An introduction to the Mahamudra Program

03/22/2008 - 13:30
03/22/2008 - 16:30

An Introduction to the Mahamudra Program: A path of practice for a whole life.

With Michael Conklin, Dora DeCoursey and Bill Spangle

This session is intended to give an overview of the Mahamudra Program established by Venerable Bokar Rinpoche. The program is based on the idea that in the midst of daily life it is necessary to have a coherent approach that presents the essential elements of practice in a clear and concise progression. This structured path will allow one to fruitfully persevere in Dharma practice throughout an entire life. At all levels of the program there are commitments to meditation practice which require between one and two hours per day.

The first six years focus on becoming familiar with the stages of meditation: Calm Abiding (Zhinay), Insight (Lhaktong) and Mahmudra (the union of Calm Abiding and Insight). During this time practitioners receive instruction in the preliminary practices (Ngondro), the cultivation of Bodhicitta and Chenrezig meditation. At a later point, those who wish may engage in a yidam practice and progress gradually through its outer, inner and secret stages, maintaining this practice for the rest of this life.

In this session we will explain how the program of practice fits together and how it unfolds over time.