Tummo - Fire Meditation

• Introduction
• Fire Meditation
• Doing Fire Meditation
• Breathing
• Visualization
• Reverse Tummo Method

Introduction

To understand the logic of Tummo Fire Meditation from a modern perspective, you need to realize that each cubic meter at sea level (1 atmosphere) contains

Tummo

Tummo Fire Meditation is not a single entity.

There are different traditions and techniques and while most people focus on the "fire" aspect, it is in fact a technique which is the foundation for higher spiritual experiences.

Tummo Fire Meditation typically requires years of meditation practice before even trying this technique.

However, some older souls may be able to start this process with just several months of intense meditation and specifically "Controlled Meditation" because you need control and focus in order to even start this process.

Techniques like zazen, TM and guided meditations etc are completely useless for activating Tummo Fire Meditation.

The method I discuss below is a basic method and is in no way reflective of any advanced techniques.

I have personally used the method below with great success.

Even the Wim Hof method mentioned below is a basic technique designed for Western audiences. Despite this impediment, it does work.

I would suggest that you start with this Wim Hof method and become proficient at doing it - and then if you want to - you can then consider learning more advanced methods.

Fire (Tummo) Meditation

In simple terms, Fire Meditation is where you evoke your natural Chi (Qi) energy force to literally keep you warm regardless of how cold or frozen it is outside.

Basic activation requires visualized a fire inside your Solar Plexus area, and more advanced methods require unifying Sky and Earth chi.

Fire Meditation is extremely useful if you are living above the snow line or in a place which gets winds from snow capped mountains.

Does Fire Meditation work you ask?

Absolutely, yes.

I was taught Fire Meditation when I was 18 and practiced it for years. However moving to a hotter climate made me cease doing this meditation because there was no further need for it.

Below is how I was taught to do this meditation (basic level) and it worked for me.

Note that there are various different ways to do Fire Meditation. This is the technique I was taught.

Doing Fire Meditation

In Buddhism, Fire Meditation is called Tummo Meditation. I will however, simply refer to this in English using the name Fire Meditation.

WARNING

I will start this off with the basics of Fire Meditation, however, I will NOT go into advanced techniques because this can be harmful if you do not have a personal teacher to guide you.

This technique is best used when you are in a situation where it is very cold and you need to keep warm - especially for survival.

Uncontrolled advanced techniques "may" cause spontaneous combustion and this is why you need an experienced teacher with you when you start.

Breathing

Sit in a comfortable position - this may be the lotus position, half-lotus position or the recliner chair position - but preferably not a bed. This is because you need to open your diaphragm (lungs) as much as possible and laying down restricts your ability to do this.

(I tilt my recliner to a maximum of 30 degrees so that I can breath easier.)

Now close your eyes.

TIP: ↟↟

If you are not very good at visualization, try looking at a picture of a heater or red hot coals from a fire before you close your eyes.

DO NOT LOOK AT A FIRE.

What you need is the "radiant glow" of the coals or the glow of the heater to be your main focus.

If you look at a fire, then this is what you will create in your mind SO PLEASE DO NOT LOOK AT OR VISUALIZE A FIRE.

The following (first stage) is designed to help you start by clearing your mind - and it is designed to help you center and focus.

Rest your hands on your "Solar Plexus" .

Put the right hand (sky energy) on top of the left hand (ground energy).

Then do 5 quick deep breaths focusing on your inhale igniting your fire.

Next do 5 deep slow breaths (try and make these last for at least 10 seconds in and 10 seconds out) - breath as deep as you can. This "10 Second Meditation Ping" will help you get started.

This is important because it helps "center" your energy and helps calm you down before you start.

NOTE: If you have 2 or more people, including groups, you may like to try these "Synchronized Energy" techniques to harmonize before meditating.

Start saying a single word mantra and if you become distracted, please read this page about silencing the "Monkey Mind" .

Activation ↟↟

Doing the breathing technique I mention above is to help you center and focus.

Next we start the actual Tummo method I was taught.

Part 1) I was taught to do 30 deep "Fast" breaths and while doing this (trigger) I was to focus on visualizing a fire starting just above my navel (belly button - Solar plexus).

Part 2) At the end of these 30 deep "Fast" breaths, hold your breath for 20-30 seconds (this is very difficult for smokers).

Now repeat Part 1 and Part 2 twice more for a total of 3 times.

Visualization is done by imagining Sky Chi (energy) coming down through the top of my head, merging with Earth Chi (energy) coming up from my feet and meeting in my Solar Plexus area.

You should now be focused on the Heat starting in your Solar Plexus and this visualization should continue throughout the meditation session.

Remember the Heater...

Inhale and Exhale ↟↟

Always inhale through the nose but you can exhale via the mouth or nose.

If you are exhaling via the mouth, then you need to purse your lips (like when you are about to kiss someone).

When you are doing Fast Breathing, the exhale should be done forcefully via the mouth.

My teacher told me that this was how I should visualize "Starting The Fire" because as I exhaled, I was to visualize drawing both sky and ground Chi energies together.

