The six preparatory practices are very important and in themselves would be quite sufficient for starting our Buddhist practice. The six practices are: (1) sweeping and cleaning the meditation room and setting up representations of a Buddha’s body, speech, and mind, (2) obtaining offerings and setting them up in a beautiful arrangement, (3) laying out a proper meditation seat, sitting in the eightfold posture and taking refuge and reaffirming our bodhichitta aim, (4) visualizing a bountiful field for spiritual growth, (5) practicing the seven-limb prayer and mandala offering, and (6) infusing our mental continuum with the inspiration of the lineage masters.