Teachings of Tibetan Yoga

An Introduction to the Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Exercises of the Tibetan Religion [Illustrated Edition]

Garma C. C. Chang

• Publisher: Normanby Press
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781787202153
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Indian & South Asian History
• Index: History

The author-translator of this book was born in China of aristocratic parentage some fifty years ago. In early youth he became the disciple of a Buddhist Guru in a part of China near Tibet. His Guru sent him to Tibet to further his training. After eight years in Tibetan monasteries, six of them under one Guru, he went to school in the West to study animal husbandry and bring his knowledge hack to Tibet. The Communist victory in China and the Communist invasion of Tibet cut him off from returning. His devotion to Tibetan Buddhism is now expressed by translating into English its hitherto unknown teachings.This Book is an extremely concentrated introduction to the mental, physical, and spiritual exercises of Tibetan Buddhism, emphasizing the practice of Yoga exercises. The key to its understanding is the learning of Dumo—the generating of internal heat in one's body.Dumo's special meaning for Tibetan Yoga flows from the profoundly anti-ascetic and anti-pessimistic doctrine of Tantric Buddhism. The author means precisely what he says when he explains that opposites are also inseparable unities and that the best example of this is that the human body-mind can be made into the body of Buddha. Sexual bliss can become divine bliss.This work will both introduce the reader to the tranquility of yoga and, at the same time, lead him to explorations in the field of erotic mysticism.Richly illustrated throughout.

PART I—THE TEACHING OF MAHAMUDRA

THE SONG OF MAHAMUDRA{5} 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 nought.

Without making an effort,

But remaining loose and natural,

One can break the yoke

Thus gaining Liberation.

If one sees nought 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 kalpas

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 nought with the body but relax,

Shut firm the mouth and silent remain,

Empty your mind and think of nought.

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 nought.

Thus practicing, in time you will reach Buddhahood.

The practice of Mantra and Paramita,

Instruction 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.

He who keeps Tantric Precepts

Yet discriminates, betrays

The spirit of Samaya.{6}

Cease all activity, abandon

All desire, let thoughts rise and fall

As they will like the ocean waves.

He who never harms the Non-abiding

Nor the Principle 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 his 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 Buddhas;

He who treads that Path

Reaches Buddhahood.

Transient is this world;

Like phantoms and dreams,

Substance it has none.

Renounce it and forsake 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 Maham...