In the Kagyu understanding, the way Mahamudra is received is inseparable from a living relationship with a qualified teacher who holds the lineage. One first establishes a connection with such a master, often by taking refuge and, where appropriate, related vows. This relationship is not merely formal; it is the channel through which the blessings and insight of the lineage are transmitted. On that basis, foundational practices such as ngöndro and the cultivation of stable calm-abiding meditation are usually undertaken to make the mind receptive. Devotion to the teacher and trust in the lineage are regarded as essential conditions for the deeper instructions to be effective.

Within that context, the heart of Mahamudra transmission is the direct pointing-out of the nature of mind. This is a mind-to-mind introduction in which the lama reveals, in a very immediate way, the empty and luminous quality of awareness itself. Such pointing-out is often given in retreat or in specially arranged sessions, when the teacher judges that the student’s preparation and receptivity are sufficient. It is not a mere intellectual explanation, but a direct experiential indication that the student is then asked to recognize and stabilize through ongoing practice.

Alongside this, empowerment (wang) and oral transmission play a crucial supporting role. In many Kagyu settings, one receives tantric empowerments into yidam deities associated with Mahamudra, which authorize and “ripen” the practitioner for the path and connect them to the unbroken stream of realization. Reading transmission (lung) links the student to the textual lineage as the teacher recites the relevant texts, while oral instructions (tri or menngak) provide detailed guidance on posture, method, stages of practice, and how to recognize and deepen awareness. These instructions may be given in group teachings, retreats, or private interviews, and they clarify how to apply the pointing-out in meditation and daily life.

Taken together, these elements—relationship with a qualified lama, foundational practice, empowerments, reading transmission, and direct oral guidance—form a single integrated process rather than isolated events. Mahamudra is thus received not only through a specific ceremony or moment, but through an ongoing transmission that matures over time as commitments are kept, instructions are followed, and experience deepens.