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Ordering Mahamudra: The Ocean of Definitive Meaning
 Mahamudra:
The Ocean of Definitive Meaning, by the Ninth Gyalwang Karmapa,
is now open to individual purchase by qualified practitioners. Until
now, this text has been sold only to attendees at specific Mahamudra
programs at the explicit invitation of Kagyü lineage teachers.
Shipment
Cycle System introduced. Individuals
purchasing the text may have experienced delays due to the time
required for evaluating applications and lack of fulfillment resources
at Nitartha. We have responded to these concerns by implementing
a shipment cycle system to provide applicants with more certainty
about the ordering process. Almost all delays in responding to
a particular application are due to general shipment cycle delays,
and are not keyed to any individual application.
Explanation
of the purchase restrictions
Procedures
for sale of the book to individuals
Application
to purchase
Explanation
of the purchase restrictions
Mahamudra:
The Ocean of Definitive Meaning was translated and printed in
close consultation with Kagyü lineage teachers, who have provided
directions to Nitartha international about limiting distribution
of the book to those who have fulfilled certain prerequisite practices.
Since the publication of the text, we have been working with different
teachers to make distribution of the text as beneficial as possible
within the teaching circumstances traditionally required for study
and practice of the text.
It
has been decided to allow purchase of the text in three circumstances:
- Fulfillment
of the traditional prerequisites for practice and study of the
specific mahamudra path set forth by the text;
- Fulfillment
of parallel prerequisites for practice and study of dharma which
makes study of the text beneficial to the student's path, even
if the traditional prerequisites have not been fulfilled;
- Fullfillment
of prerequisites for practice and study of specific portions of
the text that are not focused on the most restricted shamatha
and vipashyana sections; practitioners who purchase in circumstances
where they are qualified only to read certain portions of the
text are strongly recommended to work with the text under the
instructions and guidance of the lineage master, teacher, guru
or spiritual friend guiding their practice.
Circumstance
1) On the title page of the book is the following notice:
NOTICE
OF RESTRICTION
At
the request of Khenchen Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and in consultation
with the masters of the Kagyü lineage, Mahamudra: The Ocean
of Definitive Meaning is restricted to those who have received
the fourfold pointing-out instructions (pointing out the nature
of mind on the basis of appearances) as presented by Wangchuk Dorje
in his three texts on mahamudra. It is also strongly recommended
that students first receive the reading transmission (lung) and
study the text systematically under the guidance of a qualified
guru. As a genuine practitioner, please respect this.
“May
the glorious wisdom protector Bernakchen and consort, with their
retinues, be the guardians of these teachings. If those who have
no faith, those who have no connection, or those who, on the basis
of the words [of the text] alone, claim to have developed [experiences]
in their mind-stream and thus deceive themselves and others by
lying about their attainments, [if such as these] see or spread
[these teachings], may [the protectors] severely punish them.
“For
those who practice properly and have faith, may [the protectors]
assist them, so that simply by seeing [these teachings], their
experiences and realizations will increase and they will attain
the siddhi of Vajradhara in this very lifetime, with this very
body.”
The
Ninth Gyalwang Karmapa
Wangchuk Dorje
In addition
to this, some teachers are able to confer specific book empowerments
authorizing study and practice of the text.
Please
note
that the "fourfold pointing-out
instructions (pointing out the nature of mind on the basis of appearances)"
is a quite specific transmission that is typically given only in
connection with practice instructions on the text itself. Although
a number of lineage masters have conferred this transmission, it
is not a "general" mahamudra transmission and is rather
specific to Wangchuk Dorje's tradition. Accordingly, to answer "yes"
to the application question as to whether you have had this transmission,
you should be able to identify the circumstances under which it
took place.
2)
Although the above requirements provide the most beneficial circumstances
for reading and practicing the teachings in Mahamudra: The Ocean
of Definitive Meaning, certain teachers have authorized the
purchase of the book without having fulfilled the above requirements,
if fulfillment of certain parallel prerequisites can be demonstrated.
Fulfillment or such parallel prerequisites are determined by individual
teachers. One of the most important such requirements is the completion
of ngondro.
3)
Moreover, the restrictions indicated by the language above applies
only to certain portions of the book, primarily concerned with instructions
about shamatha and vipashyana mediation. The text by the Ninth Karmapa
contains portions which are not subject to such restrictions, such
as those discussing the Preliminaries. Thus, certain teachers allow
purchase of the text in order to allow students to read portions
of the book which are less restricted.
Procedures
for Sale of the Book
After
due consideration, we have determined that the fairest way to address
all concerns about restrictions on sales of the text is to provide
a procedure for individuals to certify that they have fulfilled
certain practice prerequisites set forth by a number of teachers
in the lineage. We will evaluate those seeking to purchase the text
against the purchase restrictions set forth by lineage teachers
and sell the text to qualified buyers.
- To
administer this process, we ask that potential purchasers complete
an Application to Purchase
form.
- Based
on those answers and guidance from the lineage teachers with whom
we are working, Nitartha international will notify you
whether the book is available for your purchase.
- If
you qualify for purchasing the book, you will be directed to instructions
for purchasing the book, either online through our bookstore or
via mail order.
Click
here to proceed to the Application
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