ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008) by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

Rinpoche, transcribed from podcast

http://www.khyentserecordings.org/namo/Podcasts.html

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 1/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

This is still a work in progress. But I have to tell you this is not like a new idea of
ngondro. What Im trying to do is trying to maximize the benefit of the ngondro or the
purpose of the ngondro. This is something that you can use; this is something you
can use with all the ngondro texts, any kind, hmm. I have no, I have not written
basically, I, I have not written a specific ngondro text here, if thats what you are
wondering.

Probably Im wrong but when I observe, not only the dharma practitioners in the
West, but today even in the traditional Buddhist countries; maybe Im wrong but the
way I kind of observe that the intention of doing the ngondro is becoming almost
like a ritual. The culprit is actually the East, the Tibetan lamas you know.

See when you, when you give treatment to people who have ailment, you treat them
according to their ailment. And most of the traditional approach, not the ngondro
itself, the APPROACH to the ngondro is one - It came first from India and then from,
mainly from the Tibetans, so the approach, approach of the ngondro is very sort of
Tibetan, sort of, the treatment is very eh, the Tibetan; theres a lot of Tibetan thing,
you know Tibetan attitude. I guess this is not only within the spiritual practice but it
happens within many things, you know like appren, appren, apprenticeship.

For instance if you want to become a carpenter probably the master carpenter might
tell within that culture or particularly with this person that he or she has to cook for
him one year first. And then he can sharpen the knife for next, the next after that;
and then he can only then touch the wood and so on and so forth. And this master
carpenter may be having a specific reason. For instance, the master might want to
see the seriousness, the commitment of the person. So therefore maybe suggest
cooking for him for a year or something how dedication kind of. Eh, master needs
to know the motivation of this person wanting to become a carpenter, you know. And
motivation, hes, yeah motivation mainly.

Now if theres somebody dress prettily, really wholeheartedly wishes to become a

carpenter and this person doesnt have much time; if after, if someone following this
masters tradition after hundred years huh, after hundred years somebody wishes to
become, long after this master is gone, somebody wants to become a carpenter,
really, really badly, desperately. And he or she doesnt have much time, but this new
master really insists on this cooking one year. Now I dont know whether this is
making sense.

On the other hand, maybe somebody comes to this master, this new, new master
with not so much enthusiasm, sort of maybe as a hobby you know, or he or she
happens to have lots of time. Then it is maybe wrong to ask this student to cook for
only one year. Maybe this student needs to cook for seven years. This is a good
example because also cooking really has, strictly speaking, nothing to do with the
carpentering. So many times as a prerequisite practice, we are asked to do things
that have nothing to do with what we are asking for, the dharma practice, lets say.

Now of course, we are talking, you know, we also have to talk about the ideal
situation. You know we are talking about REALLY an ideal master who really knows
what he is doing. Thats difficult because the ideal; you know nowadays most of the
masters, teachers - we can only follow the direction, you know we can only follow

certain you know like contents, you know like; theres like a, like a cookbook, you
know like first you put this, second you do this, third you do this. You just follow that,
and it kind of work.

But a master chef doesnt need to do this thing. Master chef do completely opposite
things sometimes and still comes brilliant food. Indian classical music is very deep.
Its a very big study, Ive, I have noticed. And theres actually a case that a musician,
a student diligently practicing music for many, many years. One day the master said
as part of your practice, you have to get married and youve to have children. And
many, many years later, you know like he got married, children; children grow up, he
raised the family, never really have time for practicing the music. But many years
later, when the musician now, you know a family person, plays the music - its like
the perfect music because here maybe this musician is at last bringing some kind of
emotion.

Now ngondro, the way I observe, I may be wrong here, is becoming a standard sort
of prescription, sort of prerequisite. So you go to somebody, specially a Tibetan lama
and then usually they say Have you finished ngondro? Are you doing ngondro? Something like that. All these have sort of formed a new trend or tradition or
assumption that something like a hundred thousand prostrations has to be, eh, we
have to get that out of the way first. You know thats the word GET THE
NGONDRO OUT OF THE WAY, you understand? That kind of attitude has sort of
mushroomed.

In fact the word ngondro itself is an unfortunate name. The label ngondro is
already itself is unfortunate label. It should not be referred as a ngondro. But these
are all catch-22 situations because having said that, for, for the human beings its
good to hear things like okay you do this thing first, ngondro. So thats why the
word like ngondro, the label like ngondro is necessary. Not only that, numbers, they
give you like hundred thousand this, hundred thousand that. For instance like the
number, you know I have discussed with many people the purpose of the number.
Why should we count, you know? People dont like to count. People think its, you
know ego, building sort of; it ends up making you more egoistic because you count,
you collect, you know all that argument, we hear.

