What is the Path of Liberation?

The Path of Liberation is an experiential path of meditation for those who wish to practice the Buddhist teachings under the guidance of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Encompassing the most important practices of the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, and building on the foundational teachings of the Joy of Living, the Path of Liberation presents a series of meditation techniques from the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions designed to strip away the causes of suffering and uncover the radiant awareness that underlies all experience.

There are two tracks in the Path of Liberation series. Each track is designed for a different set of circumstances. The first track is based on a short practice liturgy written by Mingyur Rinpoche entitled Nectar of the Path and is designed for people who have roughly 30–60 minutes for their daily meditation practice. The second track is based on a traditional liturgy for ngondro entitled The Chariot for Traveling the Noble Path. This track works best for those who can practice between one and two hours each day. Both tracks culminate in the practice of a White Tara sadhana written by Mingyur Rinpoche entitled Radiance of the Heart.

What are the prerequisites for beginning the Path of Liberation?

To begin either of the two tracks mentioned above, you need to participate in a Tergar Path of Liberation retreat, where you will receive the necessary transmissions for the practices. You also need to take refuge to begin the practices of the ngondro track. The refuge ceremony is conducted during in-person retreats. You will find the specific pre-requisites in the Path of Liberation chart below.

What practices are included in the Path of Liberation?

Both tracks of the Path of Liberation include two different forms of practice: nature of mind practices and method practices that involve contemplation and/or the imagination. Nature of mind practices put us directly in touch with our awakened nature — the radiant purity of awareness. Contemplations and practices that use the imagination bring us to the same place, but they do so by dissolving the habits that keep us from seeing our awakened nature.

How are the two tracks of the Path of Liberation different?

The main difference between the Nectar of the Path and ngondro tracks was mentioned above. The former works best for those who have 30–60 minutes to practice each day, or who want a simpler form of practice with more time to devote specifically to nature of mind meditation, while the latter is designed for those who have at least one to two hours for their daily meditation practice.

The two tracks contain many of the same elements. They both include the four thoughts — four contemplations that turn the mind toward the path of awakening — as well as the practices of going for refuge, arousing the altruistic mindset of bodhichitta, and guru yoga. The ngondro track also includes the practices of Vajrasattva and mandala offering.

Nectar of the Path is a much shorter practice liturgy. Daily practice in this track thus involves less chanting and more time for contemplation and nature of mind meditation. The ngondro practices are more time-intensive, and, depending on one’s own situation, may therefore leave less room for periods devoted exclusively to nature of mind practice. In terms of the total amount of practice time needed to complete each path, the ngondro track takes considerably longer (see below for more detail).

Finally, completion of either track will enable students to continue to receive advanced nature of mind teachings. Please note that certain practices in the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages require the completion of a ngondro. If/when Mingyur Rinpoche teaches those practices in the future, completion of the ngondro track will be required.

How long will it take to complete the requirements for each of the two tracks?

The total time commitment for the Nectar of the Path track is 500 hours. The ngondro track requires a total of 100 hours of contemplation, 111,111 repetitions of each of the four main ngondro practices, and 200 hours of nature of mind practice. Although it depends on the individual, this path takes roughly 2,000 to 2,500 hours of practice to complete. Thus, the Nectar of the Path track could be completed in roughly three years with 30 minutes of daily practice, while the ngondro track would take roughly four or five years with 90 minutes of daily practice.

What if I am not sure which track to choose?

If you are not sure which track to choose, you can start with Nectar of the Path and switch to ngondro later on. The most important point is to choose the option that works with your circumstances. You can always adjust later on. The Tergar support teams are always available if you need guidance on choosing a practice. Please email tergar.my@gmail.com.

What if I have already completed the 4 x 111,111 ngondro?

If you are an experienced Vajrayana practitioner with 5+ years of meditation practice and have already completed the full ngondro, you can attend a Path of Liberation Level 1 retreat to receive nature of mind instructions from Mingyur Rinpoche or Khenpo Kunga*. The practice requirements for each level will consist of completing 50 hours of nature of mind practice and a certain number of days of practice in retreat. Detailed practice guides will be available at the retreat itself.

How do I progress through the five Path of Liberation levels?

Both tracks include five levels. Nectar of the Path meditators practice each part of the practice for 100 hours before moving on to the next level. Ngondro meditators practice each practice to the completion of a certain number of repetitions, plus 50 hours of nature of mind practice for each level. Both tracks also include a certain number of days of retreat practice for each level. 

Once you have completed the number of hours/repetitions and retreat days specified for a level, you can move on to the next stage of the path. Below is an overview of the five levels for each track.

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Nectar of the Path Track

For an overview of the pre-requisites and completion requirements for each level of the Nectar of the Path track of the Path of Liberation program.

Level 1: The four thoughts + stillness, movement, and awareness

• 100 hours of total practice
• Four days of retreat

Level 2: Refuge + perception and the nature of mind

• 100 hours of total practice
• Four days of retreat

Level 3: Bodhichitta + emptiness and the nature of mind

• 100 hours of total practice
• Seven days of retreat

Level 4: Guru yoga + clarity and the nature of mind

• 100 hours of total practice
• Seven days of retreat (with 6+ hours of practice per day)

Level 5: White Tara + self-liberation and the nature of mind

• 100 hours of total practice
• Seven days of retreat

 

Ngondro Track

For an overview of the pre-requisites and completion requirements for each level of the Ngondro track of the Path of Liberation Program.

Level 1: The four thoughts & refuge, and bodhichitta

• 50 hours of contemplating the four thoughts
• 50 hours of contemplating bodhichitta
• 50 hours of nature of mind practice
• 27,777 prostrations
• Four days of retreat

Level 2: Vajrasattva

• 111,111 repetitions of the 100-syllable mantra
• 27,777 prostrations
• 50 hours of nature of mind practice
• Four days of retreat

Level 3: Mandala offering

• 111,111 mandala offerings
• 27,777 prostrations
• 50 hours of nature of mind practice
• Seven days of retreat

Level 4: Guru yoga

• 111,111 repetitions of the seven-line guru yoga supplication
• 27,780 prostrations
• 50 hours of nature of mind practice
• Seven days of retreat

Level 5: White Tara

• 100 hours of foundation practice
• 400 hours of deepening practice OR 1,000,000 repetitions of the White Tara mantra
• Seven days of retreat