Teachings: Preliminary Practices

Ego-clinging is very subtle. Everything we do seems to be another way to feed the ego. The ego bribes us into assuming a path that seems to be a genuine spiritual practice, but then our ego usurps it. Even chanting ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ can be appropriated by the ego. You sit down on your … READ MORE

One purpose of the mandala offering is to eliminate ego-clinging. Another is to perfect the accumulation of merit. Any act of giving is an offering, not just of the object being given, but of the effort that went into creating that object. For example, when giving a single butter lamp, you offer not only the … READ MORE

You know the phrases ‘Try hard’ and ‘Don’t do anything?’ We need to know when each of these is applicable. ‘Try hard’ when you are lazy–cut it–chop-chop. We have this tendency to be lazy, to whine and complain. It needs a chop, which is not such a big deal. We don’t have to be too … READ MORE

The best situation is to practice in a way in which mind essence is recognized in conjunction with the skillful Vajrayana methods. These methods include refuge, bodhichitta, the preliminary practices, the yidam deity, and so on. To practice these concurrently, excluding neither one nor the other, is the most profound way of perfecting the two … READ MORE

Particularly when we come to Vajrayana practice, we must also have a certain amount of courage, a certain kind of mental strength, and together with that, an openness and softness of heart. This quality does not mean we are spaced-out or preoccupied with one thought after another. Rather, we should have a willingness to understand … READ MORE

Vajrayana practitioners should not belittle the emotions. Emotions are like smoke, and if there is smoke, there is also fire. In other words, when you look at somebody who has very strong emotions, that person may also have a lot of wisdom. Who knows? Such a person may perhaps, through skillful methods, be able to … READ MORE

In order to progess, we supplicate our lineage masters. We supplicate the Buddha, we supplicate the Dharma, we supplicate the Sangha: ‘Grant your blessings that I may progress in this practice.’ By this supplication, we keep reminding ourselves to recognize and allow this short moment, again and again. As with collecting raindrops from the eaves … READ MORE

It doesn’t make sense to grab at the highest teachings and reject the rest. It is the kindness of the buddhas to provide us with a complete path, and the preliminary practices are part of that path. All great teachers of the past have taught the identical message: ‘Gather the accumulations, purify the obscurations, and … READ MORE

There is a very good reason the preliminary practices come before the main part of practice. Every single aspect of the preliminary practices is meant to be like a pestle to grind and smash your laziness. Imagine that you are making hot sauce, achaar, with a stone mortar and pestle. When making this Tibetan salsa, … READ MORE