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Not For Happiness: A Guide to the So-Called Preliminary Practices
Do you practise meditation because you want to feel good? Or to help you relax and be “happy”? Then frankly, according to Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, you are far better off having a full-body massage than trying to practise the Dharma.
Khyentse shows that genuine spiritual practice, not least the Ngöndro preliminaries, will not bring the kind of comfort and ease most worldly people crave. Quite the opposite, in fact. But if your ultimate goal is enlightenment, Ngöndro practice is a must, and Not for Happiness your perfect guide, containing everything an aspiring practitioner needs to start to practise, including advice about:
• “renunciation mind”
• discipline, meditation and wisdom
• using your imagination in visualisation practice
• why we need a guru
Students’ Reactions to Not for Happiness:
“Having a map of the path that shows where each practice is headed helps me to see what each stage is preparing me for. Even the chapters that at first didn’t seem relevant to my current practice contained such great gems of teaching that they turned out to be extremely relevant and very helpful.”—Catherine Fordham
“To me, this book is like the world’s best kind of GPS! I feel that by following its guidance, even though I am not a skilful driver, I will have the confidence to drive through my Ngöndro practice—and may even end up feeling quite good about it!”—Helena Wang
Khyentse shows that genuine spiritual practice, not least the Ngöndro preliminaries, will not bring the kind of comfort and ease most worldly people crave. Quite the opposite, in fact. But if your ultimate goal is enlightenment, Ngöndro practice is a must, and Not for Happiness your perfect guide, containing everything an aspiring practitioner needs to start to practise, including advice about:
• “renunciation mind”
• discipline, meditation and wisdom
• using your imagination in visualisation practice
• why we need a guru
Students’ Reactions to Not for Happiness:
“Having a map of the path that shows where each practice is headed helps me to see what each stage is preparing me for. Even the chapters that at first didn’t seem relevant to my current practice contained such great gems of teaching that they turned out to be extremely relevant and very helpful.”—Catherine Fordham
“To me, this book is like the world’s best kind of GPS! I feel that by following its guidance, even though I am not a skilful driver, I will have the confidence to drive through my Ngöndro practice—and may even end up feeling quite good about it!”—Helena Wang
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2012
134 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
29 books323 followersDzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche was born in Bhutan in 1961 and was recognised as the incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (1894-1959). From early childhood, he has studied with some of the greatest contemporary masters, particularly his father, H.H. Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
From a young age he has been active in preserving the Buddhist teachings, establishing centres of learning and practice, supporting practitioners, publishing books, and teaching all over the world. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche supervises his traditional seat of Dzongsar Monastery and its retreat centres in Eastern Tibet, as well as his new colleges in India and Bhutan. He has also has established centres in Australia, North America, and the Far East. These are gathered under Siddhartha's Intent.
In addition to Siddhartha's Intent, in 2001, the Khyentse Foundation was founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It is a non-profit organization with the stated goal "to act as a system of patronage for institutions and individuals engaged in the practice and study of Buddha's wisdom and compassion."
His two major films are The Cup (1999) and Travellers and Magicians (2003).
From a young age he has been active in preserving the Buddhist teachings, establishing centres of learning and practice, supporting practitioners, publishing books, and teaching all over the world. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche supervises his traditional seat of Dzongsar Monastery and its retreat centres in Eastern Tibet, as well as his new colleges in India and Bhutan. He has also has established centres in Australia, North America, and the Far East. These are gathered under Siddhartha's Intent.
In addition to Siddhartha's Intent, in 2001, the Khyentse Foundation was founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It is a non-profit organization with the stated goal "to act as a system of patronage for institutions and individuals engaged in the practice and study of Buddha's wisdom and compassion."
His two major films are The Cup (1999) and Travellers and Magicians (2003).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 28, 2019
“The decision to follow a spiritual path is the central most important undertaking of a person’s life, one that is usually made when trust in more worldly objectives is betrayed, causing you to resolve to switch to a more trustworthy path.”
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse’s books have been known to be a bit controversial. He does have an approach that’s kind of unusual: very blunt and no-nonsense, which I suppose most people aren’t used to when it comes to books about Buddhism. But I must admit that I like it. Even if I sometimes have mixed feelings about what he says (partially because we follow different Buddhist traditions), I think his voice is both strong and important. As mentioned when I reviewed his book “What Makes You Not a Buddhist” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), the mainstreaming of Buddhism means there’s a lot of bizarre and often inaccurate stuff out there, and it’s refreshing when a book rejects all the fashionable crap and simply focuses on the teachings. Sometimes, a bit of a sucker-punch (in writing, obviously) can be a really good thing!
