Tummo Breathing Technique

yogi practicing Inner Fire Meditation (Tummo Yoga)

If I don’t see it, I’m skeptical it happened.  In modern society, we have access to so much information from every corner of the globe that it is almost logical to think if something profound is happening, I must hear about it.  There is so much value in our society regarding social media followers, clout, and financial gain that the idea someone would not strive to achieve these would be perceived as refusing to breathe.  Philosopher Alan Watts famously referred to enlightenment as a child playing, in that the child just plays; if you instruct the child to play or make it know they are being observed, the magic is lost; the child has no need or want for affirmation in this regard.

A group of Tibetan monks has been practicing ancient breathing techniques since the 8th century.  The Tummo breathing technique was originally used to raise body temperature. Due to high altitudes, temperatures in the Tibetan mountains often drop below zero. The Tummo breathing method makes it possible to relax and focus when it is extremely cold. The practice of Tummo breathing emerged in response to this challenge, as its main purpose is to warm up the body and awaken its inner fire.  Through necessity, the monks learned the power of breathing and how it affects our biochemistry.  In other words, we can manipulate our very being with this practice.

Mindowl.org published a wonderful article regarding the zen breathing technique stating,

Regular practice, even over a fairly limited time, can help meditators cultivate a clearer, more honest, and more open mind. Within Tummo meditation’s spiritual context, Tibetan monks often use this technique to get rid of sinful thoughts. In this sense, Tummo has plenty in common with other compassion-based meditation exercises, such as sympathetic joy or Tonglen Meditation. As well as helping to boost happiness levels and combat negative thoughts and emotions, Tummo can also reduce the impact of stress-related health problems such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and cardiac irregularities.

The Wim Hof Breathing technique has become very popular and shares many similarities.  The idea that there are Tibetan monks who may have been achieving a state of enlightenment since the eighth century sounds too profound not to be posted about #enlightened.  We must ask ourselves, would individuals who’ve attained enlightenment care whether or not it was acknowledged by others?  What does it say about us that we think it is madness that one would not broadcast this to the world?