Willie Korman

Every Effort Should Be Made to Complete Ngondro

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

The difference between sentient beings and Buddhas is that the first has obscurations while the other does not. We are sentient beings because we have temporary “defilements” or obscurations to our wisdom mind. All sentient beings are inherently Buddhas, temporarily defiled by gross emotional obscurations and by the subtle obscuration of habit. When these are removed, the Buddha within naturally manifests. According to the Vajrayana path, only two methods exist for removing these two obscurations: first, accumulation of merit and wisdom, and second, the direct transmission from the guru’s mind to the student’s mind. Ngondro uses both methods and includes the essential practices of the Three Yanas (vehicles) Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The essence of Hinayana practice is refuge. The generation of Bodichitta (enlightened attitude) is the essence of Mahayana practice. Accumulation, purification and the mind transmission of Guru Yoga are the essences of Vajrayana practice. Ngondro is a preliminary practice containing all paths, including the creation and perfection stages of the Vajrayana practice.

Since it contains all paths to the realization of enlightenment, then, every effort should be made to complete Ngondro in order to fully cultivate and realize its profound benefits.“

A commentary on the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro
The Preliminary Practice of the New Treasures of Dudjom
by Lama Tarchin Rinpoche

Photo by
Willie Korman
HH Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche
with Lamas and Pema Osel Sangha
Vajrayana Foundation Annual Summer Retreat
at the Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center
Santa Cruz Mountains California USA

 

Impermanence and Death

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

Contemplating impermanence and death intensifies the motivation to practice dharma.

“Truly understanding and permanence means recognizing both the nature of change inherent in all phenomena and the extraordinary opportunity to train your mind toward liberation. Reflecting, you begin to see that you must not waste precious time. As soon as you were born, it was guaranteed that you will eventually die. This inevitable death will deprive you of any for the opportunity to practice. Begin to realize clearly that, instead of putting off practice until some future time, you must begin right now to extract some meaningful essence from your human birth. The point of understanding impermanence is not to feel sad about it, but to use it as an incentive to overcome laziness.”

~ Lama Tharchin Rinpoche ~ An excerpt from A Commentary on the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro: The Preliminary Practice of the New Treasurer of Dudjom

Photo by Willie Korman

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