Six Yogas of Naropa — The Complete Vajrayana Practice System
The Six Yogas of Naropa are the complete system of Vajrayana inner practices transmitted from Tilopa to Naropa — working with the subtle body, dream, death, and the nature of mind toward liberation.
The Six Yogas of Naropa (Naro Chödrug) are the foundational inner practices of the Kagyu lineage, transmitted by the mahasiddha Tilopa to Naropa and subsequently to Marpa, Milarepa, and Gampopa. They are: (1) Tummo (inner heat — generating intense heat through breath and visualization to melt conceptual structures); (2) Gyulü (illusory body — recognizing the dream-like quality of all experience); (3) Milam (dream yoga — achieving lucidity in dreams and using them as a meditation field); (4) Ösel (clear light — recognizing the luminous nature of mind); (5) Bardo (transitional state — navigating consciousness between death and rebirth); (6) Phowa (consciousness transference — directing consciousness at death). Together these constitute a complete practice system working with all states of consciousness including sleep, dream, and death.
The six yogas are the complete path — from the gross body to death, all experience becomes the field of practice.
The first of Naropa's Six Yogas, Tummo (inner heat), uses breath retention and visualization at the navel to melt the drops in the central channel — the basis for the completion-stage practices of the Kagyu lineage.
Jewel Ornament of Liberation