Six Yogas Of Naropa

Six Yogas Of NaropaThe six yogas of Naropa describe a set of advanced Tibetan Buddhist tantric meditation practices compiled in and around the time of the Indian monk and mystic Naropa (1016-1100 C.E.), and conveyed to his student Marpa the translator. The six yogas were intended in part to help in the attainment of enlightenment in an accelerated manner.

Though variously translated, the six yogas generally conform to the following conceptual list:

  1. Tumo (or Tummo)—the Yoga of Psychic Heat
  2. Karmamudra—the Yoga of the four Mudras
  3. Jangwa, Gyurwa, Pelwa—the Yoga of Dream Time (Bardo)
  4. Ösel—the Yoga of the Clear Light Mind
  5. Gyulu—the Yoga of the Illusory Body (Dream Yoga or Resurrection)
  6. Powa—the Yoga of the transference of consciousness (expulsion of the mind from the body)

As Naropa is a Kagyu lineage holder, the six meditative practices are strongly associated with the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Naropa’s student Marpa taught the Tibetan Milarepa, renowned for his yogic skills. Milarepa in turn taught Gampopa. Gampopa’s student, the future first Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa, attained enlightenment while practicing the Fifth Yoga (also known as “Dream Yoga”).

The Karmapa, the first figure in Tibetan Buddhism to reincarnate, has been strongly associated in certain reincarnations with particular yogic attributes. Many Gelukpa practitioners, including the Dalai Lama, are expert in the six yogas of Naropa.

See also

  • Tsa lung Trul khor

Topics in Yoga

Yogas: Agni Yoga – Anahata Yoga – Anusara Yoga – Arhatic Yoga – Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) – Bikram Yoga – Hatha yoga – Integral yoga – Iyengar Yoga – Kriya yoga – Kundalini yoga – Natya Yoga – Sahaj Marg – Sahaja Yoga – Siddha YogaSix yogas of Naropa (Tumo) – Surat Shabd Yoga – Viniyoga – Yoga in Daily Life – Yoga Nidra
Texts: Hatha Yoga Pradipika – Yoga Sutra – Gherand Samhita
Hinduism paths: Bhakti yoga – Karma Yoga – Jnana Yoga – Raja Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga)
Raja Yoga limbs: Yama – Niyama – Asana – Pranayama – Pratyahara – Dharana – Dhyana – Samadhi
Lists: Yoga schools and their gurus – Hatha yoga postures
Related topics: Ayurveda – Chakra – Tantra – Vedanta – Yoga as exercise
buddha monk

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