How do you do tummo yoga?

grant, modified 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 1:29 PM
Created 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 1:29 PM

How do you do tummo yoga?

Posts: 37 Join Date: 8/1/14 Recent Posts
Hey so Id like to do tummo but IM unsure how exactly to do it, Ive been able to gather phycic heat randomly but never on cue what is a sure fire way to get some phycic heat going?
Adam , modified 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 2:28 PM
Created 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 2:28 PM

RE: How do you do tummo yoga?

Posts: 613 Join Date: 3/20/12 Recent Posts
grant, modified 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 2:44 PM
Created 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 2:44 PM

RE: How do you do tummo yoga?

Posts: 37 Join Date: 8/1/14 Recent Posts
thanks
J J, modified 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 3:31 PM
Created 9 Years ago at 11/11/14 3:31 PM

RE: How do you do tummo yoga?

Posts: 225 Join Date: 3/31/14 Recent Posts
Sup,

The instructions can be found here:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/ettt/ettt13.htm

Tummo is often classed within the bracket of the Six Yogas of Naropa. I am of the opinion that tummo and the Six Yogas of Naropa are signs of progress on the path, as opposed to practices (necessarily). But disregarding my opinion for now! Here's some more info:

This book here covers Tsongkhapa's treatise on the Six Yogas: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/ettt/index.htm

The central practice of tummo is the practice of vase breathing, the instructions are here:

The Yogi should well acquaint himself with the meditation procedure as given in the preceding instructions. Through this practice the pranas will enter into the Central Channel and by the power of the fire of Dumo the Bodhi-Heart will be melted—thus the Four Blisses will definitely arise. But there are many Tibetan teachers who give the teaching of Dumo in a manner which combines all the practices of nerve (Rtsa), word, and Vase-Breathing at one time and declares that it is for the sake of promptly

p. 180

producing the Dumo experience that the combined practice is given.

"The taking-in, the filling-up, the dissolving,
And the shooting like the arrow are the four steps."

This stanza shows the four special steps of the Vase-Breathing practice that was found in the pith-instructions of the gurus in the past and favored by them. There is a certain commentary which says that "the four" means the four bases; this is a mistake, however, that was made through overlooking the text of the Tantras.

The physical preparations for the breathing exercise are the same as given before. The best time to practice this breathing exercise, according to the instructions of the accomplished Yogi Pag-mo-grub-pa is the time when the breathing runs equally (in both nostrils).

Pag-mo-grub-pa adds: "Although many gurus say that the best time to practice this breathing exercise is the time when the air runs equally (through both nostrils), (in the light of serious meditation) the breathing practice should be carried on day and night." In order to make the proper time explicit, this instruction is given first.

In general, the prana70 is the essence of the expression of the Buddhas. In this practice the exercise should be carried out when most of the Lotus-Shelter-Air ascends. This is stated in the Lotus Commentary of the Dorn Tyun Tantra.

Now, the explanation of the taking-in-air: The yogi should not inhale through the mouth but through the nostrils. He should not breath in roughly, but inhale gently and slowly.

Filling-up the air: After taking in the air, press it down and hold it. As the yogi inhales, he should think that the air comes in through the two nostrils and enters into the

p. 181

[paragraph continues] Right and Left Channels, filling them up (like breath inflating balloons made of entrails.)

Dissolving-the-air: When both channels, Right and Left, are full, all the air enters into the Central Channel with a "Whoosh."

At this time the yogi should swallow the spittle in the mouth and press the upper air down and pull the lower air up from both the lower gates71 to the small Ah word. Then the yogi should concentrate on his visualizations and hold his breath as long as he can. The holy Pag-mo-grub-pa said in his instructions-stanza: "From the Right and Left Channels the air enters into the Central Channel and fills it. When the breath can be held no longer, the yogi should release it for a very short time—the duration of snapping one's finger. The air left in the body should be used for the dissolving practice."

Though this instruction is somewhat contradictory on two points with the instruction given before, except the fourth step (the dissolving step), the other three (taking-in, holding, and exhaling the air) are expounded. The filling-up practice means inhaling the air that fills the Right and Left Channels, and the dissolving practice means the departure of the air from the two channels and its entrance into the Central Channel; thereby the Central Channel is filled with air, but the air in the Right and Left Channel is dissolved or emptied.


The instructions are always confusing, the way I practiced it was simple, but probably incorrect:

Inhale through the nose and imagine the air filling the left and right channels and unwinding them, flex and push the air down. Pushing the air down from the right and left channels causes them to enter the central channel. Push down and draw the air from the central channel to the navel chakra (the fierce woman, or tummo, supposedly a flame resides here), clench your anus to prevent the air from escaping.

Now meditate on the navel, and imagine the flame heating up.

When you have exhausted your oxygen, exhale rapidly with a "TOH" or "PHAT" (something like that), and let the air shoot up the central channel and hit the syllable at the top of your head. (Do not let the syllable give way to the air, this is important.)

That's the practice of vase breathing, but there are many preparations and auxillary practices.

Cheers.

Breadcrumb