Slow Breathing or Fast Breathing?

These are the 2 methods I was taught.

1. Slow Breathing ↟↟

This is where you go back to slow breathing around 10 seconds in and 10 seconds out. This "10 Second Meditation Ping" will help.

While you are doing this, you must continue to see the fire growing under your hands.

2. Fast Breathing ↟↟

The Fast Breathing method is where you continue to breath fast - one in breath every 2 seconds and 1 out breath every 2 seconds - and at the same time, continue seeing the fire growing under your hands (if they are resting on your solar plexus - as described above).

While you are doing the above, imagine that every time you inhale, it draws in Prana and this helps stimulate the fire to grow hotter.

Spread The Heat ↟↟

Once you have established a "Hot Spot" in your Solar Plexus, and your meditation is stable, then you start to visualize this "fire" spreading throughout the body following the arteries and veins in your body.

Start with the legs and feet first.

Visualize the heat flowing from your Solar Plexus to the tips of your toes like warm water -- and then when your feet are tingling, start focusing on your upper torso and arms, and finally your head.

Experiment ↟↟

Once you have established a warm or hot glow throughout your body, start experimenting with your breath.

Write down a list of breathing techniques you want to work with.

eg: work on 10 second intervals for the slow breathing and 2 seconds for the fast breathing.

• Breathe in slowly and hold 15-30 seconds
• Breathe in fast and hold 15-30 seconds
• Breathe out slowly and hold 15-30 seconds
• Breathe out fast and hold 15-30 seconds
• Breathe In and Out slowly and hold 15-30 seconds in between breaths
• Breathe In and Out fast for 10 breaths and then hold 15-30 seconds (sometimes you can hold much longer)

How Long? ↟↟

How long should I do this technique you ask?

Fire meditation can be practiced for hours, on and off, even for the entire night or longer.

For example, when I was around 18, I went on a journey to the snow fields. I was hitchhiking so I knew I would be gone at least for 1 day.

I used a "Conscious" fire meditation technique and I was exposed to freezing temperatures and ice cold wind, for over 12 hours.

I wore a pair of boots, a pair of jeans (+undies) and a single long sleeved cotton shirt.

I was not cold. I could feel the cold air on my skin when I walked but it did not permeate my body.

Visualization

Visualization is an important and integral part of this meditation.

Always start off slowly.

If you are unsure - for any reason - stop immediately, wait a few days and then try again.

If you continue to feel uncomfortable doing this technique, please stop. This is why you need a personal teacher to help guide you past obstacles.

WARNING ↟↟

This meditation should NOT be done if you are drunk, or on medications or drugs.

You need a very clear mind and brain to do this meditation.

Wim Hof ↟↟

There are basic levels of Tummo (which I was taught) and there are advanced levels of Tummo for which you need a seriously advanced Master to learn from.

Interestingly, Wim Hof has his own variation of this Tummo meditation technique which is more suited for Western audiences.

• "Wim Hof Tummo Method"

Your mind is much more powerful than you give it credit for.

Reverse Tummo Method

I visited the Sinai Desert 4 times.

Whenever I was in Sinai, I would go for runs (usually around 10 miles - 16Kms +) and I used a reverse technique of Tummo to keep my body core temperature at a managable level.

In hindsight: Jogging out into the desert where temperatures can easily reach over 50C (120F) in Summer, and compounded by extremely dry heat is not a very smart thing to do.

When I would come running in from the desert, the backpackers and tourists would stare at me like I was nuts and I heard many times that people thought I was a mirage.

WARNING

When you are in extreme locations, like a desert, you sweat a lot and this depletes your body's water balance which it needs in order to maintain blood flow.

In simple terms, your blood thickens and you die.

Always carry at least 2 liters of water if you plan on going for a short jog and more water if you plan on something longer.

It should also be noted that in those days, I was super fit so there was very little physical or mental strain when I did go jogging - so less stress and less water loss.

Monitored Temperatures.

FYI: When you look up Sinai temperatures, they are almost always taken along the coast like Dahab, El-Arish, Nuweibaa, Sharm El-Sheikh etc.

I used to jog perpendicular to the coast --» straight out into the desert itself where temperatures are usually much higher.

I would jog out to the mountains (hills), look around for a while, and then jog back.

By midday, these "hills" would radiate their own version of hot.

Actually, about 10 minutes after the sun comes over the horizon in the morning, it feels like you are inside a furnace.

Zero Point ↟↟

My method in the desert was to use sub-atomic quantum level energy and visualize this like an arctic air conditioner flowing cool air around my body.

Some people refer to this as Zero Point energy.

The simplest explanation of "Zero Point" is that it comes from the Sub-Quantum realm.

You can think of this like the source of all manifestations (within reason) - you simply need to "tap" into this source.

This is something you manifest visually using techniques like "Quantum Jumping".

This often takes many months and even years of dedicated practice to achieve.

People with more advanced souls, may (and I mean may) be able to achieve this faster.