The Six Dharmas of Naropa are advanced tantric practices designed to accelerate spiritual awakening.

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Compiled by Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Naropa between 1016 and 1100 CE, these six completion stage practices aim for Buddhahood. By manipulating the subtle body through inner heat, practitioners seek to generate profound states of bliss and non-thought, providing a direct, accelerated path toward enlightenment within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

The Six Dharmas of Naropa, also known as the path of means, represent a sophisticated system of tantric completion stage practices. While the most widely recognized list—popularized by the Kagyu figure Gampopa—includes tummo (inner heat), osel (clear light), milam (dream yoga), gyulü (illusory body), bardo (intermediate state), and phowa (transference of consciousness), historical classifications vary significantly. Some scholars and masters have grouped these into as few as two or as many as ten distinct practices, reflecting the diverse lineages within the Kagyu and Gelug schools.

At the heart of these practices is the manipulation of the subtle body, which consists of energy channels, winds, and drops. The foundation is tummo, or inner heat, a form of pranayama that involves breath retention and visualization to draw vital winds into the central channel. This process is said to melt subtle energy drops, creating an ecstatic state of consciousness described as being significantly more intense than ordinary sexual pleasure. This bliss is not an end in itself but a tool used to contemplate the wisdom of emptiness, ultimately leading to a state of non-thought.

These techniques are not intended for beginners. Traditional requirements include receiving tantric initiation, maintaining specific pledges, and completing extensive preliminary practices, such as deity yoga and meditation on bodhicitta. Without this rigorous preparation, practitioners risk superficial results or physical injury from the improper movement of vital winds. To mitigate these risks, auxiliary physical exercises known as trül khor are often employed to increase the suppleness of the energy channels, ensuring the body can safely sustain the intense energetic shifts required for the path.

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