Things that you should know before applying to Ngondro Gar:
You should already have established some general Buddhist foundation through study and practice, like being familiar with the foundational teachings of the Buddha, such as the Four Noble Truths, the law of karma, causes and conditions etc...
You need to understand how the Buddhist path practically removes and transforms our mind’s confusion. And you need to have some prior experience of sitting meditation practice as a transformative process.
Ngöndro practice is the foundation for the Vajrayana path. There are 84000 paths in Buddhism, you need to understand if the Vajrayana is the right way for you and if you are willing to commit the next 2-3 years to complete Ngondro practice.
Ngöndro practice requires focus and discipline. It provides a direct access to your Buddha nature. With the understanding of as a child of the lineage of great awakened person, you need to appreciate the obligations of such nobility. With Ngöndro, you are provided with a structure to quickly develop the qualities of a yogic practitioner.
Since the Ngöndro Gar is designed and led by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, we regard ourselves as a sangha under his guidance. While we hope he will occasionally give us teachings, you may also count on assistance from the instructors.
Our instructors share a wealth of spoken languages and backgrounds, please go through the instructors’ bio before you choose one as your personal instructor. Please note that the instructors are there to assist you with practice, to clarify the method and help you overcome obstacles, not to hear about your thoughts or reflections. And since this is a self-study program, you are expected to be self-motivated making full use of the practice resources available on our website and raise any study questions that arise with your instructor. The instructors will not spoon feed you. You have the option to switch instructors during your study program.
Before you embark on your Ngöndro practice, it’s important that you decide and commit to a pre-set timetable of daily practice that will support you and develop your practice discipline.