The title refers to one of the trends that came from the mainstreaming of Buddhist practice, which is that people see it as a form of therapy, that will ease their stress and help them relax. Khyenste clearly believes that if that’s your motivation for practicing Buddhism, you might as well treat yourself to a day at the spa and put the Dharma books down. Buddhist practice is about, in his words, attacking habits of self-clinging until they are eradicated; so practices that seem like Buddhism but that aim to make people simply feel blissed out are a serious trap – especially in this age of obsessive self-care and merchandised mindfulness.
While we practice different traditions, I nevertheless find Khyentse’s books extremely interesting and inspiring. There are obviously concepts that overlap all Buddhist schools, and advice that can be helpful regardless of which one the reader follows. I very much appreciate his understanding that the practices must sometimes be adapted, both to the needs of students, but also to the cultural context in which they are being shared – without sacrificing the necessary parts. While his tone can sometimes come across has harsh, he is also deeply understanding: he doesn’t hide his own flaws, and explains the hows and whys of the practices very clearly so that there can be no misunderstanding for the student. He also emphasizes that everyone is different, has different baggage and constraints that they bring with them when they undertake practice, and that this must be taken into account. That makes a book like this very approachable and not intimidating for students.
That being said, this book is not for beginners. Khyentse throws words and concepts at the reader and assumes you know them. I’ve been sitting zazen on and off for ten years and much more seriously for two, but since these are terms specific to Tibetan Buddhism, I wasn’t familiar with all of them, but that didn’t stop me from appreciating this book and some of the advice to be found within it very much. Definitely more for people seriously interested in Tibetan Buddhism, but very interesting book for any Dharma practitioner.
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse’s books have been known to be a bit controversial. He does have an approach that’s kind of unusual: very blunt and no-nonsense, which I suppose most people aren’t used to when it comes to books about Buddhism. But I must admit that I like it. Even if I sometimes have mixed feelings about what he says (partially because we follow different Buddhist traditions), I think his voice is both strong and important. As mentioned when I reviewed his book “What Makes You Not a Buddhist” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), the mainstreaming of Buddhism means there’s a lot of bizarre and often inaccurate stuff out there, and it’s refreshing when a book rejects all the fashionable crap and simply focuses on the teachings. Sometimes, a bit of a sucker-punch (in writing, obviously) can be a really good thing!
The title refers to one of the trends that came from the mainstreaming of Buddhist practice, which is that people see it as a form of therapy, that will ease their stress and help them relax. Khyenste clearly believes that if that’s your motivation for practicing Buddhism, you might as well treat yourself to a day at the spa and put the Dharma books down. Buddhist practice is about, in his words, attacking habits of self-clinging until they are eradicated; so practices that seem like Buddhism but that aim to make people simply feel blissed out are a serious trap – especially in this age of obsessive self-care and merchandised mindfulness.
While we practice different traditions, I nevertheless find Khyentse’s books extremely interesting and inspiring. There are obviously concepts that overlap all Buddhist schools, and advice that can be helpful regardless of which one the reader follows. I very much appreciate his understanding that the practices must sometimes be adapted, both to the needs of students, but also to the cultural context in which they are being shared – without sacrificing the necessary parts. While his tone can sometimes come across has harsh, he is also deeply understanding: he doesn’t hide his own flaws, and explains the hows and whys of the practices very clearly so that there can be no misunderstanding for the student. He also emphasizes that everyone is different, has different baggage and constraints that they bring with them when they undertake practice, and that this must be taken into account. That makes a book like this very approachable and not intimidating for students.
That being said, this book is not for beginners. Khyentse throws words and concepts at the reader and assumes you know them. I’ve been sitting zazen on and off for ten years and much more seriously for two, but since these are terms specific to Tibetan Buddhism, I wasn’t familiar with all of them, but that didn’t stop me from appreciating this book and some of the advice to be found within it very much. Definitely more for people seriously interested in Tibetan Buddhism, but very interesting book for any Dharma practitioner.
October 15, 2024
DJK Rinpoche is not one to shy away from controversy. He feels too much of modern buddhism is lumped in with the "self-help" section of the bookstore; the dharma teachings have been simplified into no more than a guide to obtaining bliss and happiness.
It can be a shock for some to realize that happiness is not the goal in life. The goal is perhaps better understood as awareness, and equanimity. Awareness is the ultimate teacher.
