Stefan Graves

The Seven Branch Prayer of the Accumulation of Merit

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche (1931–2011)
Sole awareness light mind is self-accomplishing accumulation, according to Mahāsandhi. Nothing can cause ordinary substance because appearances do not separate from stainless Dharmakāya. Since there is no dualistic clinging or anyone who clings, everything is the array of wisdom’s self-accumulation. But it is very rare to realize and abide in this state unless one has a gifted mind, so most people must practice, accumulating virtue and wisdom.

When we are in formless, sole space meditation, which is the state of abiding in nonduality, it is actual accumulation. At that time, we do not need to make accumulation with the appearances of phenomena. But whenever we move from this state and the appearances of habit occur according to the Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna teachings, or the display of unobstructed quality occurs according to the precious Vajrayāna teachings, we must try to transform all appearances into pure phenomena through accumulation.

White Sail: The Seven Branch Prayer
of the Accumulation of Merit
by Thinley Norbu
Shambhala Publications

continuing the conversation
Ngondro and Dharma with Stefan Graves  and
Josh Hayes Rinchen Palbar

Monday, October 26 at 6pm Pacific 

Join the conversation. All are welcome—feel free to join at your own pace, with an open heart and a wish to deepen your understanding and connection to the path. Jump in at anytime: this week we will be reading the chapter ~ “The Seven Branch Prayer of the Accumulation of Merit” from “White Sail” by Thinley Norbu.

FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE

We meet every other week. November’s conversation
continues on Monday 9th and 23rd @ 6 pm Pacific.
Mark your calendar.

Follow us on
Facebook    Instagram   Threads   YouTube   Podbean

NGONDRO & DHARMA

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

“Alas! Saṃsāra is born from karma. From karma, happiness and unhappiness are made. Whenever conditions are gathered, they make karma, And karma makes happiness and unhappiness again.”

—LORD BUDDHA

There are many ways to understand the meaning of karma from different points of view within Buddhism. To synthesize some of these in a simple way, according to the point of view of the vehicle of cause, karma is the activity of cause and result. Within this vehicle, there are various explanations for the basis of karma. The Vaiśeṣika point of view teaches that karma originates in subjective consciousness; the Sutranta point of view teaches that karma originates in ordinary continuous mind; the Yogācāra point of view teaches that karma originates in the basis of all phenomena; and the Mādhyamika point of view teaches that karma originates in interdependent circumstances. In the context of practice, all points of view within the vehicle of cause teach that there is a basis for enlightenment, a path that leads to enlightenment, and a result of enlightenment.
~ Thinley Norbu, White Sail: Karma

Continue the conversation with Stefan Graves and
Rinchen Palbar (Josh Hayes)
NGONDRO & DHARMA
Monday, September 28th at 6pm pacific
It’s free and open to everyone.
Read along, listen in, reflect, or simply join the conversation
— at your own pace. This week we explore “Karma”.

Join the conversation on Zoom!

ABOUT NGONDRO & DHARMA

Ngondro & Dharma began in January 2026 in response to requests from sangha members for a space to come together, explore Dharma, and share in conversation. Ngondro & Dharma was conceived and originally hosted by Stefan Graves. Today, it is hosted by Stefan and Rinchen Palbar (Josh Hayes), who continue to nurture this informal and engaging exchange.

Held biweekly on Zoom, Ngondro & Dharma offers an opportunity to explore Dharma teachings and consider how they relate to Ngondro practice and to our everyday lives.

Rather than a formal teaching or class, the gatherings are centered around conversation. Participants are invited to listen, ask questions, share reflections, or simply enjoy being part of the discussion. There is no expectation to have completed the reading beforehand.

In Stefan’s words, the spirit of the gathering is:
“Come as you are — read, listen, discover, and share.”

Since its beginning, Ngondro & Dharma has continued to grow, with an increasing number of sangha members joining the biweekly conversations. The growing participation reflects the value of having an informal space to explore Dharma together, ask questions, listen, and share.

Free and open to everyone, Ngondro & Dharma offers a relaxed way to stay connected with Dharma, practice, and sangha — and to continue the conversation.

