Embarking on Mahamudra feels a bit like setting out on a mountain trek: without solid boots and a trustworthy map, the path becomes slippery. That’s where ngöndro—those “preliminary” practices—come in, laying the groundwork for genuine mind-awareness.

First, refuge and bodhicitta: taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) while generating altruistic intention. Traditionally, this involves 100,000 prostrations, recitations of refuge vows, and heartfelt aspiration for all beings’ awakening. Think of it as tuning the instrument before playing the symphony.

Next, Vajrasattva purification. Chanting the 100,000-syllable mantra clears karmic dust from previous actions. Amid today’s hustle—streaming the latest “Mindful Moments” podcast or joining a Zoom retreat—this practice acts like a mental reset button, restoring clarity.

Mandala offerings follow, another set of 100,000 recitations. Constructing symbolic worlds of pure form and offering them cultivates generosity and dissolves attachment. It’s akin to planting a thousand seeds that will blossom into compassion.

Finally, guru yoga. Through 100,000 visualizations and prayers, devotion to the teacher’s enlightened qualities merges student and master. In our influencer-driven culture, this counters the “guru cult” trap by anchoring faith in authentic transmission rather than personality.

Alongside these four pillars, ethical conduct (śīla) and shamatha (calm-abiding) meditation sharpen focus and moral clarity. Channels like Insight Timer or local sanghas now offer shamatha courses, reflecting a renewed appetite for deep, undisturbed practice.

These ngöndro steps might feel like marathon training, but every repetition chips away at stubborn ego habits. Once these foundations are firmly in place, Mahamudra’s open-awareness instructions arise naturally, revealing mind’s luminous essence.