The preliminary practices here are "so-called" because these are complete practices. There is no need to go further. However, our egos are so strong and so demanding and so desperately needy: so who can stop at just the preliminaries?
It can be a shock for some to realize that happiness is not the goal in life. The goal is perhaps better understood as awareness, and equanimity. Awareness is the ultimate teacher.
The preliminary practices here are "so-called" because these are complete practices. There is no need to go further. However, our egos are so strong and so demanding and so desperately needy: so who can stop at just the preliminaries?
October 25, 2013
Truly excellent. It was funny, serious, insightful and extremely helpful. I am not sure how it would read to someone not familiar with the preliminary practices but for this person who has been doing them an embarrassingly long time, it was just the book I needed.
February 26, 2019
This was dead sneaky: that subtitle was not at all obvious when I picked up the book on the strength of the title and the author's reputation. The very last thing I needed was yet another book on the ngöndro shelf, already over 20 volumes deep, not counting audio, and thoroughly covered in my now-20 years of practice. And yet, he got me—reeled me in with the introductory essays advising anyone who is engaging the Path in order to find "happiness" would do far better to go get a massage and a hot tub and stay the hell off the path. He, of course, is specifically referring to the path of Buddhism, and more specifically to the tantric path of Vajrayana, but IMO this applies equally well to any path of growth and/or spiritual development. The sarcasm of "Oh good, another f^@*!ng growth opportunity" is cliché for a reason.
From there, it is pretty much a standard, generalized guide to the tantric preliminaries, but with the story of modernized, fairly relaxed style implied by the foregoing. There's good advice for the busy Western student who does not have access to a cave in which to practice while the villagers leave food offerings and which are not likely to be forthcoming from the last of the old-school lamas who were trained in Tibet, who have never heard of the 20-minute Western Standard Meditation Time, and who haven't had to deal with people for whom "Consider all sentient beings to have been your mothers of past lives" is more likely to induce trauma than compassion. If you're just beginning to consider engaging Vajrayana, this is a great place to start the investigation; if you're about to embark on any other path, the first 10–80 pages is worth your while. And if you're already on the path, then ha ha, too late for you, sucker!
From there, it is pretty much a standard, generalized guide to the tantric preliminaries, but with the story of modernized, fairly relaxed style implied by the foregoing. There's good advice for the busy Western student who does not have access to a cave in which to practice while the villagers leave food offerings and which are not likely to be forthcoming from the last of the old-school lamas who were trained in Tibet, who have never heard of the 20-minute Western Standard Meditation Time, and who haven't had to deal with people for whom "Consider all sentient beings to have been your mothers of past lives" is more likely to induce trauma than compassion. If you're just beginning to consider engaging Vajrayana, this is a great place to start the investigation; if you're about to embark on any other path, the first 10–80 pages is worth your while. And if you're already on the path, then ha ha, too late for you, sucker!
September 30, 2013
So grateful to have access to such profound guide and wisdom.
Greatly recommended.
Greatly recommended.
August 9, 2025
Warning - This is NOT a book if you want to learn about Buddhism. It’s a technical read and you need to know the concepts of Buddhism.
This is not a beginner friendly read.
Therefore, do not constantly aim to finish the practice. Instead, try to accept that your spiritual journey will never end. Your journey began with the wish that you, personally, bring all sentient beings to enlightenment, so until that wish is full activities as a BodhiSattva will never cease.
In continuation with understanding more about meditation and mindfulness. I picked this up, at a Buddhist temple shop.
It took me a while to get through the first half of the book because I kept asking ChatGPT, most of the concepts being discussed in this particular book.
It was a helpful read as I want to tread down this path, but I recommend this to be your technical read for Buddhist mediation techniques.
This is not a beginner friendly read.
Therefore, do not constantly aim to finish the practice. Instead, try to accept that your spiritual journey will never end. Your journey began with the wish that you, personally, bring all sentient beings to enlightenment, so until that wish is full activities as a BodhiSattva will never cease.
In continuation with understanding more about meditation and mindfulness. I picked this up, at a Buddhist temple shop.
It took me a while to get through the first half of the book because I kept asking ChatGPT, most of the concepts being discussed in this particular book.
It was a helpful read as I want to tread down this path, but I recommend this to be your technical read for Buddhist mediation techniques.
January 12, 2020
I enjoyed the beginning of this book but as it went on/deeper it was less aligned with my specific tradition/goals and therefore less relevant for me. I probably would have done just as well sticking with the portion excepted in a compilation I recently read.
June 27, 2020
One of the main dharma books I read and reread. I usually just dip in but decided that I need to read my dharma books right through at this time. This book is my constant North star as I navigate the path.
