Longchen Nyingthig Ngöndro - The Heart-essence of the Vast Expanse
The Longchen Nyingthik ("Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse") is a Terma cycle revealed by the master Jigme Lingpa. Since its inception in the late 18th century, it has become one of the most widespread sets of teachings in the Nyingmapa tradition. It is particularly known and loved for its extensive commentarial literature, which includes practice manuals such as the famed Kunzang Lama'i Shelung ("Words of my Perfect Teacher").
These teachings were originally transmitted by the master Padmasambhava to King Trisong Deutsen, the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and the Lotsawa ("translator") Vairotsana at Samye Monastery in central Tibet. As the time for these teachings to spread was not yet right, they were then written in symbolic script by Yeshe Tsogyal, entrusted to the Dakinis, and hidden to be revealed at a later time. The king later reincarnated as the tertön ("treasure revealer") Jigme Lingpa. Then, recognizing the time was ripe for them to be practiced, put them down in writing and began to teach.
Jigme Lingpa was a reincarnation of two important masters, Vimalamitra[13] and King Trisong Deutsen.[14] As the embodiment of these two figures, Tibet's two primary Dzogchen lineages were combined in him—the Vima Nyingthik and Khandro Nyingthik, both of which are contained in the Nyingthik Yabshi. Hence, the Longchen Nyingthig terma cycle is considered a condensation of these profound teachings.
The texts that were revealed by Jigme Lingpa, in their present-day form, comprise three volumes, known as the Nyingthig Tsapod (Wylie: snying thig rtsa pod). The numerous treatises, sadhanas and prayers it contains deal primarily with tantric practice, in particular the 'stages of Development' (Wylie: bskyed-rim) and Dzogchen.
The Sequence of Practice
Session preliminaries:
Physcial preliminary - Seven-point posture of Vairochana
Speech preliminaries - Clearing of stale breath and recitation of the speech purification liturgy
Mental preliminaries - Correct motivation and invocation of the guru's blessings
Outer Preliminaries:
Contemplation of the freedoms and endowments
Contemplation of death & impermanence
Contemplation of karma: the principle of causality
Contemplation of the sufferings of samsara
Contemplation of the benefits of liberation
Contemplation of how one studies with a spiritual teacher
Inner Preliminaries:
Going For Refuge - The foundation of the Buddhist path
Developing Bodhicitta - The root Mahayana practice
Meditation And Recitation Of Vajrasattva - Purification of obstacles, obscurations & negativity
Mandala Offering - Gathering the accumulations of merit and wisdom
Chod - Cutting through the Four Maras
Guru Yoga - Invoking the blessings of the guru's enlightened mind
