Preliminaries in Another Tradition
A student wrote to Rinpoche saying she had decided to do another lama’s ngön-dro [preliminary practices] and wanted to be clear about her commitments regarding the preliminary practices that Rinpoche had given her. She had asked for some preliminary practices and Rinpoche had given her a number prostrations, mandala offerings, and Dorje Khadro fire offerings to do. Her question was whether she had a commitment or not to still do those preliminaries while doing the other lama’s ngön-dro. Rinpoche laughed when he read the question and responded as follows.
Now it’s up to you, not me. If you can live for 100 or 200 years you can do the preliminaries of all four traditions. [Rinpoche smiled.]
As long as you are taking refuge in the guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, it is OK. The path to enlightenment is the same in all traditions, without the root it is not possible. In regards to the three principles of the path, it is the same in all four traditions, but some have a little difference in presentation. However, it is very important in daily life to pray to have realizations and complete the path.
As far as the preliminaries go, do whatever you can, but remember preliminaries are not just to be done one time, and then not again. Even eighth and tenth-level bodhisattvas, who have vast amounts of qualities, continue with the preliminaries, performing them with countless manifest bodies. Even one so close to enlightenment is still performing preliminaries. You need to create merit and do purification to achieve enlightenment.
With much love and prayers...