Courses / Fall 2015 Stage of Generation, Shamatha, Vipashyana and Mahamudra /

10 Part 1 of the First Uncommon Preliminary Practice: Guru Yoga

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Fall 2015 Stage of Generation

B. Alan Wallace
30 Jul 2015 – 24 Sep 2015
Araluen Retreat Center, Queensland, Australia

This eight-week retreat will focus on stage of generation, shamatha, vipashyana and mahamudra.

Participants in this retreat should have a sound understanding of the Sutrayana teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, and have experience in the practices of shamatha, the four applications of mindfulness, and the four immeasurables.

Please read the text, A Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga, by the great 17th-century master Karma Chagmé (from the chapter “The Stage of Generation” up through “Mahamudra”). The book can be purchased from SBI here.

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B. Alan Wallace, 05 Aug 2015

Before the meditation Alan provides guidance on the mindfulness of breathing based on its natural rhythm. The central purpose of many of the advanced tantric practices is to bring the subtle energies into the central channel, to get our prana system into shape and achieve the mind of clear light. This is difficult within modernity due to our addiction to stimulation. The effortless route to untie the knots of the chakras is through mindfulness of breathing. The key to unblocking is to focus on the end the outbreath by being very still, silent and attentive at the very end point of exhalation. Alan suggests that we let the body breathe unimpeded in its natural rhythm.

Alan introduces the first uncommon preliminary by identifying two key elements of the Vajrayana. The first is some insight and understanding of emptiness of both self and phenomena. The second is an intuitive affirmation of the Dharmakaya, that the ground-state of our awareness is buddha nature. This has to be a “heart” understanding as there is no empirical evidence. Without these two elements it is not possible to practice the most secret level of guru yoga, seeing the guru as the Buddha. The true refuge is the Dharmakaya and guru yoga helps with this realisation. If this refuge doesn’t exist in our minds then it is better not to practice guru yoga. Reverence for the Buddha and teachings can still be achieved in degrees from seeing a teacher or guru as a spiritual friend or as an emissary (as in the Sutrayana). However, seeing the guru as a conduit and as the Buddha is true guru yoga and this requires the two elements. Blessing from the Dharmakaya will come from this.

Silent Meditation begins at 38:55 and is not recorded.

Course notes, other episodes and resources for this retreat are available here

The text for this retreat can be purchased via the SBI Store.

Finally, Please contribute to help us afford the audio equipment we rent to make these, and future podcasts freely available.

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