Masters of Mahāmudrā

Book

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Descriptionངོ་སྤྲོད།

In Tibetan Buddhism, Mahamudra represents a perfected level of meditative realization: it is the inseparable union of wisdom and compassion, of emptiness and skillful means. These eighty-four masters, some historical, some archetypal, accomplished this practice in India where they lived between the eighth and twelfth centuries. Leading unconventional lives, the siddhas include some of the greatest Buddhist teachers; Tilopa, Naropa, and Marpa among them. Through many years of study, Keith Dowman has collected and translated their songs of realization and the legends about them. In consultation with contemporary teachers, he gives a commentary on each of the Great Adepts and culls from available resources what we can know of their history.

Dowman's extensive Introduction traces the development of tantra and discusses the key concepts of the Mahamudra. In a lively and illuminating style, he unfolds the deeper understandings of mind that the texts encode. His treatment of the many parallels to contemporary psychology and experience makes a valualbe contribution to our understanding of human nature. (Source: SUNY Press)

Citation

Dowman, Keith. Masters of Mahāmudrā: Songs and Histories of the Eighty-Four Buddhist Siddhas. SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1985. http://promienie.net/images/dharma/books/abhayadatta_masters-of-mahamudra.pdf.

Publisher Link

https://www.sunypress.edu/p-522-masters-of-mahamudra.aspx

Texts Translated

Abhayadatta. Caturaśītisiddhapravṛtti (Grub thob brgyad cu rtsa bzhi'i lo rgyus). In Narthang Tengyur N3880, rgyud 'grel, vol. 88, lu 1b1-102a6. See rKTs etexts, .

Translation of

Contains chapter or part

The Mahāsiddha Bhusuku (Śāntideva), The Idle Monk

Keith Dowman's English translation of the Śāntideva chapter of Abhayadatta's Caturaśītisiddhapravṛtti, The Songs of Realization of the 84 Mahāsiddhas.