So one can develop quite a good argument Numbers are not necessary you know.
We Buddhists, we should not really be caring about the quantity; its the quality that
counts. But then there is a challenge though; there is a problem here. Milarepa said
(Tibetan phrase); Milarepa said my religion is a religion of not deceiving oneself
and not to be embarrassed to myself with myself. Now this is a very important point.
If you dont have counting and all of that, there is no index system, so to speak to
measure your practice. So you could be sitting on a comfortable cushion, thinking
about other kinds of index such as financial index for whole morning. And you can
think that you have practised. Meanwhile you havent done anything. Now that is

even more dangerous. So this is why numbers and all these, in a way, is quite
important also; because it brings you, it confines you.

You know, we talk about the power of now dont dwell in the past, dont think
about the future, being in the present thats the quintessential practice of
buddhadharma. Thats very well but whether you do it or not theres no machine
that tells you. I wish iPhone makes a device that says, that sort of rings a bell every
time you go to the past, every time youre going to the future. Only you can tell. Only
you can tell. So you could be sitting there until your butt swells and you could be
dwelling in the past or dwelling in the future or completely be dull and think that you
have practiced the dharma. This we dont know. Only you or a very qualified master
can tell.

Not only that things like, profound things like being in the present; but even kind of
more easier thing like being kind. We can always say oh, you know I can always
practice kindness; I dont need all this chanting and all that. But how much of our socalled kindness is manifested from selfishness. We dont KNOW, very difficult to
judge. So it looks like all these stages, you know different grades, numbers, are also
looks like its kind of important. First you do the Refuge, then you do the Bodhicitta,
all these kind of important.

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 2/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

Now, therere some challenges also. Time has changed even in the traditional
Buddhist countries. In the ancient India, sadhus, practitioners begging food in the
street, practicing the dharma, the ancient Indian looked at them as present-days
cancer, cancer research doctor. Wow! These people are doing amazing job
searching for the truth for the rest of the world. So they offered them food, shelter,
paid homage, respect. Now these sadhus are shooed away from the homes, city
banks and all that.

Many of the ngondro teachings, literature that we have are written different time and
different place. I am not saying theyre irrelevant but they are written at a different
time and for a different audience. Many of these instructions tell us go to the

mountains, become homeless, go and you know, dwell in the forest. The modern
world does not allow you to do that. You can get arrested.

The system of the world today everywhere is getting the, the noose of the
materialism, noose of; you know. Theres a system is built you know like eh; the
system like bill, system such as tax, it, it really; the noose of this system gets tighter
and tighter in every situation.

You know like when I went to Bhutan this time for the first time I hear from the
Bhutanese oh, I have to save some leave so that I can go to your teaching. This
was not a, not a; this is a new phenomenon in Bhutan now. Saving leave now this
is a modern, modern problem, isnt it? Before Bhutanese, they just walk out of the
office ANYTIME they like, you know kind of thing. Now theres something called
saving leave.

Support for the dharma practitioner is almost non-existent because its not a profitmaking thing, you know. It, it, it will not; eh, practicing the dharma will not, nothing to
do with the GN.., what is it, eh GNP; will not be. We dont know where to put this,
you know practising the dharma into.

Places like London even to go out of your house, you feel like theres a tax just
going out. When you come back, at least a little bit of money is gone; you know ten,
twenty, thirty pounds already gone. Sometimes you, you come back empty-handed,
no shopping bag in your hand, nothing; its already gone. Your wallet is half empty.
Its like a tax of breathing in and out.

Then there is another, theres also another problem here. I am talking about the
ngondro still now. This is a problem; most of the ngondros started in the East, you
know ngondro, all this ngondro business. So the society, the value is different, the
thinking is different also. The East maybe, they are more face-saving oriented; the
West maybe more guilt-oriented neither better nor, you know, both are equal,
yeah; one is no better than the other. So for instance, when we teach Vajrasattva; in
the Vajrasattva, one of the main components of the practice is guilt. If you dont have
guilt, then you dont practice. But this guilt gets associated with original sin in the
West, which is totally non-existent in the East, I mean in certain Easterners. So that
becomes very difficult.

Eh, East, in the East also theres a problem. Easterners have this strange stupid
loyalty. They have really stupid loyalty towards something, their leaders or you know
national leaders, their country or something like that. Loyalty or patriotism and this
get mingled with the guru yoga devotion, you understand. At the same time, in the

West, individual rights are very important. Whats this guru business? I dont want
anybody telling what to do. Now the big point is - with all these challenges and
problems do not mean that dharma needs to change - no, not at all.

