GENTLY WHISPERED
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mahamudra. Even if one does not gain this full level of understanding, the slightest understanding of the nature of mind can give one the ability to meditate with comfort and ease. In fact, even without an average degree of understanding, simply hearing and knowing a little bit about mind's true nature can be extremely beneficial. It enables one to apply oneself to all kinds of worldly activity that benefits many beings. We have now discussed several different methods (or vehicles) for obtaining buddhahood. But the best method of all is that which leads to the understanding of the meaning of the mahamudra. If the nature of the mind is recognized, one is a buddha. If it is not recognized, one is confused and is a sentient being. Although the basis of mahamudra is easy to understand, putting it into practice can be difficult because one clings to one's obscurations. Due to ignorance, the obscuration of knowledge causes habits of mental afflictions and/ or of emotionality to arise, which in tum give rise to karmic action. The presence of these four veils of obscuration that cloud our enlightened awareness is similar to the presence of clouds in the sky which prevent the sunlight from brightening the day. In the Hevajra Tantra it is said that sentient beings are buddhas, but, because of their obscurations they do not recognize this. If sentient beings can dispel these obscurations, they will become buddhas. There are two ways to do this. One way is comprised of four practices that are called the foundational practices in Tibetan Buddhism. These involve an accumulation of prostrations, refuge vows, purification mantras, mandala offerings, and supplications to the tsaway lama. Additionally, this way focuses upon bringing the visualization practice through the development and completion stages of vajrayana meditation. The other way was evolved in the hinayana traditions. It involves various methods of meditation that fall into two main categories: zhinay (shamatha), or tranquility meditation, comprised of methods with and without support; and lhatong (vipashyana), or insight meditation, which includes many different methods of meditative approach. Either way, these methods can lead to the realization of mahamudra, or true liberation. In either approach, it is important to meditate using zhinay, translated into English as tranquility. In defining the two Tibetan