Armando

Going out on a limb Would this be an acceptable reply? This topic looks like an interesting game to play, but I am new on this forum and I am not sure if I am actually getting this right...

Thank you for answering that so aptly for me, Ilumairen. There is really not very much to add to this, except perhaps that there will always be those in any system of cultivation (including Buddhism) trying to use their meditative practices to escape from their issues. And while we all should certainly integrate ample opportunities for levity into our lives, at the end of the day, our practices can and should have helped us confront and make progress with our issues - which they have the potential for doing in so many ways, especially when we are talking about Tantric Buddhism. There truly isn't much chance to release any issues before it is ready to be released anyway - but there are plenty of ways to trick ourselves into believing we got over them and have attained a higher level now, when there is still so much we once decided to tuck away in our basement. Yet there comes a time when, in order for true progress to take place, we need to bring that stuff back to the light of day, so we can apply awareness and come to terms with it. In some cases, this may mean that we let it go for good at last, in others we may decide to even put it back on that shelf in our living room, at least for the time being.

Yes, as presented more at length a few posts above... This is one of several methods that employ Tummo breathing. Do you have any personal experience with this method?

Beautiful... Thanks for sharing!

So is yours, Manitou! Yes, it is so much easier to blame others for what is not functioning in our lives than to look within ourselves for the roots of our negative experiences. The 'trick' is, while we are seeking introspective insight, not to blame ourselves either for whatever we may find. That is, to apply the compassion and loving kindness that we hope to practice in our interactions with others also to ourselves. This must be based on faith in the indestructible validity of our innate Buddha nature. It is a sign of maturity to attain to that level of understanding.

These are important issues... Tantric Buddhism aims neither at repressing nor at prematurely releasing what can be seen as negative emotions. This is true at least on more advanced levels of practice. Rather, it teaches to accept those emotions as natural and to transform them eventually. The underlying understanding being that what is negative and destructive is just the distortion of something that is - essentially and potentially - positive and constructive.

Let me ask you, my friends... Are any of you familiar with the practice of the "Four Joys"? If so, I would like to hear your experiences and questions.

Hello my friends And my apologies for letting you wait. I did have to meditate first on how to best proceed with our current topic of Tummo. Tummo practice is generally reserved for the somewhat advanced practitioner, which some of you are, of course. However, this is a public thread, and I feel there are things not suitable for being shared in this format. However, I will do my best to answer any questions you may have, and there is always the option to resort to PM if it seems more adequate. Let's start this discussion with a particular form of Tummo practice called "Four Joys". We will be using part of the description in Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's wonderful book Clear Light of Bliss as our reference and work from there.

Well, I was going to stick with the Nine Step Purification Breathing technique some more, but since I do sense a particular interest in Tummo among the participants of this thread, we might just as well look into that topic now. I will consider how to approach that subject best in a thread like this and get back to you soon, my friends.

It can have such an effect. There seem to be many parallels between your practice and Bön/Tibetan Buddhism. Though I assume that there will be some differences as well. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Yes, there are parallels. The following is a quote from the Wikipedia article about Tummo: Miranda Shaw clarifies: Kuṇḍalinī-yoga offered a range of techniques to harness the powerful psycho-physical energy coursing through the body... Most people simply allow the energy to churn in a cauldron of chaotic thoughts and emotions or dissipate the energy in a superficial pursuit of pleasure, but a yogi or yogini consciously accumulates and then directs it for specified purposes. This energy generates warmth as it accumulates and becomes an inner fire or inner heat (candālī) that [potentially] burns away the dross of ignorance and ego-clinging. Yes, I do. Generally only to already somewhat experienced practitioners, though. And even to those not quite the way I was taught by my master, who had me meditate for several hours outside in a cold winternight sometimes. However, this brings to mind a little story... Once, during my last stay in Kathmandu, a group of mountain travellers showed up. I sensed that they were insufficiently prepared for their adventure (unfortunately, many of those travellers are, since trips to the Himalaya have been commercialised some 15 years ago). Though they had no prior experience with meditation, acting on a hunch, I insisted on teaching them Tummo in just one evening. During their expedition, they got stuck at an altitude of over 6000 meters due to bad weather conditions. Threatened by the deadly cold, they put to use what I had taught them. And they were alright until they could be retrieved by helicopter, except for some minor symptoms of frostbite. Later they told me that they credited their Tummo training with their survival. I was more than happy to hear that.

Excellent! Thanks for sharing.

I would like to talk about the Nine Step Purification Breathing technique with you. This is such an important exercise. Let us discuss how to do it, our experiences with it, any questions that may have arisen on the way... Again, there are several variations of the technique commonly being practised. After an extended search, I found this video showing a version fairly close to the one that I was taught. However, I do not raise the shoulders but keep them relaxed at all times. Later we will look at some variations of the basic technique that can be used for specific purposes.

That's awesome, Michael! I was aware of a connection to Tibetan astrology, but I am not very familiar with those other traditions that you are obviously involved with. Thanks for sharing.

I am hardly surprised. I sense that you are very perceptive in regards to Lung flows. On the level you are at, exercises that work specifically with the vajra body would be advisable.

Sure, go ahead please.

You are welcome. And I would be curious to hear more about your experience...

2nd Chance, It might help you to remember that people generally behave in a destructive manner because they lost their balance and are overtaken by strong negative emotions. They are not necessarily 'bad' people, this can also happen to 'good' people when they feel victim to circumstances beyond their control.

There have been Sages in all cultures, and they have been looking at essentially the same truths. And although we may have our particular path that we particularly resonate with, it is wise to acknowledge that there are many viable ways to enlightenment and liberation. Personally, I enjoy talking to representative of other traditions than my own (Tibetan Buddhism) and to see where we agree with as well as where we diverge from each other - sometimes just to find agreement at the end of the day.

I am from Germany. I am very pleased to be here with all of you. My background is Bon and Nyingmapa Buddhism which I studied for some years at two different monasteries in Khatmandu, Nepal. In connection with that, I also studied some of the traditional Tibetan arts like herbology and astrology. This is the first time that I join a forum. I am not quite sure how everything works. Maybe some of you could kindly show me around a bit... Please be patient with me if I make some silly mistakes at first. I am very much looking forward to talking with you about various subjects... Or just to 'sit' with you for a little while. Yours truly Armando

Thank you. I appreciate the welcome.