Method of practicing the dharma may be needed to be altered here and there a little
bit. First to become a dharma practitioner, it is really important to create the condition
of the dharma practice. I am not talking about meditation cushion and you know like
incense and all that. That, you know those are not that important but you can have it
also, if you want. I am talking about creating the habit of dharma practice - so
creating the world, creating the universe. Obviously we cant go round and make the
whole universe and the world physically Buddhist sort of dharma-friendly universe.
No - that we cant.

Culture also, dharma culture we need to develop. And I think thats one very
important aspect of the ngondro to create that. To create that atmosphere, dharma
practice atmosphere, okay so keep that in your mind first. Okay we will visit this later.

Now what is ngondro for? What is the purpose of ngondro? Actually ngondro is a
mm, the concept of ngondro is actually tantric thing. Most of the ngondro, so-called
ngondro texts or ngondro practices happen to be Vajrayana. But this does not mean
that Shravakayana and Mahayana do not have preliminary practice, no. Okay, first
the purpose of ngondro. The purpose of ngondro is really, primarily changing your
value system. If you are really, really, really hungry right now and then if I say - top of
this mountain, there is a bag of gold, why dont you walk up? Not that interested.
Piece of bread is more valuable at the moment. Yeah, that kind of value Im talking
about.

So to begin with, the purpose of ngondro is to develop this, AT THE LEAST develop
this, at the least, if not revulsion, at the least this mind of okay enough, I have
enough. Not so important these samsaric things power, position, friendship,
attention not so important; if I have it fine; if I dont have it fine. That kind of
attitude, we have to develop and on the other hand, longing for liberation like the
piece of bread, yeah. Gold, if I have it, fine, but at the moment no need, right
because Im hungry - the food, piece of bread - really longing to develop that,
THATS primary purpose of the ngondro.

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 3/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

Now, so this alone, this much alone will be good enough as a preliminary practice
for, on the Shravakayana level. Now you want to be, you want to aim higher. Youre
not only longing for liberation for yourself but for all sentient beings, meaning you
want to practice the mahakaruna, compassion. Your attitude is, of course, not wants
to dwell in samsara but also not interested in nirvana; then youve a bigger agenda.
That is yet another purpose of the ngondro to develop that atmosphere. So that is
what you need if you are practicing Mahayana level.

Now you REALLY want to liberate myself and all sentient beings and you want to do
it quick. You cant; you are not that patient to go through the three, you know
countless eons and so on and so forth. Okay, so what do you need? In this case,
you need to practice the pure perception, you know. Then that needs to be
developed.

So okay three things, right - the first, kind of revulsion towards the samsara; second,
compassion to the sentient beings; third, pure perception. You, the purpose of the
ngondro is to gather cause, condition, habit, culture, civilization, I dont know, attitude
to make sure so that these three happen. Now ngondro has all of that. This is why I
was telling you ngondro should not be referred as a ngondro because it has a
complete path. Its because of this, Patrul Rinpoche say (Tibetan phrase)
preliminary practice is more important than the main practice.

Okay, summary purpose of this practice of ngondro, to summarize - is basically to

purify defilements and accumulate merit. Okay, now this is my suggestion or my; this
is work, work in progress, huh. So here I want to clearly tell you those who are
following a tradition, those who are already doing ngondro and happy with it, please
continue with that. You do not follow what Im telling you here today. You have no
commitment to follow what Im telling you.

But for those who are totally new, those who wish to practice, begin to practice, not
necessarily; okay practice buddhadharma and then eventually practice the, you
know, Vajrayana then and if you think that what Im making maybe is making
sense for you you, you, youre always welcome to become the guinea pig, okay
(laughter). And all these titles are just, you know made up because its just work in
progress; so we have some titles here. Now this primarily is or as, as I come up with
this idea, Im coming up this idea based on someone who is quite new but I still think
that even the oldest, old-seasoned practitioner, if they follow, I mean if they, if they
can sort of pick up some of these ideas from here - might help.

So first duration is six months this is suggested only, huh. During these six
months, I am encouraging people to think sceptically to the Buddha, his Dharma and
all the system. Now I want to, you know, to authenticate my ideas. I, I also try to get
the support of the Buddhas words. Buddha HIMSELF said like gold you should
not, you should first cast it, burn it, then CHECK whether its a real gold or not. You
cant just take it, anything that is yellowish, shine, shining as gold.

Likewise you must first analyse with critical mind, check; not only analyse the
Buddha and Dharma but analyse also your own this curiosity. Suddenly you have
this curiosity to become a practitioner why, why is that? Am I looking for an
escape? Am I really looking for enlightenment? Anyway what is enlightenment? Is it
land with a lot of ice cream, stuff like that?

