Ngondro practices are condensed practices to earn merit and reach Liberation from Samsara.
by Khenpo Tashi
We have explained earlier what Ngondro is and the signs of successful Ngondro practice.
Here, we explain what the specific practices of Ngondro are, and some advice.
TWO ANALOGIES TO DESCRIBE NGONDRO
The first analogy: Ngondro is like a building’s foundation. We can only build 100 stories of a building if the foundation underneath the ground was prepared for such a height. Similarly, if we want to practice Buddhist Tantras to liberate us within one life, Ngondro serves as this ‘unseen’ foundation hidden under the ground.
The second analogy: We, Samsaric beings, are like very wet firewood. The sun is the Buddha’s compassion. The magnifying glass is the teacher and the higher Buddhist teachings.
The sun’s rays, the Buddha’s compassion, reaches every point of the earth. However, we, the very wet firewood, cannot be warmed by the sun’s rays. Why? The wetness symbolizes the mind that is too immersed in the attachments towards Samsara.
Ngondro is like drying this firewood. The drier the firewood, the more the sun’s rays, or the Buddha’s compassion, can burn the wood. When the firewood catches fire, this is to be enveloped in the Buddha’s wisdom.
Ngondro is the condensed theory and practice of the entire Buddhism.
Ngondro is already a complete path on its own. It has Taking Refuge, Bodhicitta, and receiving the Buddha’s lineage and blessing. Ngondro, we can say, is the condensed theory and practice of the entire Buddhism.
THE FIVE PRACTICES OF NGONDRO
For detailed explanations of the practices, the best is to request personal instructions from a qualified teacher.
- Full-body Prostrations (Solidifying trust in the Triple Gems)
- Chanting the Refuge Vow
- Chanting 100-syllable Vajrasattva Mantra (Purification of negative Karma and obstacles)
- 37-point Long Mandala Offering (Supreme merit accumulation)
- Chanting the 7-line Guru Rinpoche Supplication Prayer (Requesting the Master’s Lineage and Blessing)
Ngondro is known for the 100,000 times. What is this? For example, traditionally, we say that we have ‘completed’ 500,000 when we have done 100,000 times of each of the five practices. 500,000 or 1 full Ngondro set.
Past practitioners have done Ngondro many times. Patrul Rinpoche is said to have done each of the practices 2.5 million times. That is 25 sets. Other lamas have done more than 1 million times of each. Even old-looking Tibetan elders, who look weak, have done so many amounts of Ngondro, sometimes even numbering in the millions.
Meanwhile, for beginners of Ngondro, it is up to us how much we want to complete. There is no fix number to complete. Ngondro are lifetime prayers.
SOME TIPS TO PRACTICE
1) Do slowly and completely; DO NOT RUSH
We will tend to rush to finish Ngondro. However, we have to do each practice, a mantra, a bow etc, slowly and completely.
2) Be consistent
There is a saying, 100,000 times is not the end. It is the minimum. Ngondro should be treated as life-long prayers.
3) Read more on the Sutras and the Buddha’s stories
Reading Sutras will inspire our Ngondro practice and will encourage us to do Ngondro. The Buddha’s stories will also inspire us.
4) Perfect Time is Now
It is best to do Ngondro in a full-retreat setting, because there are lesser distractions and we can concentrate more. BUT, it is difficult to go for a retreat. So, we must find time to practice now, wherever and whenever we can.
SIGNS OF SUCCESS
Signs of successful Ngondro practices can be found in the previous article.