Welcome to our guide to the Six Yogas of Naropa, a profound collection of advanced Tibetan Buddhist meditation practices. These ancient techniques, dating back to the 11th century, were systematized by the Indian Buddhist master Naropa and transmitted to his Tibetan disciple Marpa.
The Six Yogas constitute a path to enlightenment through direct experience of the mind's fundamental nature. Each yoga addresses specific aspects of consciousness and energy, providing powerful methods for transformation and spiritual awakening.
Below, we explore each of these yogas in detail, explaining their purpose, methods, and benefits.
The Six Yogas of Naropa
The following table summarizes the Six Yogas, their purposes, and main practices:
Yoga Name | Purpose | Main Practice |
Inner Heat (Tummo) | Purification, generating energy | Visualizing subtle body channels and generating inner fire |
Illusory Body (Gyulu) | Overcoming attachment to physical form | Contemplating the dream-like nature of reality |
Dream Yoga (Milam) | Maintaining awareness during sleep | Becoming lucid in dreams and controlling dream content |
Clear Light Yoga (Ösel) | Recognizing mind's true nature | Meditation on the nature of consciousness |
Consciousness Transference (Phowa) | Preparation for death | Directing consciousness through crown chakra |
Intermediate State (Bardo) | Navigation of after-death states | Familiarization with bardo experiences |
These practices are considered advanced and are typically undertaken only after establishing a firm foundation in preliminary practices (ngöndro).
Inner Heat (Tummo):
This practice involves the visualization of the subtle body and the generation of inner heat. Practitioners visualize a flame at the navel chakra, which is said to burn away delusions and negative energies. Tummo is famous for allowing yogis to survive in cold environments by generating body heat.
Illusory Body (Gyulu):
This yoga deals with the concept of the illusory nature of phenomena. Practitioners learn to see the world as an illusion, which helps in overcoming attachment and aversion. It involves understanding how our perceptions create our reality. The practice helps recognize that all phenomena, including our physical form, are like illusions, lacking inherent existence. Practitioners might visualize their body transforming, becoming transparent or luminous, or seeing all beings as having an illusory nature.
Dream Yoga (Milam):
Here, the practitioner works with dreams to understand the nature of reality. The aim is to become lucid in dreams, control them, and eventually recognize the dream-like nature of waking life. This practice helps in mastering the mind's projections.
Clear Light Yoga (Ösel):
Ösel focuses on accessing the clear light mind, which is the fundamental nature of mind, pure and clear. This refers to the fundamental nature of mind, which is described as luminous, clear, and empty. It's the mind's most subtle state, free from conceptual thoughts or dualistic perceptions. The practice aims at realizing this clear light as one's true nature, leading to enlightenment.
Consciousness Transference (Phowa):
Phowa is the practice of transferring the consciousness at the time of death through the crown of the head into a pure land or into another being's body. It's a method to control where one's consciousness goes after death, aiming for a better rebirth or direct enlightenment.
Intermediate State (Bardo):
This yoga prepares one for the experiences after death, in the bardo or intermediate state. Practitioners are taught to navigate these states with awareness, potentially achieving liberation or a favorable rebirth. It involves meditation on the nature of death and the various bardos one might encounter. Bardo encompasses various states, not just the period after death. It's about understanding the nature of existence as a series of transitions.