Antero's sidetrack: Tummo

In this thread I will record my experiences on Tibetan Tummo as taught by LocoAustriaco in another thread. For the basic technique, see following thread, starting from post #28

kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/thread/43...set=20&maxResults=20

Nam-mkhai-ba Tummo according to the instructions of LocoAustriaco, see posts #179-181

kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/thread/43...et=160&maxResults=20

I did the practice with the eyes closed adding the visualization of light in each chakra and experiencing the two qualities of the light (void and bliss).

Void was manifested by loosing the sense of the body and the expansion of the horizon towards infinity. Brightness became stronger with each round until I was engulfed in a cloud of benevolent lightness.

As I went through the chakras in ascending order, each round of breath retention got easier. The peculiar mind state softened the body and the mind and relieved all tension making the practice feel easy and enjoyable. I had time only for five rounds and during the last one the body was perfectly still with no need to breath at 120 seconds.

During the breath retention and simultaneous visualization of light at the chakra point, the body dissolves into a cloud of bright vibrations and this is mingled with the feeling of being suspended in a dark void. During the resting period the brightness is gone and it is easy to recognize hard 5th jhana aspects of infinite space.

Brightness and the expanding out-of-the-body feeling melt all the resistance and holding the breath becomes easy, effortless and enjoyable. Body is at ease and there is no urge to breathe at 120 seconds, not even if I continue up to 150 s.

Very interesting for me Antero, thank you for the thread. Can you describe a bit the cloud (does the cloud feel like a dizzy pleasant cloud or a clean expansion of positive feelings or something else). This body dissolving is also interesting to me, can you describe a bit how the body dissolves (getting transparent, mingles with the environment, mingles with the light, dissolves from up and down to the middle of the heart, gets out of the focus of perception, switches off like getting unconscious, is embedded in a void of no objects at all like in a black box). Did you have any changes in your emotions, like they became...hm...stable or clean or somehow tranformed into better versions or nothing special?
Thank you
Loco

"Very interesting for me Antero, thank you for the thread. Can you describe a bit the cloud (does the cloud feel like a dizzy pleasant cloud or a clean expansion of positive feelings or something else). This body dissolving is also interesting to me, can you describe a bit how the body dissolves (getting transparent, mingles with the environment, mingles with the light, dissolves from up and down to the middle of the heart, gets out of the focus of perception, switches off like getting unconscious, is embedded in a void of no objects at all like in a black box). Did you have any changes in your emotions, like they became...hm...stable or clean or somehow tranformed into better versions or nothing special?
Thank you
Loco"

Hi Loco,

I would describe the void as shifting of the focus of perception out from the body to the subtle experience of expanding infinite space.

The diffuse light that is becoming brighter as I move up the chakras seems to be coming from the very fabric of space itself. There are sensations of rising pleasant vibrations that become more noticeable as the light becomes brighter.

And all the times present is an undercurrent of tension that comes from the bodily discomfort of not breathing. The more rounds of practice I do, the milder the tension gets.

I have not had emotions or mind states for some time now and this practice has not changed that. What I have noticed though is that during the day the whole system is pulsing with energy intensifying all signs of purification making all unpleasant body sensations stronger.

There was an unfortunate pause in my Tummo practice and it took the whole week to get the practiced going again. I may have to increase the duration of my current morning practice (20 '“ 30 minutes), because it takes me about 5-6 rounds (15-20 minutes) to get to the feeling of ease when it is easy to hold the breath for 120 seconds without straining.

The shaking has developed into subtle, warm and pleasant vibration that is felt after 80-90 seconds of retention. When this vibration begins, the mind is drawn to it from the expansive horizon-less feeling of being suspended in void.

Hi Antero,

when you started with tummo, could you feel clearly the progression Loco talks about: warmth, then shaking, then peace, then shaking round 2, then peace ?

I can't feel that progression. Usually shaking inside starts and grows a bit. Then panic arises short after, and I feel pressure in my head. I do a maximun of 90 seconds, sometimes more but only if I top up my lungs with air (almost unconsciously) after panic arises. And I started actual tummo a week ago

Thanks

"Hi Antero,

when you started with tummo, could you feel clearly the progression Loco talks about: warmth, then shaking, then peace, then shaking round 2, then peace ?

I can't feel that progression. Usually shaking inside starts and grows a bit. Then panic arises short after, and I feel pressure in my head. I do a maximun of 90 seconds, sometimes more but only if I top up my lungs with air (almost unconsciously) after panic arises. And I started actual tummo a week ago

Thanks "

Hi Dharmandy,

I cannot clearly feel the cycles as described by Loco and the shaking has become quite subtle for me. Sometimes when there is no stress in the body, it feels like I could continue to hold the breath indefinitely. Now I have actually shortened the retentions, because of some adverse effects of tension in the head and unpleasant vibrations later on during the day. So I haven't gone past the 120 seconds and usually keeping at 90 seconds.