November 29, 2019
Полезный практический путеводитель по гуру-йоге, практикам нёндро и связанным с нею забавам ума, которыми можно развлекаться, если просто медитировать без знака скучно. А можно и не развлекаться. Не только это в ней ценно, а еще и то, что Дзонгсар вводит нас, западного читателя (обратите внимание на рассогласование по числу), в настоящую буддистскую систему ценностей и показывает некоторые схемы мышления, которых у нас, понятно нет и быть не может. Не забываем при этом, что автор еще и прекрасный кинематографист в своем праве.
Самое же потешное здесь — выступая против того же «духовного материализма», автор не забывает прогибаться все-таки под самсару. Чему свидетельствует политкорректная и очень произвольная расстановка гендерных местоимений по всему тексту. Кто-нибудь обобщенный может оказываться то «он», то «она». Хотя, с другой стороны, может, так оно и надо — какая разница, кто это, он или она. Хотя писал бы тогда «оно» уже, что ли…
Самое же потешное здесь — выступая против того же «духовного материализма», автор не забывает прогибаться все-таки под самсару. Чему свидетельствует политкорректная и очень произвольная расстановка гендерных местоимений по всему тексту. Кто-нибудь обобщенный может оказываться то «он», то «она». Хотя, с другой стороны, может, так оно и надо — какая разница, кто это, он или она. Хотя писал бы тогда «оно» уже, что ли…
March 16, 2013
This book is a wonderful guide. Rinpoche's style is most refreshing. I always find myself returning to his books and teachings along with Trungpa Rinpoche's, to get a good swift kick in the ass! Thank you.
August 5, 2014
This book is a very useful read for anyone doing the Ngondro of any tradition. The advices are useful for practicioners of any lineage and very valuable. The sense of humor of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse rinpoche is very entertaining.
October 3, 2018
A good reminder of Buddhist practice. Not a primer. You'll have to have preliminary notions before getting into this book and the practices it suggests. This is for the intermediate or advanced student.
August 24, 2014
This book for me, I should read again and again.
December 20, 2017
I think this book will be more useful to me when I delve deeper into practicing buddhism. For starters, this book will not be engaging.
July 3, 2014
a perfect guide.. must read for the beginners :)
April 7, 2020
2018.07.05–2018.07.05
Contents
Khyentse DJ (2012) (06:49) Not For Happiness - A Guide to the So-Called Preliminary Practices
Publisher’s Note
Preface
• How Useful Is Cultural Paraphernalia?
• The Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro
• About This Book
Introduction: Adjust Your Mind
• The Heart of Dharma Lies in Everyday Activities
• Spiritual Practise Constantly Changes
• Dharma Instructions
• The “Heart of Sadness”
• The Certainty of Death
• Go Beyond Concept
Part I: Why We Do Ngöndro Practise
01. What Is Dharma Good For?
• Will Dharma Make Me Happy?
• Develop “Renunciation Mind”
• Develop the Willingness to Face the Truth
• How to Appreciate the True Value of the Dharma
• Overcome Poverty Mentality
• Be Greedy for “Noble Wealth”
• Hear and Contemplate the Dharma
• Practise According to Your Own Capacity
• Vows
• Liberation from Illusion and Delusion
• Continuous Existence
• Buddha Nature: Develop Confidence That the Worst Kind of Dirt Can Be Washed Away
• Mindfulness
• • The Problem: Distraction
• • The Solution: Mindfulness
• Discipline, Meditation and Wisdom
02. The Causal and the Resultant Paths
• The Causal Path
• The Resultant Path
• The Path Is the Goal
• That Which Binds Samsaric Beings Can also Liberate Them
• Using This Physical Body as a Path
03. Introduction to Ngöndro Practise
• “Ngöndro”: A Misnomer?
