Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro
Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro (Tib. bdud 'joms gter gsar sngon 'gro). Among the preliminaries of the various lineages, the Brief Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro, or ‘Concise Recitation of the Preliminary Practices according to the New Treasure of Dudjom’ (Dudjom Tersar), is possibly the most pithy and to the point. Written and then concealed by Guru Rinpoche himself in the ninth century, it was intended for these ‘degenerate’ times when few people have the time to practise. Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904) revealed this treasure, or terma in Tibetan, and his incarnation, Dudjom Jigdral Yeshé Dorje (1904-1987), known to us as Dudjom Rinpoche, clarified the text and taught it widely.
Of the Brief Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro, Dudjom Rinpoche himself said:
This is a concise recitation of the preliminary practices that clearly elucidates the essential meaning and is intended for those who do not understand or are unable to recite the extensive preliminary practices.
Usually, Rigpa students begin with the Brief Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro. Then, as we grow more familiar with the ngöndro practice, we can move on to the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro.