The concise and pithy Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, is one of the most famous Mahamudra instructions in the Karma Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

In this weekend workshop, Mitra Karl Brunnhölzl guides us through the view, meditation, and fruition of Mahamudra as they are presented in this text, based on commentaries by the Eighth Situ Rinpoche, the current Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, and Khenchen Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. All three masters connect Mahamudra with the teachings on buddha nature and the Shentong approach of Great Madhyamaka.

Mita Karl explores the Karmapa’s profound verses through lecture, discussion, and short meditation sessions on the key points of Mahamudra shamatha and vipashyana. The practices of Mahamudra shamatha and vipashyana provide us with tools to directly click in to the spontaneously present clarity and vast openness of our own Buddha mind. In Mahamudra shamatha, we familiarize ourselves with this through resting our mind in its natural state, which is open, spacious, and relaxed, yet very vibrant. In Mahamudra vipashyana, we take a closer look at the mind when it rests in such a way and also when it starts moving and experiences external and internal objects. Five talks, four of which are over two hours long.