For you, I mean for yourself - am I looking for heavenly experience which is
misunderstood as enlightenment? Do I really need this Buddhist enlightenment that
is something to do with beyond space, beyond time? Do I really need the Buddhist
enlightenment where if by accident I got that enlightenment, I will never be able to
watch a detective movie because I will have no, I will have omniscience so I will
know everything instantly; so theres no suspense. Do I really need a state where I
will have no strangers and no friends, difference? Sounds very BORING!

As you become critical, you may also fall into sort of very negative critical, huh. Ah, I
dont need this, I dont need the dharma, I dont need the Buddha. I dont need
spiritual path. At that time, be critical to your own critic, critical reason because thats
just another of your blindness. As sort of simple to do as it sounds, I think its very
important this, this. this period of six months is VERY IMPORTANT because here
you will really test your motivation.

Actually its not; its not a waste of time. In fact already you are becoming a spiritual
person because you are REALLY looking at it from different angle. During these six
months, suggested readings. There is a good book called What the Buddha taught
by Walpola Rahula, Theravadan. Dont worry about the titles, we can always; those
who are interested, you know, they can send email to us. And I think Thich Nhat
Hanhs book like Old Path White Clouds is good. And then to develop a critical
mind, books such as The End of Faith by Sam Harris, Feet of Clay by Anthony
Storr. Feet of Clay may be good to read just before the Guru Yoga.

This, this is to basically, you know; it is a bit like this. Okay suddenly you have this
inspiration to practice the dharma, you understand. And then we just have to put
some cold water, you know like be more rational. I thought its also good to read

something like Tao Te Ching by Lao-tzu because it might help you to get used to a
certain logic.

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 4/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

During these six months, you might think so are we supposed to be critical and
read some books, is that it? You think six months is quite precious. You want to
practice something. You want to do something already. So Im suggesting do this.
You know I got this idea from the Zen teachings. In the Zen teachings, theres
something called shikantaza. Now the shikantaza is something that you can do from
the day one. And you can still do even as you are dying, I think. Its endless. Its very
profound.

So shikantaza actually means I think, that I was told just sit - of course, no prayers,
no mantras, but not even visualization; no breathing in and out. Whatever comes out
from your mouth and nose, but no specific guided controlled breathing in and out.
The word just sit; the just is amazing word. Its endless word. What do we mean by
just? At this point, we are only concentrating on the sitting. Nothing, I am not giving
you any instructions on mind. So while Im not encouraging you, Im also not saying
that you should not, you should not go wild, having all kinds of fantasies. I am not
saying that.

Just sit. Well, straight is good, anyway good for your bone. Hand gesture either this
or this; other than that as I said, nothing to, nothing special to think. Eyes can remain
open if you are aiming to do Tantric practice in the future. If you are not practicing, if
you are not aiming to do Tantric practice, do whatever you want. No yawning, no
scratching, no responding to phones, ideas; remember just as we talked yesterday just sitting.

Okay, now the number comes because my job is to encourage you to practice, isnt
it? So Im suggesting fifty hours of sitting. How do we define the fifty, how do, how do
we define proper fifty hours? Sit at the least five minutes, minimum five minutes at a
time, adding up to fifty hours. Less than five minutes - not count; anything more than
five, like six minutes, two six minutes is counted as twelve minutes, right? Like that,
added up to fifty hours.

Okay, now there is one very important point here. Fifty hours can be done really; you
know, technically you can do fifty hours of sitting within three days three days and
nights. Im not interested in that. So the point is not to finish the project fifty hours,
okay. The point is to develop the consistency. So these six months you can divide
within the six months. Divide up to you basically; maybe during the weekends you
can do more, okay.

And then in my, the old manual, there is something called analytical meditation. I
dont think its necessary. As I said you know this is a work in progress. Just now I
decided one is not necessary (laughter). Now thats meditation, huh. You already,
see this is what I was telling before. The purpose of the ngondro is to develop that
universe, that habit, that, that world, your circumstance. So you should also have
both meditation practices during those six hours, six months. Both meditations at this
point are very simple, straight-forward.

Do what you think that is good for yourself and others such as charity work. Get used
to buying things like useless things like buddhas statue rather than useful things
such as iPod (laughter). See the point is, as I was telling you, the purpose of the
ngondro is to change your value system, remember? So right now, iPod is really,
really important; buddhas statue where should I put, you know, all of that? So you
have to change that (laughter).