 

“Karma Can Be Very Subtle and Tricky”

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

Karma Can Be Very Subtle and Tricky

On the fifteenth day of the eleventh month of the Fire Tiger year—January 14, 1987—His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje turned to those closest to him and said:

“Now I have completed everything. Every prayer that has been asked of me, I have fulfilled. Now I’m going to leave. Please be careful in the future to pay attention. Karma can be very subtle and tricky. We might think something is no big deal, but it may turn out to have serious consequences. So pay good attention to the karmic process. This is what every practitioner needs to pay attention to—even those with the highest realization. I’ve done my part.”

Some of those present thought this was a casual remark. But soon afterward, he became ill and passed into parinirvana.

As Dudjom Rinpoche’s words remind us, karma is not just an abstract concept—it is the very fabric of our experience, shaping each moment and determining the course of our path. Ngondro, the essential foundation of Vajrayana practice, is designed not only to purify karma but also to awaken us to how it operates so that we can navigate it skillfully and wisely.

Ngondro: Transforming Karma Through Practice

Dudjom Rinpoche emphasized that while Ngondro is called a “preliminary” practice, it encapsulates the entire path to enlightenment. Through its structured approach, practitioners develop the wisdom and discipline to recognize, purify, and transcend karmic patterns that perpetuate suffering.

Each stage of the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro directly addresses karma::
1.Refuge and Prostrations – Taking refuge strengthens our connection to the Dharma, ensuring that our actions align with the path to liberation.
2.Bodhicitta – Cultivating the altruistic mind of enlightenment shifts our karmic trajectory toward benefiting others.
3.Vajrasattva Mantra Recitation – Purifying past negative karma, preventing future suffering.
4.Mandala Offerings – Accumulating vast positive karma by cultivating generosity and non-attachment.
5.Guru Yoga – Receiving the Guru’s blessings to cut through karmic obscurations and recognize the nature of mind.

Dudjom Rinpoche taught that Ngondro is a profound means of directly transforming karma, ensuring that we do not remain trapped in conditioned patterns. However, such a practice requires authentic guidance, proper transmissions, and a supportive sangha—which is why the Annual Dudjom Ngondro Retreat is such a precious opportunity.

Join Us for the 2025 Annual Dudjom Ngondro Retreat
📅 April 12–20, 2025 | 📍 In-Person at Pema Osel Ling, YouTube Livestream and Zoom Livestream for the Refuge and Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony
🔗 See details and register

For those sincerely engaging in the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro, participation in the Annual Ngondro Retreat serves as a powerful accelerator of ~ offering direct transmissions, teachings, and immersive practice. This year’s retreat includes:

📿 Orgyen Menla Empowerment, Refuge Ceremony & Bodhisattva Vows

📖 Teachings with Sam Bercholz – From Confusion to Wisdom: Integrating View and Practice ~ “This April 12th ~ 13th seminar offers an in-depth exploration of key themes from Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s “Cascading Waterfall of Nectar,” focusing on the integration of view and practice as the path from confusion to wisdom. Through study, contemplation, and meditation, we will examine how mistaken perceptions and dualistic thinking obscure the natural clarity of mind. Guided teachings will illuminate the Mahayana and Vajrayana perspectives on view, helping participants recognize the interdependence of all phenomena and the innate purity of awareness. The weekend will blend practical meditation techniques with textual reflection, allowing participants to directly experience the wisdom that arises when conceptual confusion dissolves. Open to practitioners of all levels, this seminar provides a supportive space to cultivate a deeper understanding of the Dharma and embody the compassionate insight Thinley Norbu Rinpoche so eloquently presents.” ~ Sam Bercholtz

🌿 Teaching, Practice Instruction, Q & A, Focused Practice and Personal Interview with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, Lama Sonam Rinpoche, Amy Green, Drubpon Pema Rigdzin, Choying Wangmo, Stefan Graves. This year, we welcome Lotsawa Matthew Wells to translate for Tulku Thadral Rinpcohe and Lama Sonam Rinpoche.

📜 Oral Reading Transmissions (Lungs) for the Concise Dudjom Tersar,
the Sa-Ter, and Troma Nagmo Ngondro Practices

🌟 Dudjom Ngondro Program Participants receive a 10% discount

Ngondro is how we engage with karma—not just conceptually,
but through practice that refines and transforms our experience.
This retreat is an opportunity to deepen that engagement,
under the blessings of the lineage,
in the company of sangha.

Join the Dudjom Ngondro Program