The Song of Mahamudra

 - 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,

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 think of nought.

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.

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 Mahamudra you will win

And attain the Non-attainment.

 

Cut the root of a tree

And the leaves will wither;

Cut the root of your mind

And samsara falls.

 

The light of any lamp

Dispels in a moment

The darkness of long kalpas;

The strong light of the mind

In but a flash will burn

The veil of ignorance.

 

Whoever clings to mind sees not

The truth of what's Beyond the mind.

Whoever stives to practice Dharma

Finds not the truth of Beyond-practice.

To know what is Beyond both mind and practice,

One should cut cleanly through the root of mind

And stare naked. One should thus break away

From all distinctions and remain at ease.

 

One should not give or take

But remain natural,

For Mahamudra is beyond

All acceptance and rejection.

Since the Alaya is not born,

No one can obstruct or soil it;

Staying in the "Unborn" realm

All appearance will dissolve

Into the Dharmata, all self-will

And pride will vanish into nought.

 

The supreme Understanding transcends

All this and that. The supreme Action

Embraces great resourcefulness

Without attachment. The supreme

Accomplishment is to realize

Immanence without hope.

 

At first a yogi feels his mind

Is tumbling like a waterfall;

In mid-course, like the Ganges

It flows on slow and gentle;

In the end, it is a great

Vast ocean, where the Lights

Of Son and Mother merge in one.