Diamond Mind
Mandala offerings
Guru Yoga
It is impossible to overestimate the value of the Ngondro, the four foundational practices of Tibetan Buddhism. In a direct and very practical way, these preliminary practices bring forth our potential while removing the veils which keep us from experiencing and expressing our Enlightened nature. What especially hinders us is the mind's tendency to cling to its constantly changing expressions. For example, though we may not have experienced any anger five minutes earlier, and it will most likely be gone five minutes later, our mind still treats the feeling as if it were substantial and real. It then acts from that basis, setting things in motion in the outer world as well as planting seeds in its store-consciousness which will bring about suffering in the future. This cycle, which is largely out of one's control, is the normal state of most beings; people are not free to choose what they wish to experience.
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Mind in its true essence is uncontrived and timeless. It would be experienced that way if its impressions weren't forced into systems of judgment and evaluation. What makes our actions pure is our contact with this underlying essence. The accumulation of good impressions produces spontaneous insight, which then motivates more positive actions and, the resulting growth allows us to see things ever more as they are. Without filters, we can work directly with what's there.
In order to enhance and secure our development, the ninth Karmapa, Wangchug Dorje, gave the Chag Chen Ngondro. The goal of its four practices is the realization of Mahamudra, the highest insight, and the name "Chag Chen Ngondro" means "the preparatory way to Mahamudra." In each of the four practices, this highest realization serves as the basis, the way and the goal. The process is the same: first we open our body, speech and mind to aspects of Enlightenment, knowing that they are no different from our own true nature. Then we practice the repetitions, the physical exercises, visualizations and mantras which make them come alive. Finally, we merge with them, manifesting fully their Enlightened energy. The power of our mind to do this lifts all experience to the level of a Pure Land, a state of mind where all things are seen in a jovial light and further our growth. Building increasing levels of good Karma and insight, the Ngondro thus leads us to the ultimate wisdom of Mahamudra.
At that time, when sense impressions stop and both habitual tendencies and the timeless Buddha energies of our mind awaken, we can then recognize those aspects we have meditated on and merge with them at a level beyond time and place. Just as mental disturbances consist of repetitive patterns, so repetition is also the antidote which removes them. Through constantly hitting in the same place until the veils of ignorance have been pierced, the mind's steady power begins to manifest naturally.
Four times 111,111 repetitions (of Refuge and prostrations, Dorje Sempa, Mandala offerings and Guru Yoga) thus cut away countless hindrances and prepare us for the direct experience of our primordial nature. Ordinarily, when we try to meditate, our mind wanders or gets dull. Even if we sit for long periods in the same place, this lack of clarity and concentration remains. We will see that there isn't much value in just sitting in one's unreformed state, that it makes people robot-like or dependent. That is why Shamata (or Shinay, in Tibetan) was not given in authentic Tibetan Buddhism until after the Ngondro was completed or, in rare cases, alongside it. We have here an important reason why maturity, freshness and flexibility characterize those who follow the traditional way.
How then do we practice? We work in an integrated way with body, speech and mind, using these very effective tools. If our mind strays from the Buddha aspect, we hold it with the energy of the mantras. If this is also difficult, we shift our emphasis to the senses of the body, focusing on the prostrations, on the mala in our hand or, eventually, on the experience of our Buddha body and its energy-channels. This prevents stiffness and discouragement, and makes the best possible use of our time.
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