Also because you should get used to taking, disciplining yourself, take a vow like - I
will not go to McDonalds every Tuesday (laughter) very simple ones. This is your
first ever spiritual vow by the way. And then even you know, Im trying to tell you,
you know creating the atmosphere, creating the world of spiritual path. So instead of
like I am not going to eat pasta anymore in a restaurant, just you know, with a
completely depressing MOOD (laughter); make a big deal out of it. Wear a tuxedo or
a tie and suit, invite several friends, make a big ceremony out of this and say here,
you know, beat the champagne glass and say Ive something to announce. You
know like, today, from today on, every Tuesday no more McDonalds - like that
(laughter).

So see, now this; you, you havent yet become Buddhist, huh, still not yet. I call this
stage Joining Sacred and Mundane because many times we divorce the
sacredness and the mundane. When we realize that actually sacredness can be
found in McDonalds by taking a vow not to eat. If no McDonald, there is no
McDonald vow. Okay thats Part One. Two more parts, we will take a break and
then

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 5/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche

Again here, the actual ngondro practice detail, youll not find what I have gathered
here. This is sort of supplementary, commentary or suggestion of; and ACTUALLY
its not only for the ngondro I should, I should have told you right from the
beginning. This is, Ive also gathered here to basically to follow the Buddhist practice
in general. And another thing I should tell you, if you want to follow Shravakayana
and the Mahayana only, I would still suggest Joining the Sacred and the Mundane
is necessary. But all the other and the next is Following the Buddhas Footsteps
even that is necessary, but after that, you dont really need. Or you should follow a
specific Theravadan or Mahayana tradition.

So the Stage One Joining the Sacred... I really, I consider this quite an important
one because here youre planting the seed of spiritual path. It is also here you will,
you know, you will develop this eh, develop eh, non-satisfaction towards the worldly
logic. It is also here that you are developing the seekers mind searcher,
searchers mind. At this point, searching mind is much more difficult, eh much more
important than mind of somebody who found something. This will, I think, enrich you.
This will make you, of course, maybe sad and depressed with the worldly logic,
worldly system. That is the PURPOSE.

If you are happy with worldly whatever, then no need to go into here. But thats not
really; you know theres so many great past philosophers. They have chewed the
end of the cigar, War Ballet, and thought deeply drinking thick coffee, and really
getting depressed about the worldly situation. But they didnt do anything to follow
the path. You know I have a feeling that someone like Nietzsche; if you ask well,
why not take a, you know this McDonald vow? You know, he knows all of this is sort
of pointless and all of that, but again no path this is how I feel. And especially
McDonald vow sounds very childish.

And then here, you are just not reading you know existentialistic books and get so
critical about everything. Here you are doing at least two things. You are medit...,
you are sitting, you are just sitting and you have taken a vow of, I dont know,
McDonalds, Coca-Colas, whatever, something like that. And my advice dont take
too many vows. Dont take complicated vows. Not eating pasta may be not the best
idea (laughter) but not eating McDonalds Tuesday, every Tuesday or Wednesday
much better.

Also dont take a vow, thing that is completely, something that you even dont do.
You know, like I will take a vow I will not bungee jump, you know theres no point
(laughter). Take a vow that you have a temptation such as McDonalds. This is what
I mean by joining the sacred and mundane. To enhance this, I would suggest; lets
say if you have taken a vow of McDonalds, I will suggest every Tuesday you go to
McDonalds. Yeah, you take a vow not to eat but you go there (laughter); not just to
use the toilet but just watch your temptation or read the menu (laughter).

We are talking about building spiritual world; okay next stage is Joining the Footstep
no; Following the Buddhas Footsteps. Ah, here you take refuge. But this is not
part of the ngondro if youre thinking. This is still just; lets say you want to become a
Buddhist, you want do a little bit of practice. Purpose of this practice is to really make
your spiritual path worthwhile. So the purpose is like bringing you from the wrong
path to the right path. So your wrong path from the Buddhist point of view is some,
something that believes in, a system that believes in extreme view.

Here it is good to receive a Refuge vow. This is your first Buddhist vow now, more
than McDonald vow. You can take it from anybody who has received one actually,
but someone who has done a lot of practice monks, yogis, lamas would be good.
Then reading materials; please contact us, well...; you know, doesnt really matter,
basically history of Buddhism, Buddha and his stories; and this stage has no time
period

But I have, I have a, I have wanted to encourage you something strongly. When you
reach to this stage, I want to suggest you, encourage you really, implore you to read
Sutra of Fortunate Eons. This Sutra, I have a reason to do this, several reasons,
huh. One we, the followers of the Buddha, tend to forget reading his own words.
We are all reading shastras and commentaries. We only read maybe Heart Sutra,
thats it. We dont read the, you know, His sutras, His teachings, and so on. I want
people to read that. Its the ultimate authority, His words; if you are a Muslim, Koran;
mm, like that; if you a Buddhist sutras, okay.

