Within the Dzogchen traditions, the relationship between preliminary practices and direct realization is treated as important, yet not entirely uniform. Many traditional masters regard the full set of preliminaries—prostrations, refuge and bodhicitta recitations, Vajrasattva mantras, mandala offerings, and guru yoga—as essential preparation for stabilizing recognition of the nature of mind. These practices are said to purify obscurations, accumulate merit, and cultivate devotion and correct motivation, thereby creating the conditions in which direct introduction to rigpa can be properly received and integrated. From this perspective, ngöndro is not a mere formality but a profound training that shapes the practitioner’s whole orientation.

At the same time, the heart of Dzogchen is direct introduction to the nature of mind by a qualified teacher, and this is not treated as a mechanical reward granted only after a checklist is completed. Different authentic teachers adopt different pedagogical styles: some insist that ngöndro be completed before any Dzogchen instructions are given; others allow students to receive pointing-out instructions while they are still engaged in the preliminaries, letting these two streams of practice support one another. There are also accounts, within traditional circles, of rare cases in which masters have offered direct introduction without completed preliminaries, when a student’s capacity or karmic connection was deemed exceptional.

Across these variations, a common thread is the emphasis on the teacher’s discernment rather than a rigid, universal rule. The specific lineage, the disposition and maturity of the student, and the teacher’s assessment of what will genuinely foster realization all play a decisive role in how ngöndro and Dzogchen meditation are sequenced. For most practitioners, traditional masters strongly recommend, and often practically require, serious engagement with ngöndro as the most reliable support for deep and stable realization, even when Dzogchen instructions are already being received.