To realize the quintessential instructions of mahamudra and the coemergence of thought and appearance, we need to recognize not only the resting mind, but also the nature of the mind. We need to understand what resting mind is, not only through inference but also through direct observation. And when we realize emptiness directly, we have understood the nature of phenomena. Therefore, in addition to achieving shamata and arousing great bodhichitta, we also need the vipashyana that realizes the nature of phenomena. When we have some experience of these three qualities of samadhi, bodhichitta and vipashyana, we have a fully qualified meditation.

Thrangu Rinpoche

from the book Essentials of Mahamudra: Looking Directly at the Mind

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