Lu Jong, an External Tummo: on the path of Awakening the Inner Fire

Inner Fire Meditation in Tantrayana

In Tantrayana practices, we often hear about the “inner fire.” But what are the benefits of inner fire meditation, and how can we develop it?

Inner Fire, or Chi, or Prana…

In Tibetan Buddhism, inner fire meditation is known as the most powerful and fastest technique to develop profound levels of self-awareness.

The practice uses the energy called Lung, known in India as Prana and in China as Chi. Energy is the essence of our vitality, our health, and above all, our spiritual path.

Stress and constant mental engagement in the pursuit of external satisfactions are what destroy this energy.

A Natural Transformation

By learning to develop concentration combined with breathing exercises and visualization, we can cultivate this energy—and instantly gain insight into our patterns of functioning. The grasping and dissatisfaction in which we were blindly immersed become obvious, and this awareness allows us to change.

The End of Secrecy

For a long time, these practices were kept secret by Tibetan masters, reserved for certain practitioners chosen among the monks. Today, in times when negativity manifests in countless forms—through endless consumerism feeding the belief that we must always have more to be satisfied, or digital voyeurism where people express anger and dissatisfaction through avatars and anonymous profiles—many eminent Tibetan masters say it is now time to make these practices public, opening them to a greater number of people in order to counter these negative forces.

Energy = Well-Being

This energy naturally holds the qualities of joy and bliss. The more one walks the path of practice, the more these effects unfold and the stronger the motivation becomes.

Ultimately, this practice awakens the being to its deepest nature, its innate nature—known as awakening.

Although the path to awakening requires strong dedication and much time for practice, inner fire meditation is accessible to everyone, as its first benefits can be felt quickly.

The first effects are a discovery of inner strength, an endless vitality. Gone are the mornings of dragging oneself out of bed, with an empty mind and a stiff body. In their place come optimism, openness, creativity, and the courage to embrace change. Nothing seems insurmountable; patience, courage, and willpower arise to guide us toward pure directions.

Opening the Channels to Awaken Inner Fire: From External Tummo to the Secret of Secret Tummo

The path to awakening unfolds through successive stages. On this path, inner fire is actually the first practice to put in place.

To activate inner fire, we must engage in practices that work on the energy channels of our subtle body—or energy body.

The practice of Inner Fire, or Tummo, is commonly classified into different levels: Internal Tummo, Secret Tummo, and the Secret of Secret Tummo.

There is also External Tummo, found in Lu Jong practices. Each Tibetan Buddhist tradition proposes Lu Jong exercises designed to prepare practitioners for the high tantra meditations—particularly inner fire meditation. These exercises prepare the channels, opening them and dissolving energies blocked by negative emotions.

These Tibetan yogas come in various forms: some open the channels through deep relaxation with strong awareness of sensations in slow meditative movement, others through powerful and dynamic breath-retention practices. But all Tibetan yogas share a common point: they work on the spine, the tree of life of the energy body.

Lu Jong: A Practice for All, on the path leading toward the path Awakening the Inner Fire

Lu Jong is a Tibetan yoga system compiled by Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche. Its method combines compressions on specific points of the subtle body to “boost” energy circulation. The fluid, continuous movement flows through 21 exercises. By stimulating energy circulation, warmth develops in the body and with it, numerous benefits appear.

The practice, open to everyone, quickly allows one to feel these benefits:

• improved health and stronger resistance to illness,

• increased strength combined with an inner lightness,

• gentle warmth spreading through the body.

At the same time, bodies slowed by arthritis, rheumatism, or joint problems regain ease, while pain diminishes.

The body becomes more flexible, harmony settles into muscles and organs, and the senses are refined. A new sense of youth emerges.

On the mental side, inner transformation occurs through greater emotional balance. Compassion and joy develop, while negative emotions such as anger or attachment lose their grip. This mastery of the mind develops self-confidence, helps us understand our place in the universe, deepens our ability to listen to others, and frees us from egocentrism and the endless grasping of the small self.