Menla Online: Igniting Your Inner Fire - Tummo Retreat

Stories of cotton clad monks melting snow while practicing Tummo–or inner fire-meditation–first ignited imaginations through the writings of Alexandra David-Néel and Lama Govinda, giving the world a glimpse of unlocking human potential through the study of the wisdom, compassion and yoga practices of Buddhism.

Join us for this rare and precious offering, as Bob and Dr. Nida lead us through an introduction to Tummo practice, its history, and its context within Buddhist Inner Sciences, providing instruction on the foundational meditations and visualizations necessary to begin its practice.

Purifying all negativity and enhancing innate bliss, the Tummo fire practice is one of the Six Yogas in Vajrayana Buddhism and is the foundation of other Tibetan yogic practices, including Karmamudra. Its purpose is to gain complete control over all body functions, resulting in perfect health and the experience of continuous bliss.

Dr. Nida and Robert Thurman will explore the inner and outer yoga traditions of Buddhism through the teachings of Yuthok Yonten Gonpo the Younger, the life stories of the Wild-Yogi Ascetics or Mahasiddhas, and the philosophical writings of Atisha, Nagarjuna & Tsongkhapa to provide practical lessons, tools and perspectives to sensitive beings of any time.

Dr. Nida’s senior student James Bae will provide Nine Breath Purification instruction and Tummo demonstrations.

In this workshop, you will learn:

– What yoga is, is not, and how to apply its tools to everyday life
– Why Buddhism is a philosophy with valuable perspectives for people of all backgrounds
– How yoga and the yogic sciences were used by the Buddha and his community
– Who Yuthok Gonpo was and the secrets of his family’s longevity
– How the medical tradition of Tibet sprung from Buddhism’s inclusive and multicultural nature
– Who were the Mahasiddhas and what can be learned from their poetry and wild adventures
– How meditation and chakra systems act as software for mind transformation
– The role visualization has in diminishing physical, spiritual and mental suffering
– Who began the Nalanda tradition the 14th Dalai Lama is a part of and why it’s relevant today
– Where to connect with others considering formal Yuthok Tummo practice
– How physical yoga practice, when combined with study and meditation, creates synergy
– Non-dogmatic guided meditations & gentle yoga postures to prepare to practice Tummo

This workshop is intended as an introduction to the Tummo Yoga of Yuthok for students of Buddhism, yoga, and the holistic healing arts and sciences. Information about traditional Buddhist Vajrayana empowerment offerings and continuing study and practice will be provided at the end of online retreat.  All levels welcome!

Schedule

Thursday, June 11

• 10am – 1pm EST:  Dr. Nida & Bob
• 3 – 5pm EST:  Practice with James

Saturday, June 13

• 10am – 1pm EST:  Dr. Nida & Bob
• 3 – 5pm EST:  Practice with James

Sunday, June 14

• 10am – 1pm EST – Dr. Nida & Bob
• 3 – 5pm EST – Practice with James

*Please note that schedule is subject to change.