The Buddhism in Tibet officially began with around early seventh century. The Dharma was first introduced into Tibet from India, Silk Road and China. However, Samatha and Vipassana began to spread into Tibetan Plateau and handed down in the form of hearing lineage during prehistoric times. Through uninterrupted religious integration and development,Tibetan Buddhism also contains a fascinating and harmonious teaching method of Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The practice of the three-vehicle teaching method is all based on the Samatha and Vipassana, that is the way to gain realization.
For Vajayana , in the context of tantra Mahamudra , Development Stage and Completion Stage are also meditation practices. The Development Stage and Completion Stage practices act as methods for developing Samatha and Vipassana. Even if the Highest Yoga Tantra of Mahamudra and Dzogchen in Vajrayana , both are based on Samatha and Vipassana, all accentuate the practice of the union of Samatha and Vipassana. From gradual practice, sudden enlightenment to attain great realizations, the practice of the method of viewing the heart of the merge of sutra and tantra in Tibetan Buddhism is but the studies of meditation.
Gampopa, both the succession of Kadam and Kagyu lineage, founded three different methods of practicing Mahamudra, that is primarily based on the madhyamika teaching. The content of the succession teaching of the the path of liberation is to let all beings able to gain the way for realizing the ultimate tathata to attain emptiness.This paper will focus on the discussion of historical origin and context of Tibetan Buddhist traditions in terms of the Samatha and Vipassana method, and illustrate to the teaching of Gampopa's structure and meaning on Mahamudra.
