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Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:37 pm
by JohnRammy
conebeckham wrote: I trust that it is apparent that both Madhyamaka, and Tathagatagarbha, are at least conceptually-relevant, in reference to these quotes, and especially to the one above, from "The Summary of Maitripa's Mahamudra." It should be apparent to those with discernment that Gampopa did not "add Tathagathagarbha" features to Mahamudra anew.....but that the heritage of the transmission includes both an understanding of Sunyata of the Conditioned, from the Madhyamaka, as well as the ineffable, inconceivable, Primordial Wisdom beyond Extremes, which is the subject of the Tathagatagarbha teachings.
No, all your quotes are based on the luminous nature of the mind etc. found in the tantras.

The dohas are based on the tantras.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:56 pm
by Karma Dorje
conebeckham wrote: Actually, the Six Yogas aren't merely a "list," they're a systematic presentation. Quite novel, in many ways. Also I am not certain that Mila or Marpa didn't teach the "non-tantric" Mahamudra --though I agree Gampopa popularized and systematized it.
This was of course begging the question of whether it was Marpa who codified them in this way. Given the Six Yogas of Niguma and Sukhasiddhi it seems highly unlikely. Such a presentation seems to be widespread.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:57 pm
by conebeckham
JohnRammy, you're just wrong--Luminous Mind is mentioned in the Suttas and Nikayas, and in the Tathagatabarbha Sutras like Surangama Sutra and Lankavatara Sutra...as well as is Maitreya/Asanga Shastras, etc. So, merely from the POV of it being "found" outside the Tantras and Dohas, you're wrong.

As Karma Dorje said earlier:
Of course there is great identity between the tathagathagarbha sutras, the tantras and the dohas of mahamudra: they describe the same underlying reality of luminous emptiness. We need not assume that these are all of a single piece historically.
I have granted that "Mahamudra" as a term is found in the Tantras (and in the Dohas, which are mainly tantric in nature), and not in the Sutras. But "Luminous Mind" and it's many synonyms is found in many places. You argued that Mikyo Dorje says the "luminous Mind" as found in Tathagatagarbha doctrine, and the Sutras in general, is different from this mind in the Tantras. So...if you are arguing that the "Luminous Nature of Mind" as found in Non-Tantric Material is different, essentially, than that found in the Dohas and Tantras, would you explain exactly in what way?

To quote from your currently favorite book, "The Center of the Sunlit Sky," p.62:
"In the sutras, the Tantric meaning is taught implicitly in a hidden manner, but the Sutric path does not operate with Buddha nature as it is taught in the Tantras."

The question, then, is what is the difference between Buddha Nature as taught in the Sutras, and as taught in the Tantras. Another question might be: is that which is taught implicitly, in a hidden manner, nonetheless "existent" there?

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:47 pm
by Tom
conebeckham wrote:JohnRammy, you're just wrong--Luminous Mind is mentioned in the Suttas and Nikayas, and in the Tathagatabarbha Sutras like Surangama Sutra and Lankavatara Sutra...as well as is Maitreya/Asanga Shastras, etc. So, merely from the POV of it being "found" outside the Tantras and Dohas, you're wrong.

As Karma Dorje said earlier:
Of course there is great identity between the tathagathagarbha sutras, the tantras and the dohas of mahamudra: they describe the same underlying reality of luminous emptiness. We need not assume that these are all of a single piece historically.
I have granted that "Mahamudra" as a term is found in the Tantras (and in the Dohas, which are mainly tantric in nature), and not in the Sutras. But "Luminous Mind" and it's many synonyms is found in many places. You argued that Mikyo Dorje says the "luminous Mind" as found in Tathagatagarbha doctrine, and the Sutras in general, is different from this mind in the Tantras. So...if you are arguing that the "Luminous Nature of Mind" as found in Non-Tantric Material is different, essentially, than that found in the Dohas and Tantras, would you explain exactly in what way?

To quote from your currently favorite book, "The Center of the Sunlit Sky," p.62:
"In the sutras, the Tantric meaning is taught implicitly in a hidden manner, but the Sutric path does not operate with Buddha nature as it is taught in the Tantras."

The question, then, is what is the difference between Buddha Nature as taught in the Sutras, and as taught in the Tantras. Another question might be: is that which is taught implicitly, in a hidden manner, nonetheless "existent" there?
Well said!

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:57 am
by conebeckham
Not to distract you from my question, JohnRammy, but you may want to have a look at this....
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19896966/Can- ... -Justified" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And also another one of Brunnholzl's books, Straight from the Heart, which includes some great info about Maitripa and his "blending of Sutra and Tantra"--pretty clear it happened before Gampopa's time.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:56 pm
by floating_abu
Jinzang wrote:I hate to drag my teacher into my controversy, but as Lama Phurbu Tashi put it once, "If mahamudra is understood, all of Tibetan Buddhism makes sense. If it's not understood, none of it makes sense."
That could also be said of Zen (exchanging a few words for other words of course) :popcorn:

Sorry, :focus:

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:07 pm
by conebeckham
I'm not holding my breath for any further constructive discussion on the topic....but it is an interesting one.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tantra?

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:12 pm
by the_eleven
Late to the party, but is there another starting point for this discussion besides the page 1 comment by JohnRammy on Nov 25, 2012 at 9:57 am?

It would be helpful to understand the context of the original question.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tant

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:54 pm
by Yensen
conebeckham wrote:the Dohas

The dohas by definition are tantric. So citing them makes zero sense. :shrug:

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tant

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:06 pm
by conebeckham
Yes, Yensen. We all agreed that the Dohas are Tantric, and they are a primary source. I don't think there's any debate about that. The debate really boils down to whether or not there's evidence or support for Mahamudra and Dzogchen in the sutras.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tant

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:19 am
by Heruka
JohnRammy wrote:
Yes, this being a late invention of Gampopa.
you compare yourself greater than atishas monastic student as gampopa was, to know his intentions as frivilous in regards to teaching the buddhas dharma?
that you know better.....


to undermine kagyu teachings....
respectfully...



who the hell are you to make such blagging remarks?

:alien:

tell me what you know better,,,,,and we will talk.
otherwise im calling you out.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tant

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:05 am
by Yensen
I got to side with Sakya Pandita.

Gampopa's "sutra Mahamudra" is a contradiction.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tant

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:14 am
by conebeckham
Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion, Yensen....and I respect yours.
Check out Maitripa's tradition, if you care to. But the main thing is to practice. I'm frankly not interested in arguments and debates about the "legitimacy" ot "textual support" of any approach, these days. Others may feel differently.

Re: Mahamudra and Dzogchen: Are they based on Sutra or Tant

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:23 am
by Yudron
conebeckham wrote:Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion, Yensen....and I respect yours.
Check out Maitripa's tradition, if you care to. But the main thing is to practice. I'm frankly not interested in arguments and debates about the "legitimacy" ot "textual support" of any approach, these days. Others may feel differently.
I'm with you on that. The thousand plus year history of Mahamudra and Dzogchen practice is long enough to have entablished its own legitimacy, even if a bunch of Bengali beach bums just made it all up (unlikely).