The Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning

by Khenchen Thrangu, Tashi Namgyal (Editor), Wangchuk Dorje

The Ocean of Definitive Meaning by the Ninth Karmapa (1555-1603) is the most in-depth and famed text on Mahamudra ever written and is of vital importance in the living Kagyu tradition. It offers a detailed, uniquely comprehensive presentation of instructions on both the view and the practice. In the teachings contained in this book, Thrangu Rinpoche has distilled the essence of the Ninth Karmapa's massive text into manageable proportions and has given pointed guidance on the implementation of its instructions. According to Thrangu Rinpoche, Mahamudra practice is especially appropriate for Westerners and contemporary practitioners because it can be realized in the context of virtually any lifestyle. Mahamudra dissolves the artificial separation between phenomena and emptiness, revealing the radiant display of mind. The availability of the translation of this text has traditionally been restricted to advanced students. However, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has kindly consented to the publication of these core teachings on the text, which were transcribed from a wonderful 2001 retreat he led in the mountains of British Columbia for one hundred and forty Western students. His compelling presentation provides teachers and students with a systematic approach to some of the highest practices in the Kagyu tradition. Thrangu Rinpoche's extraordinary wisdom and insight make this new commentary a peerless jewel in the canons of spiritual literature.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

139 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2003

About the author

Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Tulku, Karma Lodrö Lungrik Maway Senge (Tibetan: ཁྲ་འགུ་, Wylie: khra 'gu) is a prominent tulku (reincarnate lama) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

At the age of four he was formally recognized by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa and Eleventh Tai Situpa as the ninth incarnation of the great Thrangu tulku, the abbot of Thrangu Monastery, whose root incarnation was Shüpu Palgyi Sengé, one of the twenty-five disciples of Guru Rinpoche. Forced to flee to India in 1959, he went to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, where the Karmapa had his seat in exile. Thrangu Rinpoche then served as the main teacher of the four principal Karma Kagyü tulkus of that time—the four regents of the Karmapa (Shamar Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Gyaltsab Rinpoche). In 1976 he began to teach in the West and became the abbot of Gampo Abbey—a Buddhist monastery in Nova Scotia, Canada—as well as to take charge of the three-year retreat centre at Samyé Ling in Scotland.

He is also the author of the widely studied The Practice of Tranquility and Insight, a commentary on the eighth chapter of Jamgön Kongtrul's Treasury of Knowledge, on shamatha and vipashyana.

Reviews

[Ishmael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Khenchen Thrangu is, to use a metaphor, 'a master of his craft', somebody who has deeply studied and practiced this path over a lifetime, and who has all of the intricate understanding. He is like a master software engineer, but of Mahamudra.

The clarity of his mindstream comes through throughout the text. I was often impressed by it - how well his thinking fits together, how well and fluidly things are expressed - the man has clearly done something quite extraordinary with his mindstream in order to allow himself to express in such a way. Not only this, but humility and compassion consistently shines through. I've never met this being in person, but I consider him a dear teacher. I'll be reading everything else he's written.

Thank you, Khenchen Thrangu.

[LindaLH]

"You live in illusion and in the appearance of things. There is a reality and you are that reality, but you don't know it. But if you should ever wake up to that reality, you will realize that you are nothing [empty], and being nothing [empty], you are everything. That's all."

[Timothy]

You must have a teacher to fully understand this. I have a few teachers and I don't fully get it, but I love it and will never stop reading it. Thank you Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoce!