Purifying Karma without Ngöndro ... and value of non-buddhist, but nice and fine friends.

i've ordered Riwo Sangchö incense, for karma purification and also for wisdom.

'The purpose of Riwo Sangchö is to realize the perfection of wisdom, by accumulating merits through two main aspects of practice: offerings, and purification—especially of impurity and of obstructions'.

... i can't do Ngöndro (i am mentally ill, so i have mantras to practice, but meditation is disallowed for me) so I need other ways to purify karma. Perhaps burning this incense is an answer to my need to purify karma.

Why purify Karma?

One needs to help himself/herself first, when one wants to help others efficiently and wisely.

... I've considered Diamond Mind incense, but it's hard to find something at reasonable price. Plus, Riwo Sangchö offering helps to develop Wisdom beside purifying karma. Extra Wisdom will be useful, as it is not my strongest point so far.

Beside Ngöndro, there are two other ways to purify karma that I know of ... but I have mental obstacles that make practicing these difficult, to say at least:
1. How does one purify karma that causes pain?
2. Diamond Mind Mantras: OM BENZA SATO HUNG.

... it is a (Riwo Sangchö) terma that was hidden by Guru Rinpoche and revealed in the seventeenth century by the great yogin and tertön Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé (1597-1653),

... can Lama Ole Nydahl's students use it?

(Guru Rinpoche is part of Transmission Lineage in Karma Kagyu Buddhism, i hope this argument is not 'overstretch', however).

... i wish to break as little of my vows as possible, so I wish my incenses (all of my incenses, not only this one) to work as Lama Ole Nydahl wishes.

... similarly, i wish my candles and crystals to work as Lama Ole Nydahl wishes.

... my TAROT Magick however, is a tool of Witchcraft/Wicca, and should serve my Wiccan/Witch friends the most. Not only TAROT Cards, also TAROT Ritual Tools (Athamé, Chalice, Pentacles and Wand).

Hopefully they (my magical fiends) will join our Sangha, if not in this life, then in future lives. I think that we should be nice to them, i think that they are worthy of our time and efforts.

Refuge, Ngöndro, Mahamudra, ...

One becomes formally a buddhist when one takes Refuge.

To take Refuge, one has to prepare first - go through 'Small Refuge' practice, then attend to a course where Refuge is given.

After Refuge, there's Ngöndro - four preliminary practices.

After Ngöndro there's Mahamudra, i do not know details.

Do i have Mahamudra? Certainly Not - because i don't have Ngöndro.

Do i have Ngöndro? Certainly Not - i didn't do these practices yet, even that i tried to start.

Do i have Refuge? i hope so, i suspect i have.

Why doubts?

... i am not sure that i did Small Refuge practices in enough number, with enough of calm mind and reason.

... i didn't count precisely either, just used mathematical approximation.

... my memory fails me, and i think i did too many of Small Refuge Mantra Repetitions ... i forgot if these mantra repetitions are everything, or if there's something else, as well.

... i am rather sure, that i did too many of 'Small Refuge' mantra repetitions, and did other practices as well.

... then i took Refuge at 'Triangle Project' Buddhist Course.

... i think i have Refuge, but i am not sure.

... if i failed at taking Refuge, i wish to correct my mistakes, anyway - that's one of reasons, of why i am telling this openly.

... i learned to not tell openly my Refuge Name, as well.

... there are other secret names as well, as one progressess on Buddhist Way - but i don't know if i am worthy of these, and if having these will benefit me and others, as well.

Ngöndro - Beyond the Comfort Zone.

Introduction.

i read that before one engages in the Enlightened Love with a partner, it's wise to purify karma & fill mind with as many positive impressions as possible - Ngöndro Practice seems best way for this, at least for me.

i read that during preparation for Phowa (Conscious Dying) Practice one needs to:
* Complete so-called Short Refuge Practice,
* Complete Meditation on the Buddha of Limitless Light,
* If one can additionally do the highly effective purification through the Buddha Diamond Mind and his one hundred- or six-syllable mantra - which removes the roughest obstacles - one has a very good preparation for the Phowa.


Blog author's comments.

The development of Full Mind's Potential on Buddha's Diamond Way in the Karma Kagyu Lineage & School starts with taking Refuge & with Ngöndro Practice.

Ngöndro Practice consists of four stages:
* Prostrations: Karma is purified on the body level, our inner energy channels are purified, power & trust are developed,
* Diamond Mind Meditation: A lot of merit is accumulated, wisdom is accumulated in mind, mind becomes more clear,
* Mandala Offering: We accumulate both wisdom & positive actions equally, we become closer to the inseparability, to the union with Buddhas we give offering for,
* Meditation on Lama: We accumulate mostly wisdom, we might 'melt' with Buddha Karmapa's body, speech & mind.

These Practices purify karma strongly, but in a safe way i read/heard.

Karmic effects of purification are much gentler with Ngöndro than without this Powerful Transcendental Method, i heard in a Buddhist Center - still it's beyond the comfort zone experience, i think - at least for someone mentally ill as me.


Wishes.

i wish that all beings - including me - to be able to experience the Enlightened Love as the Way for Enlightenment, preferably with proper preparations completed before as well.

i wish to experience the Enlightened Love as the Way for Enlightenment, preferably with proper preparations completed before as well, as soon as possible.

i wish that all beings - including me - to be able to complete the Preparations for Phowa & the Phowa practice as well.

i wish to complete the Preparations for Phowa & the Phowa practice as well, as soon as possible.

i wish that all of beings - including me - to be able to complete enough of Ngöndro practices to proceed with the Great Seal Practice.

i wish to complete enough of Ngöndro practices to proceed with the Great Seal Practice, as soon as possible.

i wish to keep my words in full, according to the priorities of Enlightened Love.


Mantras.

MAHAKALA
FIVE WISDOM BUDDHAS
OM BENZA SATO HUNG
DRUKPA KUNLEY BUDDHA
MEDICINE BUDDHA
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
OM MANI PEME HUNG

KARMAPA CHENNO

Namaste, as well.

Four Foundational Practices.

A Quote.

'Foundational Practices, Four (Tib. Chagchen Ngöndro) translates as 'the preparation for the Great Seal'; also named the Four Special Preliminaries.

With the Foundational Practices, one creates countless good impressions in the subconscious. They build the foundation for the Great Seal.

One completes 111,111 repetitions in each of the four meditations:
(1) Taking refuge and developing the enlightened attitude through prostrations,
(2) Purifying the impressions that bring suffering through the Diamond Mind meditation,
(3) Offering good impressions with Mandala Offerings,
and
(4) Meditation on the Lama (Guru Yoga).'

-- Quoted from 'Buddha & Love' book by Lama Ole Nydahl.


See also, if You wish: Ngöndro - Beyond the Comfort Zone.