The Unity of Wisdom and Merit
— Taking Refuge and Prostrations —
Taking refuge is to develop the unshakable devotion of practitioners towards the Three Roots and Three Jewels and Prostrations are for the training of the unfailing access of the mind.
Oral transmission, empowerment and explanation by Guru are required for the "The Preliminaries" to avoid entering into the wrong path. Before engaging the Four Preliminaries one should contemplate on the Four Common Preliminaries, sometimes called the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind. i.e.
According to tradition, each preliminary is required to practice for 111111 times.
The Preliminaries of Mahamudra as Daily Practice — by Khenpo Karsang Tenzin
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