Preliminary Practices & Commentaries

Extremely Concise Preliminary Recitation from the Pure Vision Net of Wisdom

by Dudjom Lingpa

This revealed ngöndro practice was later supplemented by Dudjom Rinpoche to create the concise Dudjom Tersar preliminaries.

Dudjom Tersar 17 Apr 2026

A Concise Recitation of the Preliminary Practice according to the New Treasure of Dudjom

by Dudjom Rinpoche

The root text of the Dudjom Tersar preliminary practices, including the outer preliminaries, i.e., the four contemplations that turn the mind from saṃsāra, and the inner preliminaries of taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, offering the maṇḍala, meditation on Vajrasattva, guru yoga and transference (phowa).

Termas Dudjom Tersar

Brief Notes on the Visualization for the Concise Recitation of the Pure Vision Preliminary Practice

by Dudjom Rinpoche

Brief notes written by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche himself and incorporated into the recited text of the concise version of the Dudjom Tersar ngöndro.

Dudjom Tersar Notes 22 Apr 2006

Chariot of the Path of Union: A Liturgy for the Preliminary Practices of the Profound and Secret Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinī

by Dudjom Rinpoche

Composed in 1937, this text of the preliminary practices of the Profound and Secret Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinī includes both common and uncommon preliminaries. Composed in 1937, this text of the preliminary practices of the Profound and Secret Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinī includes both common and uncommon preliminaries. It is sometimes referred to as the Sa-Ter Ngöndro (Earth Treasure Preliminaries).

Dudjom Tersar 17 Mar 2026

The Recitation for the Gradual Path of the Preliminaries from The Exceedingly Secret, Enlightened Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinī

by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje

This liturgy for the preliminary practices, or ngöndro (sngon 'gro), of Do Khyentse's terma revelation Yangsang Khandrö Tuktik, 'The Exceedingly Secret, Enlightened Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinī', includes the common, outer practices of contemplation and the main, inner preliminaries of taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, offering the maṇḍala, purifying obscurations through Vajrasattva, and guru yoga.

Termas 19 Oct 2021

The Preliminaries and Main Practice: A Concise Path

by Jigme Lingpa

A concise practice by Jigme Lingpa combining refuge and bodhicitta, the seven branches, an aspiration for rebirth in a pure realm, and mantra recitation, composed especially for elderly practitioners.

11 Feb 2026

Illuminating the Path to Liberation: A Preliminary Practice (Ngöndro)

by Mipham Rinpoche

A set of common and uncommon preliminary practices, beginning with the four thoughts that turn the mind away from saṃsāra and continuing with taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, maṇḍala offering, Vajrasattva visualization and mantra recitation, and guru yoga.

10 Jun 2019

Signs that the Common Preliminary Practices Have Penetrated the Mind

by Nyala Pema Dündul

This poem explains the tell-tale signs for determining whether the common preliminary practices (sngon 'gro) have penetrated the mind of a practitioner.

Advice Songs and Poems 11 Aug 2005

Concise Preliminaries Practice

by Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol

This concise set of preliminary practices by Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol includes the outer preliminaries, as well as the inner preliminary practices of taking refuge, arousing bodhicitta, visualisation and recitation of Vajrasattva, maṇḍala offering, and guru yoga.

3 Feb 2016

Advice to Damngak Gyatso of Do

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

In this brief text Yukhok Chatralwa explains the common outer and uncommon inner preliminary practices in very simple terms.

Advice 2 Feb 2013

Guru Yoga

by Sera Khandro

A simple guru yoga focusing on Sera Khandro as an emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal and invoking her inspiration and blessings to realize the meaning of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection.

Guru Yoga Ḍākinī Treasury 15 Jul 2019

A Gateway to the Profound Path: Preliminary Recitations for the Heart-Essence of the Ḍākinīs, the Profound Path of the Great Perfection

by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Written in France in 1990, this preliminary practice for the Khandro Nyingtik cycle of Dzogchen teachings includes the elements of taking refuge, cultivating compassion and bodhicitta, the visualization and mantra of Vajrasattva, and Guru Yoga.

Khandro Nyingtik Restricted 15 Apr 2026

A Torch for the Path to Omniscience: A Word-by-Word Commentary to the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

by Chökyi Drakpa

This word-by-word explanation of the Longchen Nyingtik preliminaries draws upon and summarizes earlier commentaries, especially the most celebrated of them all, Patrul Rinpoche's Words of My Perfect Teacher (Kun bzang bla ma'i zhal lung). Yet Chökyi Drakpa's text is not entirely derivative and its relative brevity makes it ideal as a reminder of the most important points of the practice. This is why some lamas recommend reading and studying it regularly, together with the liturgy (which appears in bold).

