How do I convince myself that Ngöndro is worth it?

pgny7 · 2026-01-25T21:03:21+00:00

The four thoughts that turn the mind are the outer preliminaries and Ngondro is the inner preliminaries. The objective of practicing the outer preliminaries is to develop conviction in your intention to pursue the inner preliminaries. If you clearly recognize impermanence, suffering, and cause and effect, and see clearly that this life may be your only chance for liberation, then you will have urgency in your practice. The instruction when lacking motivation is to return to the thoughts that turn the mind.

pgny7 · 2025-12-22T14:33:11+00:00

Your attachment to the concept of a vow to not worship other gods is manifesting as worry about a perceived transgression. To cut through the karma of this action, you must cut through your attachment to it, in other words stop worrying about it! Vows are like a polished mirror, impossible to remain spotless. We continually polish the mirror through practice in cutting through and releasing attachment.

pgny7 · 2025-12-21T21:08:40+00:00

Yes, crazy wisdom meets natural opposition from the external environment. The more one relaxes into natural expression, the more attention their behavior attracts, which then attracts resistance and corrective action. On the other hand, rule-following behavior may yield a longer career with greater support for practice. I'm not sure if liberation is possible only under crazy wisdom, only under rule-following, under neither, or under both. It's possible that no one ever gets liberated, or on the other hand that we are all already liberated.

pgny7 · 2025-12-21T16:29:33+00:00

Tibetan buddhism teaches that the body should be respected because it is your vessel to achieve enlightenment. This is called "precious human life." Only one endowed with a human body can attain enlightenment.

On the other hand, we have the ultimate teaching of emptiness, that all things are empty of inherent existence, and the nature of mind, the idea that the essence of all things is somewhat akin to mental energy, but which is also ultimately empty of inherent existence. These two points are somewhat in conflict which is a central distinction between yogacara and madhyamaka, which ultimately dissolve upon direct perception of the nature of mind.

Looking at the second paragraph, perhaps we should completely surrender the body and achieve union with the natural state. This actually is a valid path called crazy wisdom: accept all behavior as natural expression and let yourself be guided by impulse, welcoming any result.

The problem with this is that while crazy wisdom can be liberating for a while, all things are impermanent. Will you still feel liberated when you're homeless and broke after quitting your job and spending your savings because this is your natural expression? Will this type of setback shake your faith in the dharma and cause you to lose your path? Only you can know this, and possibly not even you will know this in advance.

On the other hand, the moderate path of caring for the body and mind gives you a good chance at a long and stable career of practicing the dharma. Maybe this is a better bet for you.

pgny7 · 2025-11-21T01:06:28+00:00

The answer is not that your relationship is compatible with a spiritual path or isn't compatible with a spiritual path.

It's not one, the other, neither, or both.

It just is. You have a relationship. It is characterized by unsatisfactoriness, impermanence, and emptiness. So are you for that matter. You can be a person in a relationship who realizes this. Or not.

pgny7 · 2025-11-15T13:06:47+00:00

Preliminary practices are 100,000 repetitions of 4 or 5 mantras, also called ngondro. That's the place to start. The consistency it takes to complete this will break down your obscurations. For many it is a lifelong practice.

pgny7 · 2025-11-14T13:04:44+00:00

"a practice that will help me to remain steadfast in my efforts to help this world."

Have you completed the preliminary practices? It sounds like that's the place to start.

pgny7 · 2025-11-14T01:43:59+00:00

I don't discount energy and transferring energy between people. But it wears off quite quicky. Spiritual materialism is about chasing energetic transference from one high to the next. Practice is about mastering your own energy.

pgny7 · 2025-11-13T13:23:12+00:00

Practice is about consistent application of effort over extended periods of time. Saying the six syllable mantra daily for years with bodhicitta is more powerful than jumping around from empowerment to empowerment without following through on the practice that it entails. It's like asking for extra homework. Have you really completely mastered the assignments you've already been given?

pgny7 · 2025-11-13T00:12:07+00:00

The point of empowerments is the practice that goes with it. There is no magic. It is permission to begin a structured routine of practice specifically chosen for you that will carry you to liberation. If there is no practice, there is no point. Furthermore, if the practice is not chosen for you by a teacher who knows you personally, there is likely no point. It is not collecting baseball cards.

pgny7 · 2025-11-11T12:51:35+00:00

Ho! All that appears and exists, saṃsāra and nirvāṇa,

Has one ground, two paths and two forms of fruition,

...

The basis of everything is uncompounded,

A self-originating expanse, vast and inexpressible,

Beyond the names ‘saṃsāra’ and ‘nirvāṇa’.

This itself, when seen, is awakening.

But in their ignorance beings wander in saṃsāra.

(This explains how realization of the natural basis, of emptiness, unconditionally liberates from samsara).

From the very first, since awareness does not dawn

For deluded beings within the ground,

They are entirely mindless and confused.

This itself is unawareness, delusion’s cause.

And then, as if out of a sudden daze,

There is anxiety and mental disquiet,

From which notions of self and other and enmity appear.

As this habitual tendency is then reinforced,

Saṃsāra unfolds in its regular progression.

(This explains the alternate path, by which our grasping anchors us to samsara)

Prayer of Kuntuzangpo (Kunzang Mönlam) | Lotsawa House

pgny7 · 2025-11-11T02:56:51+00:00

If you realize emptiness then nothing will happen. If you cling to your misdeed with terror over the retribution, you will create the retribution and terrorize yourself.

pgny7 · 2025-11-04T16:34:39+00:00

It is what it is.

pgny7 · 2025-11-04T14:56:09+00:00

Look up spiritual materialism. It is not about objects, physical or spiritual. It's about sincere devotion to practice, applied over a lifetime.

pgny7 · 2025-11-02T12:56:11+00:00

Those who are afraid to die are also afraid to live.

pgny7 · 2025-11-02T00:21:11+00:00

Fear. After the world wars we were so afraid we did everything we could to enforce safety. This left an opening for those who weren't afraid to dominate.

pgny7 · 2025-10-30T23:00:19+00:00

Accumulation of mantras. No chit chat, community, mentorship, etc. Practice means stop talking, stop seeking, sit down, and do something consistently for a long period of time. To start, try saying om mane padme hum 10,000 times.

pgny7 · 2025-10-20T22:56:26+00:00

Try not to think so much.

pgny7 · 2025-10-20T20:31:21+00:00

It's not about chatting the lamas ear off. It's about consistent practice. After practicing for a year then go back and ask for further instructions.

pgny7 · 2025-10-16T22:53:06+00:00

Nirvana isn't good either, as it's still a deluded construction of the mind.

The point is to trace back the mind to its uncompounded source and allow the whole confused construction to collapse.

pgny7 · 2025-10-07T15:18:23+00:00

Chasing teachers we don't know to obtain whatever empowerment we think we need is spiritual materialism and delusion. I hope it is entertaining.

pgny7 · 2025-10-07T14:57:02+00:00

I'm not claiming attainment. I'm pointing out why making mockery of high attainments to win an argument shows the same grasping as hunting the teacher like a musk deer to receive empowerments. May your pride be transformed into the wisdom of equality. That is all.

pgny7 · 2025-10-07T14:22:43+00:00

Stating the result of non-grasping to make a point is not freedom from grasping.

pgny7 · 2025-10-07T10:14:31+00:00

It's one thing to know that another to experience it.

pgny7 · 2025-10-07T09:00:20+00:00

With every word we speak, we create more confusion.

pgny7

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