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

Lesson 9

1. What is inward tension? What transgressions are we facing when having inward tension in the process of listening to and practicing the Dharma? Are you usually facing the same issue?

2. How can we keep a balance between tight and loose when practicing the Dharma? Please use koans and scriptural evidences to give further explanation. Does this contradict with worldly rules? What are your thoughts on this?

3. In the process of listening to the Dharma, under what circumstances would you feel discouraged? How should you handle discouragement? What should you do if you are too discouraged to listen?

4. Is it for no reason at all that we have encountered with such wonderful Dharma this life? Why? Understanding the reasons, in what ways has it helped you elevated your mental power?

Lesson 10

1. What does it mean to remember the words but not the meaning? What does it mean to remember the meaning but forgetting the words? What are the cases of remembering the words but not the meaning? What are the cases of remembering the meaning but forgetting the words? Do you have any of these faults?

2. What are the effects on the practice of meditation, if you fall on either side of words or meanings? Please tell us about your own experience. 

3. Some people think, "Whatever the Buddha himself preached is the ultimate truth and definitive, and should be practiced without compromise." Is this view correct? Please explain the reasons in detail.

4. What does it mean to remember teachings out of order? What is meant by remembering it incorrectly? What is the difference between them? What do you think is the best way to eliminate these two faults?

5. What attitude should be used towards the difficult Dharma and the easy Dharma in the process of listening, meditation and practice? What kinds of phenomena should be avoided?

6. In a nutshell, what are the different types of "conducts to be avoided" when talking about the way of listening to the Dharma? What is the content of each of them? Please summarize them in general according to the outline of the book. What is the most important thing you have learned from studying these?

Ngöndro Discussion Session 3

Ngöndro Discussion Session 4