Ngöndro: The Foundation Practices of Vajrayana Buddhism

Ngöndro refers to the preliminary or ‘foundation’ practices of Vajrayana Buddhism. These essential practices aim to deeply purify and transform every aspect of our being, preparing us for the profound path of Vajrayana and the teachings of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection of the Nyingma School, and the Mahamudra of the Kagyu school, ultimately guiding us towards enlightenment.

Starting the Spiritual Journey

At the beginning of the spiritual path, we are not yet equipped to help oneself and others. To truly benefit onself and others, we must first purify and transform our own mind-stream. The preliminary practices, or ngöndro, lay the groundwork for all spiritual progress. Skipping these foundational practices is akin to building a house without a proper foundation.

Stages of the Practice

The Outer Common Preliminaries

These contemplations transform our understanding of life and are known as the “four thoughts” that turn the mind away from samsara:

  1. The difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantages: Recognizing the preciousness and rarity of our human life.
  2. The impermanence of life: Understanding that life is transient and fleeting.

These thoughts turn our mind away from concerns of this life, leading to reflections on:

  1. The defects of samsara: Realizing the inherent suffering and dissatisfaction in the cycle of existence.
  2. Action (karma: cause and effect): Understanding that our actions have consequences for our future lives.

The Inner Uncommon Preliminaries

  1. Taking Refuge: In the Buddha (the guide), the Dharma (the path), and the Sangha (companions on the path), awakening confidence in our inner buddha nature.
  2. Bodhichitta: Generating love and compassion, training the mind to work with ourselves, others, and life’s difficulties.
  3. Vajrasattva Purification: Removing obscurations through meditating on Vajrasattva and reciting his mantra.
  4. Mandala Offering: Accumulating merit and wisdom by developing generosity and creating auspicious circumstances.
  5. Guru Yoga: The most crucial practice, uniting our mind with the wisdom mind of all buddhas, awakening realization.

 

Each practice targets different obscurations:

  • Prostrations: Remove obscurations of the body.
  • Recitation of the hundred-syllable mantra: Removes obscurations of speech.
  • Mandala offering: Removes obscurations of the mind.
  • Guru yoga: Removes obscurations of body, speech, and mind.

 

The Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

Our focus is on the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro, which consists of root verses from the terma of Longchen Nyingtik, ‘the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse,’ revealed by Jikmé Lingpa (1730-1798). We will concentrate on both the liturgical arrangements known as “The Excellent Path to Omniscience” by his disciple, the First Dodrupchen, Jikmé Trinlé Özer (1745-1821), and “Illuminating the Excellent Path to Omniscience” by Jamyang Kyentse Wangpo.

Practical guidance and teachings will be drawn from further commentaries such as “The Words of My Perfect Teacher” by Patrul Rinpoche, “Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher” by Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, “Ngöndro Compendium” by Yukhok Chatral, and many other notes and commentaries by masters such as Adzom Drukpa Drodul Pawo Dorje, Dodrupchen Jikme Tenpe Nyima, Nubpa Trinle Chöphel, Chökyi Drakpa, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, among others.

For detailed teaching schedules, special guidance, and clarification on the practices, please email us at heartessence2024@gmail.com.