..续本文上一页as one. This keeps our mind concentrated on breathing and not forgetting to count. As soon as we finish counting up to 21, we begin doing the following breath meditation.

　　When we practice breathing meditation, we should practice it in very short sessions, but multiply the sessions. While we actually meditate, we should do it with much care and with as much precision as possible.

　　While meditating on the breath, we may find our mind has a tendency to grow a bit dark and not be very clear. When this happens, we should sharpen our attention. To make meditation clearer we can do "the three cycle meditation." First we take the air in (first cycle) and keep it inside us (the second cycle) and then exhale (third cycle). When we are inhaling we think of the sound OM. When the air is inside of the body think of an AH. And when the air is going out of the body think of HUM. All three cycles should be natural and not forced and one should try to make the three cycles equal. If we do this, we will find that we don”t become too agitated or too drowsy. This meditation keeps the mind clear so when we find the mind becoming agitated or drowsy, we can just switch to the three cycles of breathing.

　　Mahamudra Meditation

　　Receiving the blessings at the end of the Dorje Chang prayer is the way that true meditation will be born in us and we will achieve the realization of the true nature of phenomena. This true nature is both voidness and clarity. In an ordinary being this clarity is called buddha nature (Skt. Tathagatagarba). When Buddhahood is realized, this clarity is called the dharmakaya. On the path to Buddhahood, buddha nature is the gradual realization of all the good qualities and the gradual elimination of all the bad qualities. This is why it is so important to meditate on the true nature of phenomena and on the nature of the mind. First one gains a theoretical understanding of this through the great teaching such as the Uttara Tantra.(fn 14) Then through mahamudra meditation, one comes to the direct recognition of the true nature of phenomena by looking at the true nature of the mind.

　　Dorje Chang Lineage Prayer

　　Great Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa

　　Marpa, Milarepa, and lord of the dharma Gampopa.

　　Knower of the three times, the omniscient Karmapa.

　　Lineage holders of the four great and eight lesser schools.

　　Drikung, Taklung, Tsalpa, and glorious Drukpa and others

　　To all those who have thoroughly mastered the profound path of mahamudra

　　The Dagpo Kagyu who are unrivalled as protectors of beings

　　I pray to you, the Kagyu lamas, to grant your blessing

　　So that I may follow your tradition and example.

　　The teaching is that detachment is the foot of meditation;

　　Not being possessed by food or wealth.

　　To the meditator who gives up the ties to this life,

　　Grant your blessing that attachment to honor and ownership cease.

　　The teaching is that devotion is the head of meditation.

　　The lama opens the gate to the treasury of the profound oral teachings,

　　To the meditator who always turns to him,

　　Grant your blessing so that genuine devotion is born in him.

　　The teaching is that unwavering attention is the body of meditation,

　　Whatever thought arises--its nature is empty.

　　To the meditator who rests there in naturalness,

　　Grant your blessing so that meditation is free from conceptualizing.

　　The teaching is that the essence of thought is dharmakaya,

　　Thoughts are nothing whatsoever, yet they arise.

　　To the meditator who reflects on the unobstructed play of the mind,

　　Grant your blessing so that he realizes samsara and nirvana are inseparable.

　　Through all my births may I not be separated from the perfect lama

　　And so enjoy the glorious dharma

　　May I quickly accomplish the good qualities of the path and stages

　　And quickly attain the state of Vajradhara…

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