Within traditional Tibetan contexts, Dzogchen is regarded as a very profound teaching, and it is not usually approached in a casual or unstructured way. A common thread across the main lineages is that one first takes refuge in the Three Jewels and cultivates bodhicitta, the altruistic intention to awaken for the benefit of all beings. This ethical and motivational grounding is considered the soil in which the more subtle instructions can take root. Alongside this, devotion to the lama and confidence in the lineage are emphasized as essential supports, rather than optional attitudes.

Most traditional presentations also speak of preliminary practices, or ngöndro, as a major prerequisite. These include prostrations, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga, often undertaken in a systematic way to purify obscurations and accumulate merit. Some lineages expect these to be completed; others stress at least serious engagement with them. These practices are not treated as mere formalities, but as a way of shaping the mind so that the recognition of natural awareness can be more stable and less easily disrupted.

A further dimension of preparation lies in study and meditative training. Familiarity with basic Buddhist principles—such as impermanence, karma, emptiness, and compassion—together with some grounding in sutra and tantra, is generally regarded as beneficial. Many teachers also value prior experience with calm-abiding and insight meditation, and an understanding of key doctrinal frameworks such as the three kayas. These elements help ensure that Dzogchen instructions are not misunderstood or reduced to ordinary mindfulness or vague philosophy.

At the heart of all these prerequisites stands the necessity of direct introduction from a qualified master. Dzogchen is not simply a set of techniques but a transmission of recognition: the teacher introduces the student to rigpa, the nature of mind, through pointing-out instructions. In many settings this is linked with receiving appropriate Vajrayāna empowerments and accepting the related samaya commitments, which frame and protect the practice. While different lineages and modern teachers may vary in how strictly they apply each prerequisite, they consistently uphold this direct introduction as the indispensable gateway to authentic Dzogchen practice.