The principle of the master as a requirement to the practice of Mahāmudrā in the context of the Karma Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the meaning of the master’s role as a requirement to the contemplative practices in the context of the teachings of the Mahāmudrā tradition within the Karma Kagyü (Tib. karma bka' rgyud) lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, more specifically according to the instruction cycle written by the IX Gyalwang Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje (Tib. rgyal dbang karma pa dbang phyug rdo rje, 1556-1603), entitled Mahāmudrā: The Ocean of Certainty (Tib. phyag rgya chen po nges don rgya mtsho). Methodologically, the supplication to the master in seven verses will serve as ground for an understanding of the importance of the master amidst the tradition’s soteriological  path, preceded by an exposition of the preliminary requirement that precedes it.