Preliminary Practices

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

All Posts in Preliminary Practices

Thangka image of the 35 Buddhas.
Prostrations to the 35 Buddhas

The Sutra of the Three Heaps

The purification practice of prostration to the 35 Buddhas removes emotional burdens and pacifies obstacles…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Refuge advice

In preparation for retreat: how to recite the mantra to take refuge in the guru,…

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Refuge Ngöndro

More refuge meditation topics

Examining one's doubts with honesty while taking refuge can enhance the meditation practice.

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Refuge Ngöndro

Refuge meditation topics

How reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha can enhance one's meditation…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Sangha refuge

How to receive the qualities of the Sangha as part of the preliminary practice (ngöndro)…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Dharma refuge

How to purify wrong views about the Buddha's teachings when engaging in the preliminary practice…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Purifying our negativities

How to use the preliminary practice (ngöndro) of taking refuge to purify our negativities.

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Stages of the Path in the Guru Puja

How to see the guru

How to purify our relationship with our spiritual mentors when engaging in the preliminary practice…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Visualizing sentient beings

How to visualize other sentient beings as part of the preliminary practice (ngöndro) of taking…

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Stages of the Path in the Guru Puja

Visualizing the Three Jewels

How to visualize the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as part of the preliminary practice (ngöndro)…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Visualizing the Buddha

Commentary on a verse from the Lama Chӧpa Jorchӧ Puja on how to visualize the…

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Refuge Ngöndro

Visualizing the merit field

How to visualize the merit field of holy beings as part of the preliminary practice…

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