Vajrasattva purification: recite the hundred-syllable mantra with a teacher’s instruction

Recite the Vajrasattva purification practice that the ngöndro places among the inner preliminaries, in the way your teacher gives it, and then rest in the meditation that follows.

Por que funciona

The Longchen Nyingtik ngöndro has a section titled “Meditation and Recitation of Vajrasattva” and asks the practitioner to recite “as many times as possible, then rest in meditation.” The practice is a purification: the recitation is followed by resting, so the purification is taken into the mind rather than left as a repetition. Jigme Lingpa’s text lists the Vajrasattva practice as one of the uncommon preliminaries. The exact form of the mantra is given in the teacher’s instruction and the text, not in this summary.

Como fazer

1. If the shame is heavy right now, first open your eyes, feel your feet on the floor, look around the room and take three slow breaths. Then do something ordinary, such as drinking water, and talk to a person you trust before going further. If the feeling of wanting to stop trying at anything stays, talk to a clinician.
2. When you are steady, ask a teacher to give you the Vajrasattva visualisation, the mantra and the number they recommend, before you begin.
3. When you are steady again, sit with your back straight and your breath slow.
4. Do the recitation as your teacher gives it.

Evidência

The section heading and the instruction to recite “as many times as possible, then rest in meditation” come from the Longchen Nyingtik ngöndro. Jigme Lingpa’s text places Vajrasattva among the uncommon preliminaries. The name “hundred-syllable mantra” is the common term for the Vajrasattva mantra, taken from a secondary article that is not itself a translation; the exact form is in the teacher’s instruction and the text. (mechanistic)

The practice is about purification, and for some people it turns toward shame and self-criticism. Shame can grow rather than settle when a person keeps re-listing their faults. If replaying past actions brings overwhelm or a sense of falling apart, stop, open your eyes, feel your feet, and ask a teacher or clinician for support. If thoughts of harming yourself come up, contact a crisis line or emergency service now, before any practice. The meditation-related-challenges page covers this.

Fontes

• Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro (The Excellent Path to Omniscience), trans. Rigpa Translations, revised for the Longchen Nyingtik Project (2023 and 2025); arranged by Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer, as the page states. Lotsawa House.
• Jigme Lingpa. Common and Uncommon Ngöndro, trans. Rigpa Translations and Adam Pearcey, lightly modified by Han Kop for the Longchen Nyingtik Project (2026). Lotsawa House.
• Ngöndro, Wikipedia. Used for two statements only: that a ngöndro is usually completed before advanced tantric practice from a qualified teacher, and the common name “hundred-syllable mantra” for Vajrasattva. Its inner-preliminary list is tagged citation-needed and is not relied on.

Erro comum

Using the purification as a way to dwell on your faults, listing them over and over. The practice asks you to recognise and let go, then rest; if it becomes a review of everything wrong with you, stop and ground yourself, and talk to your teacher.