Students who have prior familiarity with Buddhist principles, prior meditation experience, or a strong connection to Vajrayana Buddhism may decide to enter this path. One begins by taking the refuge and bodhisattva vows. This path was most commonly followed by the practitioners and great masters of the past in Tibet. As Phakchok Rinpoche is a primary lineage holder of the New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa or Chokling Tersar, this path centers around these profound teachings and practices.
Reflection on the four mind changings
Learning and focusing on the refuge precepts
Students may choose to take additional precepts
Bodhisattva vow
In the Buddhist tradition, we speak frequently about Four Mind Changings. The Four reminders, or Four Mind Changings that turn the mind towards the dharma are powerful contemplation on both life and
Five Fundamental Precepts Establish a Basis for Ethical Behavior The Buddha taught that if we adopt these five fundamental precepts, we can avoid harming ourselves and harming others. Moreover, if we modify
Phakchok Rinpoche explains how to practice daily the Four Mind changings.
The Four Foundations, or Ngöndro practice is the gateway to the Traditional Vajrayāna Path. In this course, Phakchok Rinpoche and senior instructors provide detailed explanations and commentary on each practice according to the Tukdrup Barché Künsel ngöndro.
The Four Foundations, or Ngöndro practice is the gateway to the Traditional Vajrayāna Path. In this course, Phakchok Rinpoche and senior instructors provide detailed explanations and commentary on each practice according to the Tukdrup Barché Künsel ngöndro.
Phakchok Rinpoche often reminds us that we should measure our own progress against milestones. We can do this with any type of practice—we first know what our practice should lead to, and then we make sure we are going in the correct direction.
Rinpoche discussed the milestones for the preliminary practices in teachings at RYG Cooperstown in 2017. Here, we present these milestones in an easy-to-follow chart.
First, Rinpoche pointed out the changes that should occur from practicing the outer preliminaries and taking them to heart. We should return to this chart repeatedly to see if our mindset and actions accord with these milestones.
Next, Rinpoche explained the milestone for the inner preliminary practices. As we proceed through each practice we should measure our progress by referring to this chart. Each one of the preliminaries helps us to clear away specific obstacles and to accumulate merit. As we repeatedly prostrate, for example, we should see our own pride reduce. Simultaneously. we can see our understanding of refuge deepen and become more confident.
We encourage you to print out a copy of this milestone chart and keep it in a place where you see it regularly. This way, it reminds you of the transformation you should be experiencing through the profound outer and inner foundation practices.
Self-reflection on our path is a crucial part of our practice. Here, we benefit from remaining open and honest about our own strengths and weaknesses. When we see progress, we can rejoice and be happy. And if we see, which most of us will, areas where we still need work, we can then make more efforts there.
From this level students from the Traditional Vajrayana and the Nine Yanas Pathways merge into one stream.
Restricted to senior students. Eligibility to continue to these levels will be determined by Phakchok Rinpoche.
Acquire basic Tibetan language skills so you can better engage with your daily recitations and visualizations! Samye Institute’s Tibetan for Practitioners home study program is designed for practitioners who wish to be able to read their practice texts directly in Tibetan, pronounce them correctly, and acquire some general knowledge of the language as well as key dharmic vocabulary. Many Tibetan lamas, including Phakchok Rinpoche, encourage their students to chant their practice texts in Tibetan. However,
This Concise Cleansing Offering (Sang) support program offers video and audio teachings on making fragrant smoke offerings. Here you can discover the hows and whys of this profound practice belonging to the Lamé Tukdrup Barché Künsel cycle.
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Empowerment: Tukdrup Barché Kunsel
Spiritual Foundation: Tukdrup Barché Kunsel Ngöndro. Students can practice the ngöndro either individually or in a group. An online Ngöndro program is available.
Tukdrup Barché Kunsel Ngöndro. Students can practice the ngöndro either individually or in a group. An online Ngöndro program is available.
The Practice of the Five Foundations: Refuge, Bodhicitta, Vajrasattva, Mandala Offering, Guru Yoga
Focus: Improving our character. Cultivating core values: Reliability, Kindness, Sincerity, Honesty, Humility, and Dignity.
Gaining firm stability: Stable confidence in karma, cause and effect; Renunciation; Bodhicitta (training in compassion); Devotion (Guru Yoga); Recognition (nature of mind meditation); Samaya (knowing the Vajrayana samayas and how to mend them)
Geksel: Removal of obstacles (supplication and aspiration)
Bokdön: Enhancement with supportive practices and multiplying merit.
From this level students from the Traditional Vajrayana and the Nine Yanas Pathways merge into one stream.
Students engage in the practice of Mahayoga, Anuyoga, and Atiyoga.
Rinpoche suggests that all students take the opportunity to practice in a one-week Phowa retreat to gain confidence at this point in their journey.
The students begin Mahayoga practice after having gained stability in the key principles of karma, bodhicitta, devotion, recognition, and samaya.
Empowerment: Tukdrup Barché Kunsel
Spiritual Foundation: Lamrim Yeshé Nyingpo and Tukdrup Barché Kunsel (Chapter 4: Guru Nangsi Zilnön, Yeshé Zangthal)
Practice: Three Roots
Focus: Learning and reflecting on the Mahayoga Samayas and establishing the view of the Mahayoga: perfect pure equality (kundzop dhakpa chenpo, döndam nyampa chenpo)
Lama: Guru Rinpoché: Concise Daily Practice and Trinlé Nyingpo
Yidam: Dorjé Sempa (peaceful) and Dorjé Phurba (wrathful)
Khandro: Kurukullā and Jetsün Drolma
Samye Institute offers these support courses regularly in Nepal and also at some of our global centers. We are currently developing an online course that will serve the needs of those who cannot travel to Nepal to allow the students to immerse themselves in sadhana practice gradually.
Focus: Body, Speech, Mind, and Activity
Gain stability in the Four Nails that Bind the Life-Force
Familiarization with the sadhana and its ritual aspects
Students learn how to maintain practice throughout the day in all activities.
Focus: Refocusing on Phowa and Bardo teaching and training
Geksel: Removal of Obstacles
Bokdön: Enhancement
From time to time or on appropriate occasions one should also practice:
First Year:
Second Year:
Third Year:
Dudjom Rinpoche, The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, trans. and ed. by Gyurme Dorje and Matthew Kapstein (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1991), vol. 1, pages 468–474.
Ngawang Zangpo, Guru Rinpoche: His Life and Times, Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2002.
Nyoshul Khenpo, A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage, trans. Richard Barron (Junction City: Padma Publishing, 2005), pages 41–48.
Padmasambhava, Legend of the Great Stupa, Berkeley: Dharma Publishing, 1973
Padmasambhava & Jamgön Kongtrul, The Light of Wisdom, trans. by Erik Pema Kunsang (Boudhanath: Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 1986-1999), pages 43-47 & Appendix 5.
Taranatha, The Life of Padmasambhava, Shang Shung Edizioni, 2005
Tulku Thondup, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Shambhala, 1996.
Yeshe Tsogyal, Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava, translated by Kenneth Douglas and Gwendolyn Bays (Emeryville: Dharma Publishing, 1978, republished 2008).
Yeshe Tsogyal, Lotus Born: The Life Story of Padmasambhava, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 2004.
‘The Life of Guru Padmasambhava’ in A Great Treasure of Blessings, The Tertön Sogyal Trust, 2004.
