your mouth and simply remain inMahamudra is beyond acceptance and rejection.
silence;empty your mind and leap beyond theSince the fundamental ground (alaya) is unborn,it
phenomenal!can neither be obscured nor defiled.
Let the body rest at ease, insubstantial like aJust rest in the unborn state, neither meditating
hollow bamboo.nor not-meditating, letting appearances resolve
Let the mind rest in itself, spacious andback into Ultimate Reality (dharmata).
un-preoccupied with thought.In being free of the extremes, one attains the
When the mind is not possessed by aims, that isKing of Views.
Mahamudra.Entering the vast and deep, one attains the King
When this is realized, that is Great Enlightenment!"of Meditations.
Likewise, when one completely immerses oneselfNot making an effort, one attains the King of
in sound, with an intention to free one's mindConduct.
from discursive thoughts, the benefits areIn non-seeking awareness, one attains the King of
enlightening. The blessed relief one experiences isResults.
amazing in that it requires no effort. When oneAt first the yogi feels his mind to be turbulent,like
allows themselves to be relaxed, applying nothe upper course of a rushing mountain torrent.
effort, simply resting in the subtle qualities ofThen it becomes smooth like the broad river
sound, they allow themselves to rest at ease,Ganges.
mind resting in itself. Concentration on soundIn the end it is like entering the ocean, a child
allows this state to be realized with no effort.returning to the mother.
"Adherents of shamanic ritual and of theOne who wishes to attain this level of
Mahayana,of the Vinaya and Sutra, and themeditationshould first begin by practicing
followers of the Religions,with all their variousremembrance of the breath.
scholastic theologies and devotions,have no ideaThrough control of the gaze and such
how marvelous is the innate Mahamudra.exercises,the mind will be disciplined until it abides
For them, the light is hidden by the very act ofin its own state.
seeking to know it."Now concerning the practice of Karmamudra,the
No effort is important here. The very act ofunion of Wisdom (prajna) and Means (upaya):draw
seeking, of attempting to apprehend mind, blocksdown and blend, then raise it up to the source.
one from actually experiencing it. The beauty ofFinally cause it to saturate the entire body.
astro-yogic purification through Buddhist soundIf this is performed free of lust, then
healing is that it requires no effort. As theBliss-Emptiness is attained.
Christian mystic Meister Eckhardt wrote, "WhenGlowing inwardly, blessed with renewed vigour and
thought is gone, God gets in."vitality,thy life-power shall expand like the waxing
"As to the keeping of covenant-vows (samaya),moon.
they are brokenby the very act of trying toRadiant and healthy, with the composure of a
adhere to them.lion,thou shalt attain Accomplishment (siddhi), both
Cease with rules and ritual, abandon volition, straymundane and supreme.
not from the Ultimate, and then a trueColophon
Precept-keeper will you be, a lamp illuminating theBy virtue of entering this practice, may all
darkness.obstacles to the realization of Mahamudra dissolve
Not caught up in perceptions, nor caught inaway.
desire,seeking nothing, abiding in the self alone,May the Clear Light of Mahamudra dawn in the
one simply letsconsciousness be, like a wave inminds of the practitioners.
the Great Ocean."May this Pith Instruction on Mahamudra come to
By freeing oneself from discursive thoughts,abide in the hearts of those disciples fortunate to
allowing the sound to be the focus of one'sconnect with it.
attention, for a few blissful moments ourThis pith-instruction on Mahamudra in 28 Verses
consciousness is like a wave in the Great Oceanwas given by Sri Tilopa to Mahapandita Nadapada
of Mind.on the banks of the Ganges River. It was
"If you slip not into conation, if you hold to neithertranslated into Tibetan from the Sanskrit by
this nor that,the real meaning behind all theMarpa Cho-kyi-lodro, and is now presented in
Scriptures, will make itself clear.English. The origial text may be found in the Do.ha.
Just abiding, one is released from the prison ofmdzod. brgyad. ces.bya.ba. phyag. rgya. chen. po'i.
Samsara.man.ngag. gsal.bar. ston.pa'i. gzhung., printed at the
Just abiding, all one's karmic impurities are burnedRumtek monastery of His Holiness the Gyalwa
away.Karmapa, in Sikkhim.
It is then that you shall be known as a "Lamp of