• The Structure of the Ngöndro
• A Few Words of Advice Before You Begin
• • Patience: You Will Make Mistakes
• • Asking Questions
• • The Place and Time to Practise
• • You Should Be Frustrated
• • Good Days and Bad Days
• • Supports for Practise
04. Your Spiritual Warm-Up
• The Four Attitudes of Practitioners
• 1. The Attitude of a Wounded Deer
• 2. The Attitude of a Lion
• 3. The Attitude of the Wind
• 4. The Attitude of the Crazy
• The Three Noble Principles
• • 1. Arouse Bodhichitta
• • 2. Apply the Awareness of Nonduality
• • 3. Dedicate
• Cut the Chain of Thoughts
• Discipline as a Preparation
• Remembering the Guru Is the Best Preparation for Practise
• Three Pith Instructions for Before You Begin to Practise
• • 1. Expelling the Stale Air
• • 2. Transform the Environment into a Buddha Realm
• • 3. Create an Inspiring Atmosphere and Environment
• Calling the Guru
• The Common Foundations
• • 1. The Preciousness of This Human Body
• • 2. Impermanence
• • 3. Karma
• • 4. The Defects of Samsara
05. Using Your Imagination
• Visualisation Practise
• • The Dissolution of a Visualisation
• • Field of Merit
• Common Questions
06. Why Do We Need a Guru?
• Examine the Guru
• Teachers Manifest to Inspire Students
• The Guru
• What Makes a Student Look for a Guru?
• The Guru Is the Dharma
• Don’t Second-Guess Yourself
• The Qualities to Look For in an Authentic Guru
• • 1. An Authentic Guru Is Also a Dharma Practitioner
• • 2. An Authentic Guru Does Not Adjust the Teachings to Turn a Profit
• • 3. An Authentic Guru Belongs to an Authentic Lineage
• Merit and the Guru
• Spiritual Progress Is Measured in Devotion
Part II: The Ngöndro
07. Taking Refuge
• Fear
• Trust
• Compassion
• Taking Refuge: The Theory
• Taking Refuge: The Pith Instructions
• Taking Refuge: The Practise
• • Visualise the Refuge Tree
• Accumulating Prostrations
• • Why Prostrate at All?
• • Counting Prostrations: Just Do It!
• How to Break Your Resistance to Practise
• • Meditate Between Prostrations
• • Overcoming Laziness
• • Take Every Opportunity to Practise
• • The End of the Session
08. Arousing Bodhichitta
• What Is Bodhichitta?
• • Bodhichitta: Love, Compassion and the Wisdom of Nonduality
• • A Beginner’s Practise of Absolute Bodhichitta
• • Develop the Strength of Compassion
• Relative Bodhichitta
• • Bodhichitta of Aspiration
• • • Aspiration Keeps Beginners Humble
• • • How to Care for Others
• • • The Objects of Our Compassion
• • Bodhichitta of Aspiration: The Practises
• • • 1. Tonglen
• • • 2. The Four Immeasurables
• • • • Love
• • • • Compassion
• • • • Joy
• • • • Equanimity
• • The Bodhichitta of Application
• • • The Six Paramitas
• • • • 1. Generosity
• • • • 2. Discipline
• • • • 3. Patience
• • • • 4. Diligence
• • • • 5. Samadhi
• • • • 6. Wisdom
• • Absolute Bodhichitta
• • The End of the Session
09. The Practise of Purification by Meditating on the Guru as Vajrasattva
• Obscurations and Defilements: Bad Karma
• Why Visualise the Guru as Vajrasattva?
• Devotion: Trusting Mantra and Visualisation
• The Four Powers
• The Visualisation
• • The Nectar Flow
• • Dissolution of the Visualisation
• Samaya
10. Mandala Offering
• Merit
• • How Merit Is Generated
• • The Seven-Branch Offering
• • • Prostration
• • • Offering
• • • Confession
• • • Rejoice
• • • Request the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma
• • • Request That the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Do Not Pass into Parinirvana
• • • Dedication
• • Merit: the Armour That Shields Us from Obstacles
• The Practise
• • What Do We Offer?
• • Practical Tips About the Offering Substances
• • The Visualisation
• • The Seven-Point Mandala Offering
• • • Fig. 1. Seven-Point Mandala Offering.
• • The Thirty-Seven Point Mandala Offering
• • • Fig. 2. Thirty-Seven-Point Mandala Offering.
11. Kusali Practise
• Visualisation: Victory over the Four Maras
• • The Guests and Their Offerings
• • Dissolution
12. Guru Yoga
• The Visualisation
• • The Mantra Visualisation
• The Heart of Guru Yoga
• • The Outer Guru
• • Longing to Feel Connected with Your Guru
• Practical Advice
• • Mixing Your Mind with Your Guru’s
• • The Three Kinds of Poison Practitioners Must Extract
• • Three Nyams
• • When You Get Bored
• • Don’t Commit to Too Many Practises
• The Signs of Maturity in a Practitioner
• Prayers and What to Pray For
13. Abhisheka and the Four Empowerments in Guru Yoga
• Abhisheka: An Introduction to Buddhanature
• What Does Abhisheka Mean?
