Karmatetra

Tibetan Ninefold Purification Breathing

Copied in full or part from Ligmincha International. See Links list at end of article for source material.

The Tibetan Nine-Fold Breathing Technique, also known as the Nine Purifications of Breath or part of Tsa Lung practice, is a foundational visualization and breathwork exercise used in Tibetan Buddhism and medicine. Its purpose is to purify the body’s energy channels (tsa) and clear stale vital energy (lung), which can cause physical and mental blockages and imbalances.

The Nine-Fold Breathing Technique works with the subtle body’s three main channels: the central, right (sun/male energy), and left (moon/female energy).

Assume the Five-Point Meditation Posture

Sit cross-legged, with your spine straight, chest open, and your hands in equipoise position resting about four finger widths below your navel. (With your palms facing up, keep the fingers together and bring the left fingers to rest on the right fingers, thumbs brought to touch the base of the ring finger of the same hand.) The chin is brought in slightly, allowing the back of the neck to lengthen. If you are seated in a chair, cross your legs comfortably at the ankles. Keep your spine upright, free of the support of the back of the chair. (All else is as described above.)

Visualize the Three Channels

The central channel begins four finger widths below your navel, rises straight up through the center of your body, and opens at the crown of your head. It is a channel of light, blue like a deep sunlit autumn sky. In diameter, it is the size of your thumb. There are two side channels, one red and one white. They have diameters slightly smaller than the central channel. On your left side is the red channel, on your right, the white channel. The three channels form a junction four finger-widths below the navel. The side channels rise straight up the body on either side of the central channel. However, as they approach the crown, they curve forward under the skull, pass behind the eyes, and open, one at each nostril. The right white channel represents male energy and method or skillful means and opens at the right nostril; the left red channel represents female energy and wisdom and opens at the left nostril.

Reflect and then Select

As you settle into the posture and experience the presence of the three channels of light, connect with the stillness of your body, the silence of speech, and the spaciousness of mind. In this way you rest in the inner refuge. Become aware of any tensions in your body, emotions, or mind in this moment, or reflect upon a challenge in your personal, family, or professional life, particularly as it relates with the three root poisons: anger, attachment, and ignorance. Feel your body; experience any raw emotion and how this affects your breath; observe whatever occupies your mind. Experience directly and nakedly without judgment or analysis. This is how you host your experience, and select what is to be deleted or released through the breathing practice.

With the first set of three breaths, we clear the obstacles of anger, releasing through the right white channel. With the second set of three breaths, we clear obstacles of attachment, releasing them through the left red channel. With the third set of three breaths, we clear obstacles related to the root poison, ignorance, and release doubt and lack of confidence through the central channel.

The Nine Breaths (three cycles of three breaths)

1. First Cycle (Aversion/Anger Purification)

Raise your right hand with the thumb pressing the base of the ring finger. Close your right nostril with the ring finger. Inhale the pure air element as green light through the left nostril filling the red channel. Cross your hand over to the other side of your nose and close the left nostril with the right ring finger while exhaling through the right nostril. Imagine that the air travels up through the white channel and is released. With each exhalation, feel the obscurations associated with aversion and anger are expelled through the white channel and dissolve into space.

2. Second Cycle (Attachment/Desire Purification)

Change hands and block the left nostril as you inhale the pure air element through the right nostril. Green light fills the white channel. Then block the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril, expelling the impure air that moves up and out through the left red channel and is released. With each exhalation through the red channel, obscurations associated with attachment, desire, and greed are expelled and dissolve into space.

3. Third Cycle (Ignorance/Delusion Purification)

With hands in equipoise position as described above, inhale the pure air element as green light through both nostrils. While the gross exhalation of impure air moves out through both nostrils, focus upon the subtle wind moving up through the central channel and out the top of the head. This subtle breath releases through the crown. With each exhalation, obscurations associated with ignorance, lack of confidence, and doubt are expelled through the crown and dissolve into space.

Rest in Open Awareness

Bring clear attention to the center of the body, to the space within the channels, and rest in open awareness feeling the openness within the three channels of light.

The Nine Breaths of Purification are often a preparatory step for more advanced Tsa Lung practices, which combine specific breath retention techniques (like “vase breathing”) with physical movements (Trul Khor) and visualizations. The overall goal is to direct vital energy (lung) through the subtle channels (tsa) to clear deeper blockages and promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

For in-depth instruction, it is recommended to receive transmission and guidance from a qualified teacher to ensure correct and effective practice. Resources for learning more can be found through organizations like Ligmincha International or by watching guided meditations from recognized lamas.”

Meditation on “The Three Precious Pills”

Body (stillness)

The center of the victorious mandala, one’s own body,
The source of all positive qualities without exception,
Is the expanse within the three channels and the five chakras.

I take refuge in this body of emptiness.

Speech (silence)

All the gathered clouds of suffering and misery
Are completely cleared by the wisdom wind,
Revealing the unelaborated, primordially pure expanse of the sky.

I take refuge in this body of light.

Mind (spaciousness)

From the pavilion of the five wisdom lights,
Rays from non-dual spheres of light emanate,
Clearing the webs of the darkness of ignorance.

I take refuge in this body of great bliss.

Dedication

May I attain great confidence in the three refuges.
May my experiences and realization of the wisdom of the three doors increase.
In purifying the three poisons, may I obtain the three bodies.

In liberating my own being, may I benefit others.

Ligmincha International

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Ligmincha Institute, a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, was founded in 1992 by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche in order to preserve the ancient teachings, transmissions and practices of the Bon Buddhist tradition,the indigenous religion of Tibet. Today, Bon remains a living tradition, and source of timeless wisdom and knowledge relevant and applicable to our modern Western lives. Ligmincha additionally hopes to preserve and further develop the indigenous culture of Tibet, both among Tibetans living in exile and among interested Westerners.

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is a highly respected and beloved teacher to students throughout the world. He is known for his clear, lively, and insightful teaching style and his ability to make Tibetan practices easily accessible to the Western student.

For updates about his teachings and live Internet broadcasts, subscribe to Ligmincha’s free e-newsetter at VoiceOfClearLight.org

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