The Four Preliminary Practices of the True Buddha Dharma

Introduction

The four preliminaries practices are: the Great Homage, the Fourfold Refuge, the Mandala Offering, and the Vajrasattva Practice. These four practices are the foundation, the cornerstone of all the practices. They are the beginning, just as in building a house, one starts first by building the foundation.

In Tibet, all novices of the Vajrayana have to study the four preliminary practices. Each preliminary practice must be repeated one hundred thousand times before any other Tantric practice is taught. Without such complete practice, various obstacles may arise and it would be easy for the practitioner to branch off onto a wrong path.

Many Vajrayana students have a disdain for the four preliminary practices, thinking that they are just minor practices. They do not realize that these four preliminary practices are, in fact, the foundation for all major Tantric meditational practices and are extremely effective in eliminating karmic hindrances and in accumulating blessing and wisdom. Therefore, they must not be slighted as unimportant.

Many people have asked, should one practice the four preliminary practices together of separately? My reply is: it depends totally on the available time each individual has. There is no fixed rule. If one has more time, one can practice the four preliminary practices at one sitting. If one does have sufficient time, one may practice just one practice at a time.

1. The Great Homage >>

by Living Buddha Lian-Shen (Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu)

Translated from Chinese by The Purple Lotus Society, August 16, 1991