performing Mudra using mind only? (without hand movement)

[pmsbdh]

after months ignoring invitations from spirits at Temple, finally, i visited it hours ago, and get response from those spirits! cut the story short (in fact I feel embarrassed, do not whether its right or wrong or even loss): Is it possible to perform mudra (hand gesture) using mind only?

any text or link to reference is appreciated.

[Hanzze]

Can you perform mudras if there are only hands?
Thought you have no hands, what would be the propose in performing mudras?
Does a spirit have hands?

*smile*

[Lobster]

Is it possible to perform mudra (hand gesture) using mind only?

Yes indeed. I often walk with a visualised mudra

A double Karana Mudra (whilst holding vajara) can be visualised crossed at the solar plexus whilst doing circumbulations around the temple or a stupa. 

[GoGet]

Is it possible to perform mudra (hand gesture) using mind only?

Yes indeed. I often walk with a visualised mudra

A double Karana Mudra (whilst holding vajara) can be visualised crossed at the solar plexus whilst doing circumbulations around the temple or a stupa. 

I tend to agree with Lobster.

You can visualize anything and gain the same merit you would if you actually peformed something.  In Sadhana practice there is almost always the option to visulaize any number of aspects of the practice - the inner and outer offerings, dieties, self-as-deity, tormas, prostrations and so on.  I see no reason why mudras can't be included, especially if the practioner is unable to present the mudra because of handicap or or some other inability.

The use of the so-called mandala mudra is commonly used in my practice lineage.  It takes me forever to get my hands into it, so visualization is a suitable alternative for my klutzie hands.

[Blue Garuda]

I've forgotten where I heard or read it, but mental prostrations are considered to be every bit as effective as physical ones - after all, we are working on our minds not our muscles.

I once assisted my current Guru (a Gelugpa) in a long ritual and as it was entirely in Tibetan I could only follow parts of it, but realised that he was performing a variety of offerings etc. all through visualisation. I'm pretty sure the only physical offerings were there for the benefit of others present, as he had no need of them to perform the ritual.

In activities which involve beings who are formless, it surely makes sense that what we do does not require a physical 'form'.

I have a shrine and perform physical actions including mudras, but if I had the mental capacity to perform everything through visualisation it would be wonderful in terms of freedom to perform practices anywhere, anytime.  I am experimenting with doing Phowa for the deceased in this way, in case I am asked when away from my materials etc.   The Buddhas are always there, of course!

Whew, got away without mentioning 'action mudras' once.............oops!

[GoGet]

I've forgotten where I heard or read it, but mental prostrations are considered to be every bit as effective as physical ones - after all, we are working on our minds not our muscles.

There's no consensus on visualizing prostration.  Some teachers allow it and others do not.  My guru falls into the latter category.

[Blue Garuda]

I've forgotten where I heard or read it, but mental prostrations are considered to be every bit as effective as physical ones - after all, we are working on our minds not our muscles.

There's no consensus on visualizing prostration.  Some teachers allow it and others do not.  My guru falls into the latter category.

Yes, Ngöndro for me had to be physical.   In other circumstances, the exception to full or half prostrations was simply palms together when, for example, at an event with tightly packed rows of chairs. I have noted a new  form creeping in when space is tight - like the first part of a full prostration where the palms are together, but stopping movement at the heart level - it was soon stopped once the Guru noticed it spreading, but I quite liked it - after all, every physical ritualistic act was new once, and it seemed good to perform as much of the prostration as space allowed.

Mudras are, of course, not restricted to Buddhism, or even to Indian religions.  Many Buddhist ones do portray something which can be visualised - blazing fire etc.  I'm sure somewhere there is a scholarly work (aside from Robert Beer's books) on the origins and meanings of them all and their similarities and differences with Hindu and Jain mudras.  For me, just remembering them is a major task, especially when there's a bell, damaru and vajra in the mix. I have to mark up the sadhanas to remind myself! LOL

[pmsbdh]

thanks all for confirmation.

This was 2nd mudra taught by Spirits from Temple (after They introduce them self in detail, etc). I still speak like and think like Christian! this mudra is a bit strange for me:
1. its fuzzy, means i can only roughly know the overall shape of fingers but can't tell which finger doing what
2. due to some objection (from medical point of view) then I conclude that this mudra is only applicable using mind, and when i did it, i sense some power start to flow
3. it appears that Spirits only requires me to visualize 1 time only during those hours (no repeat)

few days has past, and surprise surprise, this Mudra has been bringing result (still take time to perfect)! and i still waiting for Spirits behind this mudra to complete the task. I hope those Spirits complete the job perfectly but i have no control how much They want to bestow. Lets wait and see in next few years, watch how far this Graceful Spirits bestow grace for me.

[pmsbdh]

this is my experience with budha.

a. when i performed 1st mudra (using 2 hands and simple mantra) i sense a surge of power to assure for the solution, and the solution still working today.
b. when i try to perform 2nd mudra (using hand) i felt nothing, and only sense the surge of power when using mind

despite i do not know budhist theology, i do agree that there is almost NO LIMITATION on what we can perform using mind, except some technical/spirit limitation like worshipping where 'knee' (not physical knee) is needed. I infer this knowledge from my long run in church.

I suspect that some teacher do NOT allow to visualize is due to technical/spirits limitations, some teachers may not know the reason (or wont tell) and some spirits tend to hide it (its complicated).

[GoGet]

Yes, Ngöndro for me had to be physical.   

Same here.  My guru won't allow visualized prostrations for Ngondro.  That's fine by me.  He also allows 2 six-fold refuge recitations in place of 1 prostration (mainly for those who have physical limitations). 

In other circumstances, the exception to full or half prostrations was simply palms together when, for example, at an event with tightly packed rows of chairs.

I've seen the same thing in situation where crowding limited our abiliaty to prostrate - like when the Karmapa visited Boulder some years back.  I've never seen/heard it discouraged.

Mudras are, of course, not restricted to Buddhism, or even to Indian religions. 

Of course not.  Even the Roman Catholic genuflection could be classified as mudra.

Many Buddhist ones do portray something which can be visualised - blazing fire etc.  I'm sure somewhere there is a scholarly work (aside from Robert Beer's books) on the origins and meanings of them all and their similarities and differences with Hindu and Jain mudras.  For me, just remembering them is a major task, especially when there's a bell, damaru and vajra in the mix.

It can be really confusing.  I find books on the so called "generation stage" practices helpful in describing the whys and wherefors of visualization.  It helped a lot in prepping me for Ngondro practice in teaching how to visualize things such as the practice lineage tree when doing refuge/prostration practice.

I have to mark up the sadhanas to remind myself! LOL

I do the same thing.  Doesn't help.