Another thing; when you read the sutras - I dont want you to read it as if you are
studying; I just want you to read. Doesnt matter whether its your understanding or
not, doesnt matter; I want you to read just. Your mind is thinking about other things,
doesnt matter, just read. If you CAN think the meaning, thats good but no stress,
just read. If situation allows, read aloud. This is practice in many Buddhist countries.
Therere several benefits in it.

One whenever we read the Buddhist book, we that think we have to understand
the meaning of it. It already makes you tired by not understanding so you close the

book. You understand; so you never end up reading the book. Remember we are
trying to build the atmosphere, the circumstance of the dharma, dharma world; and
this is one. For instance, if youre, you know sometimes we play background music.
Each word, we dont have to listen but if its there, it creates the atmosphere. Like
this, you just read.

Now meditation; those are reading lists but now the meditation PRACTICE. You
have become a Buddhist now at this point. So, but you are not a ngondro
practitioner, I suggest, I stress. Oh, by the way when you read the Buddha, Buddhas
sutra, you can even think that this is none other than the Buddha and you are
reading the Buddhas, okay. You have daily practice and it is good to have a daily
practice three times of reciting the Refuge vow. And I really stress the refuge so
much because this is really the foundation of all the path. And then reciting the Sutra
of the Recollection of the Noble Three Jewels; and a little bit of shamatha practice;
dedicate the merit afterwards. All this will take a few minutes; but point is consistently
doing it every day.

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 6/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

Shamatha is the usual shamatha here; we will have no time to explain, huh. Postmeditation practice - well, generally take, pay attention to the Refuge vows such as
not harming other beings, such as respecting the representation of the Buddha,
dharma and sangha like not to put the buddha statue, eh, you know underneath you,
not to, you know walk over the statue, the dharma. Pay respect to the ordained
sangha, and also; see all of these is a method of mindfulness. It's got nothing to do
with; you know if you don't walk over a buddha's statue, you know if you do walk
over a buddha's statue, the Buddha gets angry or something like that. Nothing to do
with this; it's all mindfulness practice.

And it is also; here again you see we are talking about the practice. Again we have
to talk about the discipline. I would suggest here at the least, you visit to a place or a
shrine that has a buddhas statue once a year and pay respect such as prostration,
incense, flower or lamp. Observe, okay at least try to make an offering of either
incense, flower or lamp or all three or two during one of the, eh, during, during the

four Buddhas special days. See these are just to create mindfulness, again to create
the atmosphere.

Now if your husband happens to be orthodox Jewish and if your father happens to
be fanatical Christian and if your maid or the driver happens to be fundamental
Muslim, meaning you cant do all of these in, in your house. Go to a dharma centre
and do this. And very simple again; just to burn one lamp and walk out. Never make
the practice very complicated; you know hours and hours, you cant do that. Now
with that we have finished the general stages.

Now if you really want to pursue the spiritual path even more seriously and if you
want to follow the tantric system, you go into ngondro. Now because its a tantric
practice, lineage is important. So therefore I would suggest you do receive
transmission, lung, of whatever ngondro you are going to practice Longchen
Nyingtik, Tersar Ngondro, Mahamudra, whatever.

At this point, its good to have its only a suggestion, not must to have a shrine.
And again the shrine can as simple as a photo of the Buddha, nothing else. So do
not over the board, buying all kinds of things and filling up all your space. Now if Im
talking to my own students, I am telling them not to put next to that shrine, next to the
Buddha, not to put like if I happen to be their teacher, not to put my photo. But
actually theres a, theres a good reason for this.

You know its really important; you see Buddhism at times suffers with being
stigmatized as cult - which is absolutely unfair because from the philosophical point
of view, Buddhism probably is the least cultish than ANY other religion. So I usually
suggest to my friends or students, especially those who attract lots of visitors at
home; you know when they see their sound and sober friend worshipping a human
being, they have a strange idea about Buddhism. So in order to avoid that, because
for them, for your non-Buddhist friends, non-practitioner friends, especially you know,
for them they have no reason to NOT THINK this His Holiness this, His Holiness that
as just another Jim Jones (laughter) - not think, huh. You know one who killed all
himself and many students.

Also from the tantric point of view, ACTUALLY one is supposed to keep ones deity,
guru and the consort completely secret. Okay, only on the shrine, you can put in the

living room, kitchen, toilet, whatever; maybe not toilet - your Buddhist friends will
condemn you (laughter).

