The Dallas KTC sangha will travel to KTD monastery in Woodstock NY to do a Ngondro Retreat. Ngöndro is a set of Buddhist practices that one chooses to complete at the request of one’s lama. Ngöndro can be translated as “to go before” It is therefore known as the four preliminary practices or the four uncommon or extraordinary preliminaries. The full practice may be compared to earning a bachelors degree in meditation as the practices usually take years to complete and when one is finished one normally receives a Yidam practice from his or her lama as sort of a graduation gift. Yidam means mind bond and is usually a lifelong practice. I will be describing the Karma Kagyu Chag Chen Ngöndro from the Ninth Karmapa here as this is what I practice.

The Ngöndro consists of four and sometimes five practices the four practices are:
1. Refuge and Enlightened Mind (prostrations)
2. Vajrasattva (diamond mind)
3. Mandala Offering
4. Guru Yoga

Khenpo Tenkyong is a dynamic teacher committed to protecting nature and spreading dharma blessings to children and adults everywhere. As a bridge between ancient ways and modern needs, Khenpo Tenkyong meets students where they are in order to build strong foundations for strong practice. Skilled in meditation, yoga, and understanding precious nature, Khenpo Tenkyong’s passion for life can be felt in all of his teachings. Khenpo Tenkyong is a resident lama at KTD Monestary in Woodstock, NY.