Introduction to the Six Yogas of Naropa

The six yogas of Naropa are traditionally taught only to those who have reached the advanced level of anuttarayoga tantra needed for practicing them. This level entails mastery of the fundamental lam-rim graded stage practices, especially renunciation, bodhichitta, and a correct understanding of voidness. In addition, it requires receiving an empowerment into one of the mother anuttarayoga tantra systems, taking and keeping purely the bodhisattva and tantric vows, and gaining proficiency in the generation stage practices of visualization for attaining perfect concentration. The six yogas are the complete stage practices of tummo, illusory body, clear light, transference of consciousness, entering the citadel, and the bardo intermediate period.