Okay, reading lists; Cutting through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Rinpoche,

and then you can also read my book at this point, and then Words of My Perfect
Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche. Now this book Kunzang Lame Shyalung - again like
the Sutra you read earlier, you read it for the blessing, not necessarily as a study
material. And I am suggesting until the Guru Yoga practice, you finish reading
Words of My Perfect Teacher three times. Ive written here five times but I think its
a bit too much; three times.

At this point its good to have a teacher since you are a tantric practitioner. Teachers
or a teacher; you can have as many as hundred and thirty. Both have advantage
and disadvantage I mean having one or many both have advantage and
disadvantage, okay.

What do you practice in here? Now this is really in the work in progress. I have
suggested here five hundred hours. Maybe its a bit too much so I have reduced to
three hundred hours three hundred hours of four eh, Contemplating the Four
Thoughts. You know, before the ngondro precious human body, all that. Its really
important because these thoughts will train your mind. It sounds a lot but its
REALLY important and this, the way to count the hours similar to the last one.

Okay, now the actual Refuge practice part of the ngondro, okay. So you have this
traditional one hundred thousand prostrations with hundred thousand Refuge, what
you call it recitations. That you can do if you like. Im not opposing that, but Im
suggesting two other options. Some of you who cant do prostration, lets say - five
hundred thousand times of recitation only, no prostration recitation of the Refuge,
Supplication, whichever ngondro youre based on, and remembering the Triple Gem
thirty-three thousand times. Ah, this is, this is something I need to explain. Let me
finish the, the first what, you know, my options.

The second option is combination of everything - fifty thousand prostrations, fifty

thousand recitations, and sixteen thousand remembering the Triple Gem, okay. I
think the prostration and recitation; you know what Im talking about. Now what do I
mean by remembering the Triple Gem?

Now this is one main point that is being lost again in the process of all this, you know
Refuge; so lets say youre, lets say right now, this moment we think about the
Buddha, just the name count one. When you are in the toilet, you think about His
robes count two. While you are eating or just before youre eating, you think about
Buddha, dharma and sangha count three. As you put on your head on the pillow
for a nap, you think about Buddhas begging bowl count four. So you add up to
either thirty-three thousand or sixteen thousand.

Method of disciplining again because what Im saying is, you know like all this time,
you know many times we do, we just say, we just say the Refuge prayers, our mind
going everywhere - much better to think of the Buddha one moment and count on
that thats what Im suggesting, okay.

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008)...part 7/7 by Dzongsar

Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche

Post-meditation; you also, you practice all the things that Ive mentioned earlier
during the earlier post-meditation, the standard Refuge. Here Im suggesting you
should go to one of the, at least one of the four places, physical place like Bodhgaya
or Varanasi. I got the idea from Islam. And I think again this is important for creating
that circumstance, because just by going to places like Varanasi, you will be
physically, at the least some kind of closer or have some kind of influence.

And then if you REALLY cant go to any of these places, I will suggest you do
sponsor someone to go. Thats also something thats used to practice, something
that is sort of dying down. As part of the post, post-meditation, Im now also bringing
this thing called karma yoga. Now this I got from Hinduism - hundred hours of
voluntary work for any kind of charity, Buddhist or non-Buddhist work. I think its
good as part of the ngondro, right. You, you engage voluntarily work. Okay
difference is this earlier I ask you to do the voluntary work earlier; this time you are
doing this as part of your ngondro practice. That way you are accumulating merit and
purifying defilements.

Now something KIND of new this is my suggestion of the next one. As a dharma
practitioner, unless you are really, really, really wealthy and you have endless,
endless wealth I am suggesting to have, to open a new account in the BANK, okay
actual bank, financial bank. And this is your practice fund. Make a vow, every time
you make a little bit of money, put in some and you dont withdraw out of this. And
you, this money you will be ONLY using for the dharma purpose, dharma practice;
not for iPod, not for anything else. You can use for retreat in the future, going for
pilgrimage, making offerings to buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Also if somebody gives you a present of money or something like that, if you take a
little bit in there, the person who is giving will also get some benefit. Therefore you
will not be karmic-ly indebted, in debt. This one I got the idea, combination of
Judaism, Islam and Christianity, you know together (laughter). Buddhists just so
useless with the financial management, you know. They okay, they all want to
practice but they have no money, like that, you know; so Im suggesting this.

And this, by the way; okay you have a separate account. You are now working. You
are saving money and putting as much as you can in that account. That way, your
mundane, worldly job has now become purposeful. So even you job is becoming part
of the ngondro practice. Can you sense? Because you are not saving the money to
buy a Ferrari, you are saving so that you can practice the dharma. Ive, this is sort of,
probably you will not find in the classical ngondro text but I think for the timely its
quite important. And also I think its good for your discipline.