• Abhisheka: The Theory
• • Ritual Implements
• • Water as a Tantric Substance
• The Practise: Self-Empowerment
• • 1. The Vase Abhisheka
• • 2. The Secret Abhisheka
• • 3. The Wisdom Abhisheka
• • 4. The Word Abhisheka
• Recognizing the Nature of Mind
• Utpattikrama and Sampannakrama
• Tsok Offering
14. Practise Advice
• Taking Emotion as the Path
• • The Three Yanas: Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing
• • • The Shravakayana: Abandoning
• • • The Bodhisattvayana: Transforming
• • • The Vajrayana: Knowing
• • • Apply Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Simultaneously
• Final Advice
• • Alternative Ways to Practise
• • Retreat
• • Sleep Yoga and Waking-up Yoga
• • Signs of Progress
Acknowledgments
Notes
Publisher’s
Contents
Khyentse DJ (2012) (06:49) Not For Happiness - A Guide to the So-Called Preliminary Practices
Publisher’s Note
Preface
• How Useful Is Cultural Paraphernalia?
• The Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro
• About This Book
Introduction: Adjust Your Mind
• The Heart of Dharma Lies in Everyday Activities
• Spiritual Practise Constantly Changes
• Dharma Instructions
• The “Heart of Sadness”
• The Certainty of Death
• Go Beyond Concept
Part I: Why We Do Ngöndro Practise
01. What Is Dharma Good For?
• Will Dharma Make Me Happy?
• Develop “Renunciation Mind”
• Develop the Willingness to Face the Truth
• How to Appreciate the True Value of the Dharma
• Overcome Poverty Mentality
• Be Greedy for “Noble Wealth”
• Hear and Contemplate the Dharma
• Practise According to Your Own Capacity
• Vows
• Liberation from Illusion and Delusion
• Continuous Existence
• Buddha Nature: Develop Confidence That the Worst Kind of Dirt Can Be Washed Away
• Mindfulness
• • The Problem: Distraction
• • The Solution: Mindfulness
• Discipline, Meditation and Wisdom
02. The Causal and the Resultant Paths
• The Causal Path
• The Resultant Path
• The Path Is the Goal
• That Which Binds Samsaric Beings Can also Liberate Them
• Using This Physical Body as a Path
03. Introduction to Ngöndro Practise
• “Ngöndro”: A Misnomer?
• The Structure of the Ngöndro
• A Few Words of Advice Before You Begin
• • Patience: You Will Make Mistakes
• • Asking Questions
• • The Place and Time to Practise
• • You Should Be Frustrated
• • Good Days and Bad Days
• • Supports for Practise
04. Your Spiritual Warm-Up
• The Four Attitudes of Practitioners
• 1. The Attitude of a Wounded Deer
• 2. The Attitude of a Lion
• 3. The Attitude of the Wind
• 4. The Attitude of the Crazy
• The Three Noble Principles
• • 1. Arouse Bodhichitta
• • 2. Apply the Awareness of Nonduality
• • 3. Dedicate
• Cut the Chain of Thoughts
• Discipline as a Preparation
• Remembering the Guru Is the Best Preparation for Practise
• Three Pith Instructions for Before You Begin to Practise
• • 1. Expelling the Stale Air
• • 2. Transform the Environment into a Buddha Realm
• • 3. Create an Inspiring Atmosphere and Environment
• Calling the Guru
• The Common Foundations
• • 1. The Preciousness of This Human Body
• • 2. Impermanence
• • 3. Karma
• • 4. The Defects of Samsara
05. Using Your Imagination
• Visualisation Practise
• • The Dissolution of a Visualisation
• • Field of Merit
• Common Questions
06. Why Do We Need a Guru?
• Examine the Guru
• Teachers Manifest to Inspire Students
• The Guru
• What Makes a Student Look for a Guru?
• The Guru Is the Dharma
• Don’t Second-Guess Yourself
• The Qualities to Look For in an Authentic Guru
• • 1. An Authentic Guru Is Also a Dharma Practitioner
• • 2. An Authentic Guru Does Not Adjust the Teachings to Turn a Profit
• • 3. An Authentic Guru Belongs to an Authentic Lineage
• Merit and the Guru
• Spiritual Progress Is Measured in Devotion
Part II: The Ngöndro
07. Taking Refuge
• Fear
• Trust
• Compassion
• Taking Refuge: The Theory
• Taking Refuge: The Pith Instructions
• Taking Refuge: The Practise
• • Visualise the Refuge Tree
• Accumulating Prostrations
• • Why Prostrate at All?
• • Counting Prostrations: Just Do It!
