Mahamudra

Cycle of Four Years of Teachings

Residential Retreats with Carlos de León

Mahamudra challenges us to take a fresh view of the world. It is a meditation tradition within tantric Buddhism that points to the nature of awareness itself, elevating our ordinary perception to a level of wholeness. In this view, all experiences arise from a mind that is naturally vast, empty, and luminous.

It is an advanced and sophisticated system of meditation on the nature of the mind, and the realizations gained through it. Just like wax seals are stamped on legal documents to authenticate their signature, similarly the great seal of mahamudra is stamped on authentic practices that bring enlightenment for the benefit of all.

Mahamudra meditation’s distinctive characteristic is that it focuses on the mind itself and its intimate relation with the world of conventional appearances and emptiness. Confusion and ignorance, create disturbing emotions and compulsive behaviour, resulting in unrelenting suffering and problems in our lives. Mahamudra meditation is a highly effective method for attaining liberation from this suffering.

The term ‘Mahamudra’ is Sanskrit, literally means "great seal" or "great posture" and refers to the fact that the essence of all phenomena is stamped by the inseparability of bliss and emptiness being sustained by the Clear Light of our True Nature, and is considered the goal of the Highest Yoga Tantra, as taught in the new lineages.

Mahamudra teachings are designed to help practitioners swiftly achieve the state of Buddhahood.

Mahamudra is taught in three approaches, any of which can conduce to Liberation:

Sutra Mahamudra; essentially consists of resting one's mind, in the state of nonconceptual wisdom or in "the unity of clarity and emptiness". Sutra Mahamudra uses the Mind as a practice ground.
Tantra Mahamudra; includes detailed instructions on working with nadi, prana and bindu, the typical techniques used, are the “6 Yogas of Naropa”. It also includes working with the creation and completing stages of Yidam practices.
Essence Mahamudra; leads to the instant realization of our True Nature, or Buddha Nature.

In all the years of this Mahamudra course, we will be offered the foundational teachings of Chakrasamvara; ‘Chakrasamvara ('Wheel of Perfect Bliss' or 'Wheel of Union') is a tantric meditational Yidam (Sanskrit: ishta-deva) of the Highest Yoga (Anuttara) Tantra class of Vajrayana Buddhism.

The Chakrasamvara Tantra, was composed in Northern India in the late 8th or early 9th century and is one of the most important Mother Tantras emphasizing female deities, like yoginis and dakinis. Mother Tantra practices focus more on clear light mental activity and blissful awareness of emptiness as the immediate cause for achieving liberation.

Carlos de León Presents the teaching:

More info on Carlos de Leon: https://en.amrita.gr/teachers

*All the levels of this teaching are designed so that everyone can participate, regardless of their level in meditation and is addressed to those who want to connect more deeply with themselves and evolve consciously.

First Year of Teachings – 2023 – Sutra Mahamudra

Preliminary purification
Transmission
Fundamental principles of Sutra Mahamudra
The 6 Physical Yogas (they balance your Pranas for health and meditation stability)
The 4 Yogas of Gampopa (meditation practice)
Chakrasamvara practice (meditation Yidam Practice

Second Year of Teachings – 2024 – Tantra Mahamudra

Chakrasamvara practice
Naropa´s Yogas

Phowa Yoga
Tummo Yoga
Bardo Yoga

Third Year of Teachings – 2025 - Tantra Mahamudra

Chakrasamvara practice
Naropa´s Yogas

Illusory Body Yoga
Clear Light Yoga
Dream Yoga /Yoga of Deep Sleep
Chod Yoga

Fourth Year of Teachings – 2026 – Essence Mahamudra

Chakrasamvara practice
Essence Mahamudra through the study of Tilopa´s Mahamudra Song and Mitripa´s Essential Mahamudra Sutras
Karmamudra Yoga

‘Is space anywhere supported? Upon what does it rest?

Like space, Mahamudra is dependent upon nothing;

Relax and settle in the continuum of unalloyed purity,

And, your bonds loosening, release is certain.

Gazing intently into the empty sky, vision ceases;

Likewise, when mind gazes into mind itself,

The train of discursive and conceptual thought ends,

And supreme enlightenment is gained’.

*Excerpt from Tilopa’s Mahamudra Song

Participation

To participate in the teaching, it is necessary to email us at info@amrita.gr, no later than May 25th 2023, by clicking on "Register to the Teaching" below and filling in the requested fields.