Taking It Slowly with Vajrayana: Overview and Advice

Phakchok Rinpoche tells students not to jump between practices, and says the Vajrayana path has a ground and a sequence that each have a purpose. He describes the starting view that one’s nature is Buddha, then walks through the path in order: mind training with giving and taking, refuge, confession, offering the mandala, guru yoga, empowerment, visualisation and Dzogchen. He gives his own reading of what each stage works on, such as pride, guilt and attachment.

He says Dzogchen grows better on that ground, and that dream yoga should follow Mahayoga. He compares this with training the body step by step and keeping a healthy routine, and closes by saying the talk is an overview and not instruction in any single practice.