Article

List of Illustrationsx
Prefacexi
Introduction and Notes1
Songs and Legends of the Eighty-four Mahāsiddhas33
- 1. The Mahāsiddha Lūipa, The Fish-Gut Eater33
- 2. The Mahāsiddha Līlapa, The Royal Hedonist39
- 3. The Mahāsiddha Virūpa, Dākinī-Master43
- 4. The Mahāsiddha Ḍombipa, The Tiger-Rider53
- 5. The Mahāsiddha Śavaripa, The Hunter60
- 6. The Mahāsiddha Saraha, The Great Brahmin66
- 7. The Siddha Kaṅkāripa, The Lovelorn Widower73
- 8. The Mahāsiddha Mīnapa, The Hindu Jonah76
- 9. The Nāth Siddha Gorakṣa, The Immortal Cowherd81
- 10. The Nāth Siddha Cauraṅgipa, The Dismembered Stepson86
- 11. The Siddha Vīṇāpa, The Musician91
- 12. The Mahāsiddha Śāntipa (Ratnākaraśānti), The Complacent Missionary94
- 13. The Mahāsiddha Tantipa, The Senile Weaver100
- 14. The Siddha Cāmāripa, The Cobbler104
- 15. The Siddha Khaḍgapa, The Fearless Thief108
- 16. The Mahāsiddha Nāgārjuna, Philosopher and Alchemist112
- 17. The Mahāsiddha Kāṇhapa (Kṛṣṇācārya), The Dark Siddha123
- 18. The Mahāsiddha Āryadeva (Karṇaripa), The One-Eyed132
- 19. The Siddha Thaganapa, The Compulsive Liar138
- 20. The Mahāsiddha Nāropa, The Dauntless142
- 21. The Siddha Śyalipa, The Jackal-Yogin148
- 22. The Mahāsiddha Tilopa, The Great Renunciate151
- 23. The Siddha Catrapa, The Lucky Beggar156
- 24. The Siddha Bhadrapa, The Exclusive Brahmin159
- 25. The Siddha Dukhaṅdhi, The Scavenger163
- 26. The Siddha Ajogi, The Rejected Wastrel166
- 27. The Siddha Kālapa, The Handsome Madman169
- 28. The Siddha Dhobīpa, The Wise Washerman173
- 29. The Siddha Kaṅkaṇa, The Siddha-King176
- 30. The Mahāsiddha Kambala (Lwa wa pa), The Black-Blanket-Clad Yogin179
- 31. The Mahāsiddha Ḍeńgipa, The Courtesan's Brahmin Slave186
- 32. The Siddha Bhandepa, The Envious God191
- 33. The Siddha Taṅtepa, The Gambler195
- 34. The Mahāsiddha Kukkuripa, The Dog-Lover199
- 35. The Siddha Kucipa, The Goitre-Necked Yogin204
- 36. The Siddha Dharmapa, The Eternal Student207
- 37. The Siddha Mahipa, "The Greatest"210
- 38. The Siddha Aciṅta, The Avaricious Hermit213
- 39. The Siddha Babhaha, The Free Lover216
- 40. The Siddha Nalinapa, The Self-Reliant Prince219
- 41. The Mahāsiddha Bhusuku (Śāntideva), The Idle Monk222
- 42. The Mahāsiddha Indrabhūti, The Enlightened Siddha-King229
- 43. The Siddha Mekopa, Guru Dread-Stare235
- 44. The Siddha Koṭālipa (Tog tse pa), The Peasant Guru238
- 45. The Siddha Kamparipa, The Blacksmith242
- 46. The Mahāsiddha Jālandhara, The Ḍākinīs Chosen One245
- 47. The Mahāsiddha Rāhula, The Rejuvenated Dotard252
- 48. The Siddha Dharmapa (Gharbari), The Contrite Paṇḍita256
- 49. The Siddha Dhokaripa, The Bowl-Bearer260
- 50. The Siddha Medhini, The Tired Farmer262
- 51. The Siddha Paṅkajapa, The Lotus-Born Brahmin264
- 52. The Mahāsiddha Ghaṇṭāpa, The Celibate Bell-Ringer267
- 53. The Siddha Jogipa, The Siddha-Pilgrim276
- 54. The Mahāsiddha Celukapa, The Revitalized Drone280
- 55. The Siddha Godhuripa, The Bird-Catcher283
- 56. The Siddha Lucikapa, The Escapist286
- 57. The Siddha Nirguṇapa, The Enlightened Moron288
- 58. The Siddha Jayānanda, Crow-Master291
- 59. The Siddha Pacaripa, The Pastrycook294
- 60. The Siddha Campaka, The Flower-King298
- 61. The Siddha Bhikṣanapa, Siddha Two-Teeth301
- 62. The Siddha Dhilipa, The Epicurean Merchant303
- 63. The Siddha Kumbharipa, The Potter306
- 64. The Nāth Siddha Carbaripa (Carpaṭi), The Petrifier309
- 65. The Yoginī Siddha Maṇibhadrā, The Happy Housewife313
- 66. The Yoginī Siddha Mekhalā, The Elder Severed-Headed Sister317
- 67. The Yoginī Siddha Kanakhalā, The Younger Severed-Headed Sister321
- 68. The Siddha Kilakilapa, The Exiled Loud-Mouth322
- 69. The Siddha Kantalipa, The Ragman-Tailor325
- 70. The Siddha Dhahulipa, The Blistered Rope-Maker329
- 71. The Siddha Udhilipa, The Bird-Man332
- 72. The Kapāli Siddha Kapālapa, The Skull-Bearer336
- 73. The Siddha Kirapālapa (Kilapa), The Repentant Conqueror339
- 74. The Mahāsiddha Sakara (Saroruha), the Lotus-Born342
- 75. The Siddha Sarvabhaksa, The Glutton347
- 76. The Mahāsiddha Nāgabodhi, The Red-Horned Thief350
- 77. The Mahāsiddha Dārikapa, Slave-King of the Temple Whore355
- 78. The Siddha Putalipa, The Mendicant Icon-Bearer359
- 79. The Siddha Upanaha, The Bootmaker362
- 80. The Siddha Kokilipa, The Complacent Esthete365
- 81. The Mahāsiddha Anańgapa, The Handsome Fool368
- 82. The Yoginī Mahāsiddhā Lakṣmīṅkarā, The Crazy Princess372
- 83. The Siddha Samudra, The Pearl Diver376
- 84. The Siddha Vyālipa, The Courtesan's Alchemist379
Appendix I: Texts and Sources384
Appendix II: The Siddhas' Genealogy and Genealogical Tree389
Notes to the Commentary394
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms414
Glossary of Numeral Terms426
Abbreviations and Bibliography431
Indexes436