Okay, next is bodhicitta. Here it would be good if you take a bodhisattva vow. Okay,
reading materials any book written by Dogen Zenji. Anyway, the book list again,
you find it; if you are interested, you can find later. What is it?

Student A: You said that this would put the, eh, roster

Rinpoche: Dont take this seriously, huh; this is still work in progress. At this point it
is good to receive teachings, Bodhicharyavatara, something like that, something to
do with bodhi, bodhicitta. See as I said, the job is not finished because even earlier
we should have practice of receiving teaching. Receiving teaching is very important.
Receiving teaching itself can be a practice, can consider as a practice; and ideally
received it from a person, if not listen to the tip from the MP3.

Then I have a suggestion of you know, the usual hundred thousand times of
bodhisattva vow and I have included a few other options. Now for the first time,
maybe I left. Oh, yeah even before that, Im sorry; during the Refuge, already you
should get used to GROUP practice its important. So Im saying at the least, ten
days of group practice. It doesnt have to be in one go. You can collect, you can
accumulate the days but at the least, ten days.

Eh, as a daily practice, now you should add Heart Sutra as your daily reading sutra
practice, okay. Now the post-meditation; again several suggestions but one that is
not simple is I thought it is good also to get used to the concept of offering; so at the
least, ten thousand lamp offerings. It can be, you know what, butter, what you call it cup. This is during the bodhicitta.

Release at least ten thousand lives; it can be small worms all the way to oxen. If you
cant release lives due to circumstance, a circumstance during the bodhicitta
practice, try to take a vow of at least becoming fifteen days of vegetarian per month,
so meaning one day eat meat, one day no meat. Post-meditation; again several
suggestions but one noticeable hand copy a Diamond Sutra.

Next is Vajrasattva; reading lists again, several such as the Sutra of Wise and
Foolish Lankavatara Sutra, Life of Milarepa and so on. And the, eh, for the
meditation practice, I think you know we should do the hundred thousand eh, what
do you call it? Mantra. Now at this point, increase your group retreat, group
practice up to twenty days. Again you dont have to do it together, lump it altogether
in one go. You know, you can accumulate.

Post-meditation; I have a few suggestions. Noticeable things are at least three

hundred times of exposing our fault to a friend. For instance, if you are jealous, you
tell somebody I am jealous, because of this; and then hundred tsa tsa, you know
its a small stupa you can make. See all these traditions are very, very important in
the sutras, but its dying. Im trying to reintroduce that. And then fifty hours of
voluntary work specially collecting garbage, you know like plastic and
environmentally-related because I think its something to do with the, you know,
Vajrasattva practice. Not fifty hours, hundred hours sorry, okay.

And then Mandala; at this point, you have also bigger reading list. Again here I will
still encourage you to do the hundred thousand mandala because its, its really
important to do. Daily practice will now include Riwo Sangcho and water offering.
Post-meditation practice will include at least thousand candles, thousand incense,
thousand flowers, never at one go, huh, you accumulate. And at least hundred times
offer food and drink to those, those whose life is dedicated to dharma practice. And
at least twenty times of making, giving a gift to someone who will never know you,
someone who doesnt have your email address, someone who doesnt know your
name. And again karma yoga, voluntary for the dharma centres or something like
that.

And at least ten dharma books you offer to someone, somebody, other people; ten
hours of dharma discussion, not again, not in one go, ten hours of dharma
discussion. These, these are ALL in the sutras by the way, in order to combat our
meaningless gossiping. You know this is kind of easy. You can just gather a few
friends and talk about the dharma.

Okay from here I havent finished it actually. The Guru Yoga bit is very difficult.
Anyway all these things like tsa-tsa making, butter-lamp offering; all this is as I told
you is to create that universe, your own universe of spiritual practice. Okay so I will
now give you the transmission of Short Ngondro. (Rinpoche gives the transmission).
Okay what I just give you is written by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo; very, very short
ngondro practice. Oh, well thats about it. Eh, I have to go soon now to catch the
plane to the uncertainty (laughter). Those who wish to kind of follow this, please note
this is still a work in progress, but you keep in touch and see what happens, okay?
Thats it then, okay (applause).

THE END

ADVICE ON NGONDRO (Rio de Janeiro 2008) by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

Rinpoche, transcribed from podcast
http://www.khyentserecordings.org/namo/Podcasts.html

Dedication of Merit

ge war di yi nyur du dak

Through this merit, may I quickly
orgyen lama drub gyur ne
Accomplish the level of the Oddiyana Lama and through that
dro wa chik kyang ma l pa
May all beings, without exception,
de yi sa la g par shok
Be established at that level.