Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) practice

  1. Take Refuge, Pratimoksha (the lay or monastic vows), and Bodhisattva vows. Cultivate Shamatha during one month, focusing on the image of the Buddha with devotion in order to mature the mind.
  2. Accomplish the preliminary practice of the 35 Buddhas (minimum 30,000 prostrations and Mandala offerings).
  3. Receive the Gomlung of Marpa’s exceptional yidam Vajrasattva, and accomplish the recitation of his mantra (minimum 30,000).
  4. Do the Tonglen practice of The 7 Points of Mind Training during one month.
  5. Receive the Avalokiteshvara Gomlung of the Thangtong Gyalpo tradition and study the commentary written by the 15th Karmapa. From this point on, always rely on Avalokiteshvara as your principle yidam.
  6. Receive the instructions of the practice combining Mahamudra and Dzokchen according to the Karma Kagyu tradition and cultivate it continuously, like the flow of a river.

Those who wish to do strict retreat must learn the three subjects of tantra before receiving the extensive empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, then accomplish the required recitations. As for the completion phase, do the combined practice of Mahamudra and Dzokchen as specified above.