Like a spontaneous cascade of wisdom nectar, the open and natural words of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, uncomplicated by scholarly elaboration, flow here in the tradition of the direct transmissions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the past. Through commentary on the Preliminary Practices (Ngöndrö) prayer from the treasure text of the great master Tragtung Düdjom Lingpa, insights into many central practices emerge in order to deepen understanding of the foundations of Vajrayana Buddhism. Also included in the book is a commentary on the Tsok Khang Dechen (Assembly Palace of Great Exaltation), the root text prayer of the second Kyabje Düdjom Rinpoche, Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje.
Kyabjé Dungsé Thinley Norbu Rinpoche (Tib. གདུང་སྲས་ཕྲིན་ལས་ནོར་བུ་, Wyl. gdung sras phrin las nor bu), eldest son of Dudjom Rinpoche and father of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, was a prominent teacher within the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, and considered to be an emanation of Longchenpa.
This is an incredibly clear primer on preliminary practices (Ngöndrö). There are some great lines and very no BS attitude about why you need a sitting practice.
“Even a person if this degenerate age with an outer dharma form and the inner corrupted mind of a crazed wild elephant, overpowered by bad habits of the three poisons, by reading this commentary once will realize the benefits of renunciation and Bodhichitta.”
I enjoyed and highlighted many passages in this book. My only qualm is while the author feverishly dismantles other religions as limited and incorrect (I do not disagree), he also feverishly attempts to prove why buddhism is correct. It’s fine to conceptualize, but it’s better to just sit down and read your Ngondro.