Maitripa (986-1063) is one of the greatest and most influential Indian yogis of Vajrayana Buddhism. The legacy of his thought and meditation instructions have had a profound impact on Buddhism in India and Tibet, and several important contemporary practice lineages continue to rely on his teachings.

Early in his life, Maitripa gained renown as a monk and scholar, but it was only after he left his monastery and wandered throughout India as a yogi that he had a direct experience of nonconceptual realization. Once Maitripa awakened to this nondual nature of reality, he was able to harmonize the scholastic teachings of Buddhist philosophy with esoteric meditation instructions. This is reflected in his writings that are renowned for evoking a meditative state in those who have trained appropriately. He eventually became the teacher of many well-known accomplished masters, including Padampa Sangye and the translator Marpa, who brought his teachings to Tibet.

Drawing on Maitripa's autobiographical writings and literary work, this book is the first comprehensive portrait of the life and teachings of this influential Buddhist master. Klaus-Dieter Mathes also offers the first complete English translation of his teachings on nonconceptual realization, which is the foundation of Mahamudra meditation.

Maitripa: India's Yogi of Nondual Bliss, Klaus-Dieter Mathes, Shambhala Publications, Paperback, 400 pp, $29.95

Klaus-Dieter Mathes is head of the Department of Tibetan, Buddhist, and South Asian Studies at the University of Vienna. He is well known in the academic field as an expert of Madhyamaka, Mahamudra, and shentong Buddhist philosophy.

CONTENTS: Maitripa: India's Yogi of Nondual Bliss
Series Introduction by Kurtis Schaeffer		vii
Preface		ix
Introduction		1
Life
1.	Translation of Maitripa's Life Story	17
2.	Conversion, Monkhood, Expulsion Stories, and Legacy	29
Philosophy
3.	Between Yogacara, Madhyamaka, and Mahamudra	39
4.	Sudden versus Gradual Paths	45
5.	Maitripa's Gradual Path	49
6.	Nonconceptual Realization (Amanasikara)	71
7.	The Ten Verses on True Reality in the Light of Shavajra's Commentary	77
8.	Empowerment	95
9.	Mahamudra Practice	129
10.	The Four Signs of Mahamudra Meditation	139
Teachings: Maitripa's Collection of Texts on Nonconceptual Realization (Amanasikara)
11.	A Summary of the Amanasikara Texts	151
12.	The Destruction of Wrong Views	169
13.	A Commentary on the [Initial] Statement of The Destruction of Wrong Views	185
14.	The Major Offenses	189
15.	The Gross Offenses	191
16.	A Jewel Garland of True Reality	193
17.	Explaining the Seals of the Five Tathagatas	211
18.	A Presentation of Empowerment	221
19.	The Succession of the Four Seals	231
20.	A Summary of the Meaning of Empowerment	239
21.	The Five Aspects of Vajrasattva	247
22.	A Discourse on Illusion	255
23.	A Discourse on Dream	259
24.	An Elucidation of True Reality	263
25.	An Elucidation of Nonabiding	267
26.	An Elucidation of Indivisible Union	271
27.	The Manifestation of Great Bliss	275
28.	The Twenty Verses on True Reality	279
29.	The Twenty Verses on Mahayana	283
30.	The Five Verses on Penetrating Insight	287
31.	The Six Verses on the Middle Path	289
32.	The Five Verses on Transcendent Love	291
33.	The Ten Verses on True Reality	293
34.	A Justification of Nonconceptual Realization	295
35.	The Six Verses on the Coemergent	301
36.	A Pith Instruction on True Reality Called A Treasury of Dohas	303
37.	A Pith Instruction on Settling the Mind: A Genuine Secret	307
Notes		311
Bibliography		345
Index		359