A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the preliminary practices (ngondro) are widely recognized as being fundamentally important for both beginners and advanced meditators. The author writes, "In our tradition, we consider this practice to be the main practice." He himself used to begin each day with a meditation session on the preliminaries: aligning one's mind and heart with the Buddha's and all buddhist practioners (taking refuge); praying for the removal of obstacles and negative thoughts and actions (Vajrasattva mantra); making offerings to the Buddha (mandala); and connecting with the Buddha's and the teacher's mind through prayer (guru yoga). In this book, Dudjom Rinpoche explains a key text (the Khandro Nyingtik) attributed to Padmasambhava, the great Indian meditation master credited with bringing the Buddha's teachings to Tibet. The instructions here are clear, direct, and personal, illuminating the heart of Vajrayana Buddhist practice and philosophy. Included is the root text by Padmasambhava and the commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche. The author offers unusual detail and includes a wealth of information not often found in other written commentaries. He begins by describing how to approach the study of Buddhism, how to identify a qualified teacher, and the requirements of the student. He then covers each section of the preliminaries in full, culminating in a memorable teaching on guru yoga, or the practice that joins the student with the teacher's heart.