Mahamudra: Lama Yeshe’s Teachings on Discovering Your True Nature

In your first lesson, enter the Mahāmudrā teachings of the remarkable and beloved Lama Thubten Yeshe. Discover how meditation can help familiarize your mind with emptiness, the value of devotion and purification, and the importance of the lineage. Plus, learn preliminary practices such as refuge and bodhicitta. Venerable Robina Courtin introduces the profound practice of mahāmudrā, an ancient Buddhist meditative approach that emphasizes discovering the true nature of the mind through wisdom and compassion. On the basis of teachings she received from her beloved guru, Lama Yeshe, she also contrasts the traditional intellectual approach to realizing emptiness with the direct experiential method of mahāmudrā.

In this lesson, establish the foundation you’ll need for mahāmudrā practice. You’ll learn about differentiating between neurotic and virtuous states of mind, the importance of striving for direct perception through meditation, and practical ways to apply these teachings to cultivate wisdom and compassion in daily life. Ven. Robina goes deeper into the preliminary aspects of mahāmudrā and the Buddhist view of the mind, emphasizing how understanding the distinction between conceptual and non-conceptual cognition can transform our understanding of reality and suffering. She expertly unpacks the nature of consciousness, the interplay between sensory and mental awareness, and the three poisons of ignorance, attachment, and aversion.

In this lesson, find out how you must align body, breath, and mind for mahāmudrā. You’ll gain familiarity with practical meditation fundamentals, such as the nine-round breathing technique, the seven vital points of bodily posture, and an understanding of the various subtleties of the mind. Focusing on chapters four and five of Lama Yeshe’s book, Ven. Robina offers insights into how to discover your true nature and achieve inner peace through specific meditative techniques. She discusses how to relax and ready your body for meditation, the process of bringing your mind to a neutral state, and the extraordinary benefits of samādhi.

Mahāmudrā is a practice to realize the true nature of your mind—and this lesson begins to reveal how you can do that. You’ll learn practical techniques such as observing thoughts without attachment, balancing effort and relaxation in meditation, and applying mindfulness to transform emotions such as anger. Ven. Robina dives still deeper into the practice of mahāmudrā, exploring in particular the role of karma in shaping our experiences, how to identify and meditate on the mind, and that mind’s inherent purity and potential for bliss.

You’re halfway through the course, and now it’s time for some final vital groundwork before you move into the actual practice of mahāmudrā. In this lesson, you’ll discover how to distinguish between destructive mental states and wholesome qualities, investigate the nature of reality, and harness the transformative power of meditation. Ven. Robina explains the crucial process of establishing which sense of self exists and which doesn’t. She also contrasts mahāmudrā meditation with lamrim (gradual path) meditation and explores the need for a tailored approach to spiritual growth based on individual readiness and temperament.

In this lesson, enter the mahamudra instructions. First, learn how to distinguish between valid and mistaken concepts and recognize the interdependent nature of existence. Then Ven. Robina will guide you in applying these insights to cultivate clarity, reduce suffering, and progress in your mahāmudrā practice. Ven. Robina provides a model for understanding the self and realizing emptiness through the mahāmudrā teachings, combining analytical reasoning with meditative insights to unravel the nature of delusions and ultimate reality. Focusing on chapter nine of Lama Yeshe’s commentary, she tackles the concepts of dependent origination, the two truths (conventional and ultimate), and the four-point analysis to deconstruct the illusion of a solid, independent self.

This lesson will help you cultivate the profound understanding of emptiness that supports mahāmudrā practice. You’ll discover how to deconstruct the illusion of inherent existence, cultivate awareness of your mind’s projections, and embrace the liberating realization that true happiness comes from seeing reality as it is—free from exaggerated beliefs and fear. Ven. Robina relates Lama Yeshe’s pith instructions (particularly chapter ten) on how to recognize and oppose the delusions and misconceptions that cause suffering. Examining the emptiness of all phenomena, she uses relatable examples such as an iPad or a cup to illustrate how things exist as merely labelled upon collections of interdependent parts.

In this lesson, find out how to unlock the full potential of your mahāmudrā practice. You’ll habituate yourself with practical meditation techniques, including establishing stillness of the mind, resting in the nature of the conventional mind, and employing the amusingly-named “mindfulness fish” method. Ven. Robina continues her investigation of the nature of mind, emptiness, and the path to enlightenment through the lens of Lama Yeshe’s commentary, all while weaving in personal anecdotes and inspiring quotations from other revered lamas. Notably, she describes how taking your own mind as the object of concentration is a unique characteristic of mahāmudrā that makes the practice such a powerful method for eliminating dualistic thinking.

As you advance in your mahāmudrā practice, explore the significance of the word itself, meaning “great seal.” You’ll deepen your understanding of how to cultivate samādhi, recognize the emptiness of inherent existence, and utilize a direct, non-intellectual method to experience mahāmudrā. Ven. Robina shares yet more profound insights into the nature of the mind and the great seal, dispelling numerous misconceptions and revealing the truth of the practice as taught by her gurus. She offers thoughtful reflections on mahāmudrā meditation and the transformative power of reinterpreting spiritual experiences.

Mahāmudrā is more than something you just do on the cushion—it’s meant to transform your entire reality. In this concluding lesson, you’ll discover how to cultivate mental clarity, everyday mindfulness, and an awareness of mahāmudrā’s key points to create lasting happiness and deeper connections with others. Ven. Robina focuses on the transformative aspects of mahāmudrā in the Geluk, laying out a roadmap to inner peace through motivation, meditation, and mindful living in accordance with the teachings of the beloved Lama Yeshe. She discusses the importance of the three stages of mahāmudrā—preparation, practice, and integration—alongside meditations on topics such as the breath, the pitfalls of attachment, and the power of compassionate communication.