Reddit mentions of Turning Confusion into Clarity: A Guide to the Foundation Practices of Tibetan Buddhism

I too started on the Shamanic psychedelic path. Much to learn there that should not be disparaged. However, eventually we come to realize it's like a scrimmage of the true spiritual path. At some point we want to embark on the path for real.

Everybody's paths and choices are different. Not sure what you're drawn to, but for me the path Nyingma and Kagyu were exactly what I am most connected with (experiential over logical).

I would recommend soaking in Mingyur Rinpoche's teachings on youtube, they are very direct, don't waste time and jump right into the stream of meditation that is often considered "advanced" in the Tibetan system (Dzogchen/Mhahamudra, Shamatha etc).

He has several great books as well. I love them all, but if you're looking for one to start with try https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Confusion-into-Clarity-Foundation/dp/1611801214/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1537496669&sr=1-3&keywords=mingyur+rinpoche

It's a treasure really.

I would highly recommend Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's book Turning Confusion Into Clarity - written by the very same man who runs the Tergar community mentioned elsewhere in this thread. Most of his books have a very secular slant, aiming to explicate the benefits of mindfulness practice to people who are skittish towards religion, but this one is explicitly a crash-course in the preliminary Vajrayana practices.

I was a little apprehensive at first that I was biting off more than I could chew with it, but he explains the practices very clearly and moves through each one very deliberately.

I've added a few techniques to my everyday practice - namely beginning each sitting session with a call for bodhicitta, and ending with a dedication of merit - which have self-evidently improved the quality of my meditation. What's more, a technique I first tried just the other night resulted in one of the most singular meditative experiences of my life. You will be able to read about that in more detail later tonight or tomorrow on this sub.

I don't know what your sitting practice looks like now. If you're fairly new to the practice, you may want to hold off on the later techniques in the book until you've stabilized into everyday practice. These techniques can take over an hour to do properly, and they are meant to be savored - its not the point to just think the thoughts and say the mantras so many times just to get through them.

In any case, I've found the teachings in that book incredibly beneficial to my practice, and can't recommend it highly enough for anyone yearning to dip their toes in Vajrayana, but lack access to a proper teacher.

EDIT - Because links are hard.