Introduction to the reading transmission of” Illuminating the Path to Liberation: A Preliminary Practice (Ngöndro)” and "The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas" 

Lesson 1

1.     What do you know about the Dzogchen preliminary practices?  Can you meet the two requirements raised by Khenpo Rinpoche before the class?

2.     Explain the title: The Words of My Perfect Teacher, a Guide to the preliminaries for the Heart-essence of the Vast Expanse from the Great Perfection 

3.     Nowadays, many people are after the most advanced Dhamma without practicing the preliminaries. What do you think about this phenomenon? Why is it necessary for a practitioner to practice the preliminaries? Please tell us your thoughts on this.

4.     Why did Patrul Rinpoche write so many verses for prostrating to the lineage masters at the beginning of his writing? What did you learn from it?

5.     Please explain in detail what are the three lineages of transmission? Why is it important to understand these? How do you usually pray to your master of the lineage?

Lesson 2

1.     What are the main contents of The Preliminary Practices of Great Perfection? Are these preliminary practices just preliminary? Why?

2.     How did Patrul Rinpoche write this text? How do you feel about it?

3.     Some people think that learning too many Dharma practices will only cause distractions to the mind, therefore listening to one or two teachings will be enough. Is this correct? Please explain from your own experience.