mahāmudrā

▪ Buddhist doctrine

      (Sanskrit: “the great seal”), in Tantric Buddhism, the final goal, the union of all apparent dualities. Mudrā, in addition to its more usual meaning, has in Tantric Buddhism the esoteric meaning of “female partner,” which in turn symbolizes prajna (“wisdom”). The union of the Tantric initiate with his sexual partner signifies the symbolic union of the upāya (the “means,” or method of teaching the goal) with prajna and—on the highest level—the identity of samsara (the phenomenal world) with Nirvāṇa (ultimate reality).

      The intentionally ambiguous language of Tantric texts produces many difficulties in interpretation. It is not clear whether erotic terms are to be understood only symbolically or whether the spiritual process is meant to be expressed concretely in physical acts (as is the practice in certain sects of Tantric Buddhism). The transcendent meaning of the symbol, however, is always the supreme joy that comes about with the realization of mystical union.

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