‘Ngöndro: The Foundational Practices’

New Ligmincha Learning Online Course Starting in March!

Ligmincha Learning is pleased to offer a NEW online course, “Ngöndro: The Foundational Practices.” This completely new course will begin March 2 and will continue for nine months until December 2, much longer than other online courses, due to the number of meditation practices and the commitment of the practitioners to accumulate 100,000 repetitions of many of the practices. Registration is now open for this course!

The ngöndro teachings are a set of nine practices that offer complete instructions for taming, purifying and perfecting the suffering mind. Although these practices are considered the foundation for entrance into the five-part cycle of Tibetan Bön dzogchen teachings – Bön’s highest teachings on the nature of mind – many practitioners adopt the ngöndro as their main meditation and complete the nine sets of 100,000 repetitions over the course of a lifetime. They are considered to be the foundational practices for the entire tradition.

The ngöndro practices can be divided into three groups.

The Three Practices for Taming Oneself:

• Opening Your Heart with Guru Yoga
• Impermanence
• Admitting Your Misdeeds

The Three Practices for Purifying Oneself:

• Bodhicitta: Generating the Mind Intent on Enlightenment
• Going for Refuge
• Offering the Mandala

The Three Practices for Perfecting Oneself:

• Purification Through Mantra
• Offering Your Illusory Body as a Tsok
• Request for Blessings

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche generally teaches the ngöndro only at the beginning of the five-year Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung dzogchen cycle. He recommends it for dedicated practitioners who feel a strong connection to the Bön lineage. Within the ngöndro are found practices that are used in many other meditations and practices, such as the guru yoga, bodhicitta and refuge prayers, prostrations and the Three Heart Mantras.

This online course is drawn from recordings of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s ngöndro teachings at Serenity Ridge in Virginia in 2014 over the course of a weeklong retreat (the first in a five-year dzogchen series offered each December at Serenity Ridge). Additional recordings include demonstrations by Geshe Tenzin Yangton, Serenity Ridge’s resident lama, on how to create a shrine, make prostrations and perform mandala offerings.

The course includes teaching videos on each of the topics, many guided practices and a thorough written practice guide. You will be able to download MP3 audio recordings of each of the guided practices. Everyone also is encouraged to study the book Opening the Door to Bön and engage in the discussion forum to share insights, gain support from peers and resolve any questions with the course mentor, John Jackson. Live guided group meditations via Zoom will be held monthly so the whole group can join together for practice.

Course Dates: March 2–December 2, 2018
Cost: $495 for the nine-month course, $297 for people who have taken the ngondro with Tenzin Rinpoche before. Cancellation fee: $25 during the first week of the course.

Registration is now open.
Learn more/register

Also starting in March: "Transforming our Emotions Through the Six Lokas" with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. March 16–May 5, 2018.
Learn more/register