The Kagyu lineage is commonly known as the practice lineage, as it is practice above all else that is emphasized. However, practice can only proceed correctly if one has a correct understanding of the view. The path and view of the Kagyu lineage is Mahamudra, which is the very essence and pith of all the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Texts on Mahamudra were often written by highly accomplished siddhas who would explain their realization of years and years of Mahamudra meditation in brief spiritual songs called dohas. These dohas, often only a few dozen lines long, are still sung by lamas today. They often contain the most profound instructions in metaphors of great beauty derived from simple meditative experience.

This Song of Lodro Thaye is just such a doha and covers the entire path of Mahamudra in less than 300 lines of verse. However, the spiritual song is condensed in meaning so one needs someone accomplished in Mahamudra meditation to explain the meaning of this great work. Such a person is Thrangu Rinpoche who not only was asked to establish the curriculum of the Kagyu lineage after the Tibetans were forced into exile in 1959, but also taught the four major regents of the lineage including Jamgon Kongtrul’s reincarnation.

—From the Forewords by Ven. Choje Lama Shedrup and Clark Johnson

Paperback, 168 Pages,

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master known for his deep compassion and the clarity of his teachings. He was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as the principal tutor to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Thrangu Rinpoche is a full holder and teacher of the Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. He founded the Namo Buddha retreat center in Nepal, has established two shedras (monastic universities) in Nepal and India, and serves as Abbot of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. He also built Tara Abbey, where nuns receive a full dharma education qualifying them to become khenpos or teachers. Thrangu Rinpoche teaches extensively throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He has centers in Maine and California, and is building the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado.

	Contents: The Spiritual Song of Lodro Thaye
	Foreword by Venerable Choje Lama Shedrup	11
	Preface by Clark Johnson	13
	THE SONG OF LODRO THAYE	17
	INTRODUCTION	29
	Chapter 1 The Importance of the Lineage Lamas	29
	(verses 1 to 40)
	Chapter 2 The View in Mahamudra	45
	(verses 41-62)
	GROUND MAHAMUDRA
	Chapter 3 Ground Mahamudra	51
	(verses 63-121)
	PATH MAHAMUDRA
	Chapter 4 Path Mahamudra	75
	(verses 122-153)
	Chapter 5 Obstacles in the Practice of Mahamudra	89
	(verses 154-186)
	Chapter 6 Progress Through the Various Stages	99
	(verses 187-233)
	FRUITION MAHAMUDRA
	Chapter 7 Fruition Mahamudra	113
	(verses 234-273)
	Appendix
	The Six Realms of Samsara	127
	The Five Paths	128
	The Bodhisattva Levels	129
	Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom	130
	Notes	131
	Glossary of Terms	141
	Glossary of Tibetan Terms	163
	Bibliography	167
	Index	169