Ngöndro

“There are two stages to the practice of this preliminary phase of the profound path: the common and uncommon.”

Common preliminaries

Dudjom Rinpoche begins with the four thoughts: the precious opportunity of a human life, impermanence and death, the effects of actions, and the suffering of saṃsāra. These reflections orient the mind towards practice.

Read Dudjom Rinpoche’s Ngöndro Notes · complete free translation.

Uncommon preliminaries

His presentation then includes refuge and prostrations, bodhicitta, mandala offering, Vajrasattva practice and guru yoga. These develop trust, the wish to awaken for others, generosity, purification and connection with the teacher’s lineage. His concise cycle also includes phowa and the offering of one’s body.

The Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche is a related invocation used in guru yoga.

Patrul Rinpoche’s guide presents the preliminaries of the Longchen Nyingtik. The precise sequence, recitations and repetition counts belong to a particular practice cycle and its teacher’s instructions.

Part of an ongoing path

“Preliminary” describes their foundational role. Ngöndro brings together reflection, intention and repeated practice. Living teaching communities, such as Mingyur Rinpoche’s Tergar, place it within a wider course of meditation and instruction.