• How to Break Your Resistance to Practise
• • Meditate Between Prostrations
• • Overcoming Laziness
• • Take Every Opportunity to Practise
• • The End of the Session
08. Arousing Bodhichitta
• What Is Bodhichitta?
• • Bodhichitta: Love, Compassion and the Wisdom of Nonduality
• • A Beginner’s Practise of Absolute Bodhichitta
• • Develop the Strength of Compassion
• Relative Bodhichitta
• • Bodhichitta of Aspiration
• • • Aspiration Keeps Beginners Humble
• • • How to Care for Others
• • • The Objects of Our Compassion
• • Bodhichitta of Aspiration: The Practises
• • • 1. Tonglen
• • • 2. The Four Immeasurables
• • • • Love
• • • • Compassion
• • • • Joy
• • • • Equanimity
• • The Bodhichitta of Application
• • • The Six Paramitas
• • • • 1. Generosity
• • • • 2. Discipline
• • • • 3. Patience
• • • • 4. Diligence
• • • • 5. Samadhi
• • • • 6. Wisdom
• • Absolute Bodhichitta
• • The End of the Session
09. The Practise of Purification by Meditating on the Guru as Vajrasattva
• Obscurations and Defilements: Bad Karma
• Why Visualise the Guru as Vajrasattva?
• Devotion: Trusting Mantra and Visualisation
• The Four Powers
• The Visualisation
• • The Nectar Flow
• • Dissolution of the Visualisation
• Samaya
10. Mandala Offering
• Merit
• • How Merit Is Generated
• • The Seven-Branch Offering
• • • Prostration
• • • Offering
• • • Confession
• • • Rejoice
• • • Request the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma
• • • Request That the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Do Not Pass into Parinirvana
• • • Dedication
• • Merit: the Armour That Shields Us from Obstacles
• The Practise
• • What Do We Offer?
• • Practical Tips About the Offering Substances
• • The Visualisation
• • The Seven-Point Mandala Offering
• • • Fig. 1. Seven-Point Mandala Offering.
• • The Thirty-Seven Point Mandala Offering
• • • Fig. 2. Thirty-Seven-Point Mandala Offering.
11. Kusali Practise
• Visualisation: Victory over the Four Maras
• • The Guests and Their Offerings
• • Dissolution
12. Guru Yoga
• The Visualisation
• • The Mantra Visualisation
• The Heart of Guru Yoga
• • The Outer Guru
• • Longing to Feel Connected with Your Guru
• Practical Advice
• • Mixing Your Mind with Your Guru’s
• • The Three Kinds of Poison Practitioners Must Extract
• • Three Nyams
• • When You Get Bored
• • Don’t Commit to Too Many Practises
• The Signs of Maturity in a Practitioner
• Prayers and What to Pray For
13. Abhisheka and the Four Empowerments in Guru Yoga
• Abhisheka: An Introduction to Buddhanature
• What Does Abhisheka Mean?
• Abhisheka: The Theory
• • Ritual Implements
• • Water as a Tantric Substance
• The Practise: Self-Empowerment
• • 1. The Vase Abhisheka
• • 2. The Secret Abhisheka
• • 3. The Wisdom Abhisheka
• • 4. The Word Abhisheka
• Recognizing the Nature of Mind
• Utpattikrama and Sampannakrama
• Tsok Offering
14. Practise Advice
• Taking Emotion as the Path
• • The Three Yanas: Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing
• • • The Shravakayana: Abandoning
• • • The Bodhisattvayana: Transforming
• • • The Vajrayana: Knowing
• • • Apply Abandoning, Transforming and Knowing Simultaneously
• Final Advice
• • Alternative Ways to Practise
• • Retreat
• • Sleep Yoga and Waking-up Yoga
• • Signs of Progress
Acknowledgments
Notes
Publisher’s
July 20, 2020
For those craving for worldly pleasures, a happiness cannot be found in Dharma, Rinpoche points out.
Ngöndro means a Tibetan word for preliminary practices which basically includes a series of practices such as accumulating prostrations, arousing bodhichitta, mandala offering and guru yoga repeating each element of the practice to a great deal.
This book is a profound wisdom from the compassionate living Buddha and will be a great help especially to the Ngöndro practitioners around the world.
The great lesson I always learn when reading, listening or watching Dharma teachings is the nature of emptiness or the concept of nonduality though as Rinpoche points out in this book that it's not easy to comprehend as it appears or one feels. However, we must be reminded ourselves about it time and again and I'm happy about it. In this book too, there is often emphasis on it that everything we do, see or think is illusory. Everything is merely the creation of our minds and every essence of existence is empty.
