Why Tibetan masters view the mind as nothing more than wind in the body
In short: In the Vajrayana tradition, meditation is often seen as a conceptual trap. Instead, practitioners turn to trul khor, or yantra yoga—a discipline of breath control and physical movement designed to manipulate the subtle energy currents that constitute the human body, aiming to return the practitioner to their natural state.
Trul khor, also known as yantra yoga, is a complex Vajrayana discipline that integrates breath control, known as pranayama, with specific body postures and movements. Within the Dzogchen tradition, the mind is not viewed as an abstract entity but is instead equated with vāyu, or wind. Because the mind is considered to be merely breath moving through the body, practitioners focus on working directly with these physical and energetic currents rather than engaging in what they consider the contrived, conceptual nature of traditional meditation.
The practice relies on the concept of the 'vajra body,' which is composed of a network of subtle energy channels called nadis. These pathways, which include the three primary channels known as ida, pingala, and sushumna, allow prana—or lung in Tibetan—to flow throughout the system. By synchronizing movement, breathing, and visualization, trul khor aims to influence these channels. While traditional systems vary, the practice can involve as many as 108 distinct movements, though specific lineages like the Bön tradition may focus on sets of 39 or even just 5 elementary movements.
The historical roots of this discipline are attributed to Padmasambhava, who is said to have received the instructions from the mahasiddha Humkara in Nepal. In modern times, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche played a pivotal role in bringing these teachings to the West, particularly after founding the International Dzogchen Community in Italy after 1975. His work, which draws on practical manuals by the master Vairotsana, has helped formalize the study of these techniques. Other scholars, such as M. Alejandro Chaoul, have further explored the Bön tradition’s approach, referencing historical masters like Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen to understand how these ancient yogic practices might even serve as complementary integrative medicine.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Trul khor
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