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro 5 Aug 2005

The Excellent Path to Omniscience: The Dzogchen Preliminary Practice of Longchen Nyingtik

arranged by Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer

The root text of the outer and inner preliminary (ngöndro) practices from the Longchen Nyingtik, compiled by the First Dodrupchen, Jigme Trinle Özer, based on the original revelation of Jigme Lingpa and other sources.

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

A Profound Concentration of Nectar: Essentialized Stages of Visualization for the Preliminary Practices of the Heart-Essence of the Vast Expanse (Longchen Nyingtik)

by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This guide to the stages of visualization for the Longchen Nyingtik preliminary practices (sngon 'gro) is, as Khyentse Wangpo himself puts it, "brief, clear and essential." Some of its instructions differ slightly from those given by Patrul Rinpoche, so that it represents a distinct commentarial tradition.

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro 8 Feb 2016

Illuminating the Excellent Path to Omniscience: Notes on the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This is a version of A Profound Concentration of Nectar, into which the root text of the Longchen Nyingtik preliminaries has been inserted. The text also includes several prayers that were not included in Jikmé Trinlé Özer’s original version.

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro 29 Sep 2012

Brief Guide to the Stages of Visualization for the Ngöndro Practice

by Patrul Rinpoche

Patrul Rinpoche's explanations in this brief guide to the Longchen Nyingtik preliminary practices mostly follow those given in his classic text, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Kun bzang bla ma'i zhal lung). Still, this condensed text offers useful reminders of the most important points of the practice, especially the details of the visualizations.

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro 15 Dec 2004

Longsal Dorje Nyingpo: General Preliminary Practices

revealed by Longsal Nyingpo

This edition of the Longsal Dorje Nyingpo preliminaries, compiled by Khenpo Jamyang Gyalsten (1929–1999) and the Third Katok Getse, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal (1886–1952), includes Longsal Nyingpo’s original terma verses and a few supplemental sections, including verses by Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso (1880–1925).

Longsal Dorje Nyingpo Rinchen Terdzö 8 Dec 2023

Concise Mahāmudrā Preliminary Practice from the New and Old Secret Mantra’s Ripening and Liberating Practices of Generation and Completion

by Jedrung Jampa Jungné

A brief Taklung Kagyü preliminary, or ngöndro, that focuses on Vajradhara, the great Indian siddhas, and the masters of the Taklung Kagyü tradition.

Mahāmudrā 4 Jan 2023

The Concise Mahāmudrā Preliminaries Arranged for Recitation

by Karma Chakme

This extremely concise form of the Mahāmudrā preliminaries includes contemplations on the preciousness of human birth, impermanence, karma and the sufferings of saṃsāra, as well as the practices of taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, Vajrasattva visualization and recitation, maṇḍala offering and guru yoga.

Mahāmudrā 20 Jan 2021

Ngöndro Compendium—Part 1—Invoking the Lama

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

Ngöndro Compendium—Part 2—Taking Refuge

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

Ngöndro Compendium—Part 3—Arousing Bodhichitta

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

Ngöndro Compendium—Part 4—Mandala Offering

by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol

Maṇḍala Offering Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

The Excellent Path to Enlightenment: A Brief Practice of the Preliminaries

by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Sometimes referred to as the “short Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro", this popular preliminary (sngon 'gro) liturgy by Jamyang Khyentse is remarkably concise.

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro 26 Jan 2005

Direct Path to the Primordial: A Concise Liturgy and Visualization for the Preliminary Accumulations of the Mother and Child Cycles of Dzogpachenpo Vima Nyingtik, the Heart-Essence of Vimalamitra

by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This liturgy includes sections on taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, Vajrasattva meditation, maṇḍala offering, and guru yoga. Jamyang Khyentse drew on earlier sources to compose the text at Palpung Monastery.

Vima Nyingtik Lama Yangtik Nyingtik Yabzhi Dzogchen Restricted 12 Sep 2023

Precious Instructions on the Common Preliminaries

by Longchen Rabjam

Instructions on guru yoga, maṇḍala offering, contemplating the freedoms and advantages, impermanence, saṃsāra and karma, cultivating faith and compassion, contemplating dreamlike illusoriness, and meditating on non-conceptuality.

Zabmo Yangtik Restricted 9 May 2024

Preliminary Practices & Commentaries

Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro

General

Guru Yoga

Khandro Nyingtik

Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro

Longsal Dorje Nyingpo

Mahāmudrā

Ngöndro Compendium

Ngöndro by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Vima Nyingtik

Zabmo Yangtik

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