Four stages of approach and accomplishment

Four stages of approach and accomplishment —

1. approach (Tib. nyenpa)
2. intimate or close approach (Tib. ཉེ་བསྙེན་, nyenyen, Wyl. nye bsnyen)
3. accomplishment (Tib. drubpa)
4. great accomplishment (སྒྲུབ་ཆེན་, drupchen, sgrub chen)

These can be related to the four visualizations for mantra recitation.

Further Reading

• A Guide to Vajrayana Practice for the Rigpa Sangha, Section 2. Kyérim, 'The Four Stages of Approach and Accomplishment' (based on teachings by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche), The Tertön Sogyal Trust, 2006, pages 22-25.
• Getse Mahapandita, Husks of Unity, translated in Deity, Mantra and Wisdom, Snow Lion, 2007, 'Types of Recitation', pages 134-138.
• Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey (Boston: Shambhala, 1995), pages 216-217.