Preliminary Practices

Preliminary practices (ngöndro) to purify our minds and deepen our meditation practice.

About Preliminary Practices

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there are many preliminary practices (ngöndro) we can engage in to purify our minds so that we can deepen our understanding of Buddhist teachings and go further in our meditation practice.

These include:
1. Prostrations
2. Vajrasattva mantra
3. Refuge
4. Mandala offering
5. Guru Yoga
6. Dorje Khadro
7. Water bowls
8. Tsa-tsa
9. Samaya Vajra mantra

Learn more about these practices below.

Subcategories

A scorpion made of black sesame seeds to be offered for a fire puja.

Dorje Khadro

Learn to visualize and do the Dorje Khadro (Vajra Daka) fire offering practice.

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Statues of Lama Tsongkhapa and his heart disciples Khedrup Je and Gyaltsab Je.

Guru Yoga

How to do the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga practice.

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Tibetan monastics making the mandala offering mudra and using a mandala offering set to make offerings.

Mandala Offering

Explanation of the mandala offering practice and how to do it.

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A woman making full-length prostrations on the ground.

Prostrations to the 35 Buddhas

How to do the bodhisattva's confession of ethical downfalls by prostrating to and reciting the names of buddhas.

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A buddha statue strapped in by a seat belt in the front passenger seat of a car.

Refuge Ngöndro

Instructions on the preliminary practice of reciting the refuge prayer while visualizing the field of merit.

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Related Books

Featured Series

Golden Buddha statue between two Dharma wheels.

Stages of the Path: Refuge Ngöndro (2009)

Short talks on the preliminary practice (ngöndro) of taking refuge based on the Guru Puja text by the first Panchen Lama Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen.

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All Posts in Preliminary Practices

A person sitting on top of a moutain, meditating.
Preliminary Practices

Seven-limb Prayer

Purifying and creating positive potential prepare our minds to grow in wisdom and understanding.

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Prostrations to the 35 Buddhas

Prostrations to the 35 Buddhas Practice

Instruction on the 35 Buddhas practice, including an overview of karma, and how to do…

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Heather pouring water into water bowls from a pitcher.
Preliminary Practices

The heart of generosity

The preliminary practice of offering water bowls cultivates openness and generosity in the practitioner.

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Painting of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Refuge Ngöndro

Refuge ngondro retreat: Questions and answers

Advice on how to approach the retreat, structure meditation sessions, activities between sessions, and working…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Refuge Ngondro Retreat instructions

The refuge ngondro practice and tips on how to work with the mind during the…

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Heather leading meditation.
Preliminary Practices

The Vajrasattva ngondro

A student offers thoughts on completing the Vajrasattva ngondro.

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Mandala Offering

A modern mandala offering

Explanation of this merit accumulating practice and a contemporary version of the mandala offering prayer.

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Refuge Ngöndro

The preliminary practice of taking refuge

A clear guide on doing the ngondro practice of refuge—how to visualize, count mantra, and…

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