Preface

Introduction

Tsongkhapa and the Lineage of the Six Yogas

The Buddhist Tantric Tradition in India

Naropa

The Legacy of the Six Yogas

The Six Yogas, Three Bardo States, and Nine Blendings

Lama Tsongkhapa's A Book of Three Inspirations

Section One of Tsongkhapa's Text

The Preliminary Trainings Associated with the General Mahayana

The General Tantric Preliminaries

The Tantric Preliminaries Unique to the Six Yogas System

The Generation Stage Yogas

Introduction to the Nature of the Mind

Introduction to the Nature of the Body

The Physical Exercises and Meditations upon the Empty Shell Body

Section Two of Tsongkhapa's Text

The Inner Heat Yoga

Karmamudra

The Illusory Body Yoga

The Bardo Yoga

The Clear Light Yoga

The Consciousness Transference Yoga

The Forceful Projection Yoga

Concluding Notes

The Six Yogas of Naropa in English Translation

The Seventh Dalai Lama's Prayer to the Six Yogas Lineage

Some Historical Lineage Considerations

A Parting Perspective on Tsongkhapa the Great

A Book of Three Inspirations: A Treatise on the Stage of Training in the Profound Path of Naro's Six Dharmas

Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa

Prologue

I. The preliminary meditations, which build the foundations of this path

A. The preliminaries that are general meditations derived from the common Mahayana teachings

1. Why it is necessary for training in this tradition to be preceded by training in the practices of the common Mahayana

2. The actual stages of training the mind in that path

B. The preliminaries that belong exclusively to the highest yoga tantra tradition

1. The general Vajrayana preliminaries

a. Why it is necessary to receive the complete empowerments

b. Why it is necessary to observe the tantric precepts

2. The preliminaries emphasized in this Naropa system

II. Having established the preliminaries, how to train in the actual tantric meditations

A. The meditations of the generation stage yogas

B. The meditations of the completion stage yogas

1. The nature of the basis

a. The nature of the mind

b. The nature of the body

2. The explanation of the stages of traversing the path

a. The meditations upon the physical exercises, together with the meditation upon the body as empty

i. The meditations on the physical exercises

ii. The meditations on the body as an empty shell

b. The stages of meditating upon the actual path

i. The manner of structuring the path

ii. The stages of being guided on the path

.A. The essence of the basic principles in the guidelines of the path

.1. The essence of the actual path

.a. Arousing the four blisses by means of drawing the vital energies into the central channel

.i. The inner condition of the meditations on the inner heat doctrine

(.A.) Meditating upon the inner heat in order to draw the vital energies into the central channel

(.1.) How to meditate on the inner heat yoga

(.a.) Meditating by means of visualizing the channels

(.b.) Meditating by means of visualizing mantric syllables

(.c.) Meditating by means of engaging the vase breathing technique

(.2.) Having meditated in this way, how to cause the vital energies to enter, abide and dissolve within the central channel

(.B.) Having brought in the energies, the methods of arousing the four blisses

(.1.) The nature of the signs that arise, and the blazing of the inner fire

(.2.) How the bodhimind substances are melted and the four blisses induced

(.3.) The manner of meditating upon the innate wisdom

.ii. The external condition of relying upon a karmamudra

.2. Having aroused the four blisses, how to engage in the meditations on the illusory body and clear light doctrines

.i. The general principles of how, in reliance upon the inner heat doctrine, one meditates on the remaining stages of the path

.ii. The manner of meditating on the individual paths

(.A.) How to meditate on the illusory body doctrine

(.1.) How to meditate on all appearances as illusory

(.2.) How to meditate on dream illusions

(.a.) Learning to retain [conscious presence during] dreams

(.b.) Controlling and increasing dreams

(.c.) Overcoming fear and training in the illusory nature of dreams

(.d.) Meditating upon suchness in dreams

(.3.) How to meditate on the illusory nature of the bardo experience

(.a.) The underlying philosophy of the bardo experience

(.b.) The stages of the bardo yoga practice

(.i.) The types of beings who can practice in the bardo

(.ii.) The nature of the training

(.B.) How to meditate upon the clear light yogas

(.1.) How to meditate upon the clear light during the waking period

(.2.) How to meditate upon the clear light during sleep

.2. The branches of the path, which include the practices of consciousness transference and forceful projection

.a. Consciousness transference

.b. Forceful projection to a new residence

.i. The vessels who are able to accomplish forceful projection

.ii. The purpose of the practice

.iii. The manner of effecting the projection

.B. The methods and activities for enhancing the path

III. The manner of actualizing the results

Epilogue

Appendix I: Vajrasattva Meditation and Mantra Recitation

Appendix II: Establishing Blessing Powers by Meditating upon Guru Yoga

Glossary: Sanskrit and Tibetan Names and Terms

Notes

Bibliography