As a student in the Tibetan tradition, I find ngöndro (preliminaries) and Lamrim (stages of the path) help me approach the Buddha's teaching with refuge and bodhicitta (awakening mind).
I want to ask: when we use phrases of loving-kindness, prostrations, or visualisation, how do we keep them alive as doorways toward beings, rather than badges of sincerity?
For me, a soft breath, a little bodhicitta, and letting the phrase drop can keep practice from becoming a test. I’m curious how others experience this: Does ritual help you approach the path with humility? Or does it sometimes feel like a performance? What would make devotion feel like a doorway, not a trophy?
I’d be glad to hear views from people who practice less formally, more with the breath, or with strong ethical commitment.