Preliminary Practices

The Basic Prerequisites for Achieving Shamatha Having presented the various traditions that transmit methods for meditating on mahamudra, the Fourth Panchen Lama now begins his discussion of the actual methods for mahamudra practice. He explains that there are two...

Tantra Is an Advanced Practice For our last session together, let’s speak a little bit about tantra. We also need to bring tantra down to earth. Often, Western people, when approaching the tantric teachings in Tibetan Buddhism, fall into one of two extremes. One extreme is to...

Verses 26 through 31 Now, we are going to continue talking about the six perfections, or the six far-reaching attitudes. You might have notice that they go in the order of generosity, ethical self-discipline, and then patience. This is because the focus of our practice should...

Review Tantra practice is a full practice that entails putting together a tremendous number of things and is something that we approach slowly and gradually. We can’t expect at the beginning to be able to do it in a full way; obviously not. Therefore, whether we are practicing...

Our lives are sometimes so busy with meetings, work, holidays and other distractions, that it’s easy to forget the Dharma among the highs and lows. Whatever the situation we find ourselves in, the lam-rim indicates four points that we can contemplate to ground ourselves, bring...

A short overview of what we need to know about tantra and empowerments before we take the Kalachakra Initiation.

The Nyingma tradition of dzogchen is a complex of many lineages and teachings. Learn about the three lines of transmission, the three divisions of treasure texts, the three aspects and four types of rigpa, and other features adding to the richness of this tradition.

Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche always used these verses from the “The Abridged Kalachakra Tantra” before beginning Kalachakra teachings and practice.

Doing the seven-limb practice before listening to or reading about the Dharma, or before contemplating or meditating on the Dharma helps us to establish a properly receptive state of mind.

Alan Turner, Serkong Rinpoche’s “Westerner Yogi’s,” recollections of his relation with his teacher.