Ngöndro means a Tibetan word for preliminary practices which basically includes a series of practices such as accumulating prostrations, arousing bodhichitta, mandala offering and guru yoga repeating each element of the practice to a great deal.
This book is a profound wisdom from the compassionate living Buddha and will be a great help especially to the Ngöndro practitioners around the world.
The great lesson I always learn when reading, listening or watching Dharma teachings is the nature of emptiness or the concept of nonduality though as Rinpoche points out in this book that it's not easy to comprehend as it appears or one feels. However, we must be reminded ourselves about it time and again and I'm happy about it. In this book too, there is often emphasis on it that everything we do, see or think is illusory. Everything is merely the creation of our minds and every essence of existence is empty.
January 12, 2019
I was reading this while also reading Enlightened Vagabond, a collection of stories of Patrul Rinpoche. I found the teachings clear and easy to read. Here are some of my favorite quotes from this book:
“Ultimately, merely to hear and think about dharma is not enough; we must also practise it. So, hearing, contemplating and meditating on dharma are all vital to our spiritual path, with meditation lying at its very core.” (Preface)
“The decision to follow a spiritual path is the central most important undertaking of a person’s life, one that is usually made when trust in more worldly objectives is betrayed, causing you to resolve to switch to a more trustworthy path.” (P.96)
“Ultimately, merely to hear and think about dharma is not enough; we must also practise it. So, hearing, contemplating and meditating on dharma are all vital to our spiritual path, with meditation lying at its very core.” (Preface)
“The decision to follow a spiritual path is the central most important undertaking of a person’s life, one that is usually made when trust in more worldly objectives is betrayed, causing you to resolve to switch to a more trustworthy path.” (P.96)
June 11, 2024
“The method of the secret mantrayana is not to fabricate and in the state of nonfabrication simply to recognize”
“If you do a Ngondro retreat… decide your day in 3 or 4 sessions and complete the whole Ngondro in each session”
King of all signs of accomplishment- renunciation mind, sadness, devotion
Escalating appetite for dharma practice, noticing the futility of everything you do
“If you do a Ngondro retreat… decide your day in 3 or 4 sessions and complete the whole Ngondro in each session”
King of all signs of accomplishment- renunciation mind, sadness, devotion
Escalating appetite for dharma practice, noticing the futility of everything you do
December 29, 2024
The priceless introduction to Tantric Buddhism
Dzongsar Rinpoche’s approach to Vienna is very unique, intelligent, and effective, especially for those of us who not from the Himalayan traditions. Is concise, to the point, witty, piss instructions are infused with wisdom and just enough humor to make you want to come back for seconds as soon as the bottle is finished.
Dzongsar Rinpoche’s approach to Vienna is very unique, intelligent, and effective, especially for those of us who not from the Himalayan traditions. Is concise, to the point, witty, piss instructions are infused with wisdom and just enough humor to make you want to come back for seconds as soon as the bottle is finished.
October 5, 2021
Truth be told I started this book in 2017. Good lord Jesus I am embarrassed at how much I didn’t like this book. Poorly written and author seems like kind of a dick. There are plenty of other great books about Buddhism and this is not one I would recommend
October 5, 2022
Livro mais recomendado para praticantes budistas que já pretendem começar a prática do Ngondro (práticas preliminares). Rinpoche é, como de costume, de uma escrita ótima e irreverente, apontando para a sabedoria mas desmistificando a nossa confusão. Recomendo.
November 9, 2024
I really don't like this type of writing, one that sets up intuitive foils then takes the counterintuitive position, giving extremely simplistic analyses of either, that pervades "pop Buddhist" writings (ironically enough, Žižek also writes this way). However, as an introduction into Ngöndro, it was helpful in providing information on the first steps to take towards Vajrayana practice, as well as prescribing a specific psychic outlook towards this practice.
August 20, 2018
Essential, pith and hysterical
May 4, 2019
Started strong and went down hill. For Ngondro practitioners only, IMHO.
June 5, 2020
A book that is not for beginners in Buddhism. It's so wonderful, though, and Rinpoche is both funny and dead serious in explaining how to and why practice.
July 25, 2021
This is an amazing read. Inspiring, practical and relevant information for all on the path of enlightenment.
February 10, 2022
Up to date, practical explanation of the methods and purpose of Ngondro practices.
January 18, 2025
3.5-4 stars
May 30, 2025
Inspired me to start practicing meditation more consistently again after many years of little to no practice.
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