Anyone that can answer is either already enlightened or well on their way.

If no one gets it right, I will in the next few days answer the first
question, but not the second.

tvp

Unfortunately, you really have to dig for accurate information on the
Mahamudra and it wouldn't be easy to find the exact answer to the second
question. I will say that strict adherence to two folds of the Noble
Eightfold path are said to lead to enlightenment in one lifetime if combined
with meditation on the nature of the mind.

Which two folds are said to be necessary?

Again, I'll answer that in a couple of days. (Naturally, it's okay to
strictly adhere to all eight if you'd like to.)

I doubt anyone will even attempt to answer, as this has become
TibetanMonkey's private stomping ground. It seems this newsgroup has somehow
become alt.religion.bike-riding.

I'd like to get rid of this "Let's all be cool and call ourselves
'Buddhists'." mentality that seems to exist without actually practicing
Buddhism.

tvp

Mahamudra isn't the only path to awakening in this lifetime, let alone
the only path in the buddhadharma. There is also dzogchen and the
their combined form, Maha-ati. Some might say Ch'an/Zen as well. In
the Theravada tradition it is said one can obtain freedom from
samsara, become an Arhant, a no-returner, or a once returner
etc...Then there are the Pretkyabuddhas, those who attain release
without instruction from another, etc...Mahayana-ists who see full
complete awakening as only the bodhisattvamarga-buddhamarga might
dismiss these as only partial release, but the Theravada also teaches
bodhisattamagga, so best to keep an open mind...

As well as other traditions...

As far as release from samsara, the lower realms, etc, - there is the
pratimoksa/so.so.tar.pa - meaning one-by-one liberation - when the
mind stills in samatha and clear insight arises - or the first
bodhisattvabhumi, of openness (dana) called The Joyful One - getting
free of being stuck in our own stories of need and suffering to awake
to open heart to all...

Mahamudra moves on from there with practices of examining moving mind,
still mind, body, etc....But Mahamudra and Dzogchen (and Ch'an/Zen)
are not teachings as such, they are practices and a way of relating to
and interactiong with a "teacher" who has followed that path through
with his/her teacher...It is direct transmission of awakened mind from
a spiritual friend...Like pretekyabuddhas we can get the sense and
shape of it on our own, but it's sort of the difference of having an
imaginary friend and a real friend - a real friend will call you when
you get lopsided, push you, etc. It's a potentially dangerous path and
you don't go scuba-diving without a buddy.  :)

just my thinks on this...

Also Mahamudra and dzogchen are done within the Samaya vow environment
- Refuge vow and it's ethics, Boddhisattva vow and compassion and
openness, and then Samaya and sacred view...Gradual stages of opening
our hearts further and further...

Nice to hear from you! - i think it's been a few year since we last
chatted!  :)

    -  n.