STRATEGIC SELF LESSON 6:

THE INNER HEAT Part 1.

Whereas in the Astral level energy and subtle matter (if we can use that term) can be moved by
imagination and will, on the etheric we need to link the Will and Imagination with Breath and
Muscle movement. It is a much more visceral experience and done correctly etheric body
workings have very physical effects.

This lesson presents exercises in breathing and the all important Inner Fire. Inner Fire is the key
to the alchemical transformation through the process of sublimation - literally becoming more
sublime. In the past I have said that nothing is as important as meditation. Once you start
doing Inner Fire practice, and dedicate yourself to it, it has equal - if not sometimes greater
importance than meditation does. I know, crazy right? But its true. The effect of inner heat
practice on the mind and body is amazing, and some Mahasiddhas that have practiced it like
Naropa and Tilopa have commented that those who lack the ability to rest the mind in the
natural state (ie: Dzogchen or contemplation) should instead focus on inner heat entirely.

PRELIMINARIES

The first thing we need to establish are a few preliminaries. The First is that none of these
techniques should be practiced on a full stomach. It is not necessary to fast or perform them
with no food at all in your stomach but you should eat light and wait an hour or so after eating.

Second is that they must be learned with the back upright and vertical. You can sit in a chair or
on a cushion but you should not learn them lying down, leaning back or slouched. The reason is
that you will be learning to gather and manipulate energy in the central channel, and any
leaning one way or the other will affect the movement of that energy. Eventually you will be
using some of these breaths in different sexual positions, but unless you first learn to do them
with the spine straight and vertical, you will not be able to manage the feat with laying down on
a bed, kneeling, or in any other pose.

Lastly you should, whenever time allows, perform the nine purification breaths to cleanse the
breath of impurity before each session. If you do not have time you can skip it as long as you
have been doing it on a regular basis. If you have not been doing the 9 breaths and other
purification exercises it is essential that you do it before each session.

Unless otherwise noted ALL breaths are taken through the nose and not the mouth.
THE VASE BREATH

The first breath that we need to cover is called the Vase breath because you are filling the lungs
like you would fill a vase with water: from the bottom up. It is the basis upon which all the
other breaths will rest, so learn it well.

Your lungs will hold about seven pints of air, yet we generally only draw in one pint at a time.
We also tend to favor the upper chambers of the lungs, puffing out our chests and holding in
our stomachs. While this may be a more physically attractive way of breathing, it’s not very
efficient at oxygenating blood, regulating stress, reducing blood pressure, or calming the mind.

To perform the vase breath, you must make sure that your back is reasonably straight and
vertical. Seated or standing doesn’t matter, but do not do it lying down. Simply breathe in
through the nostrils keeping the mouth closed and filling the lower chambers of the lungs first.
Allow the abdomen to distend as you do this. Than allow the upper chambers of the lungs to fill
almost all the way. You should aim to take in about six pints of air. If you do this correctly your
breath rate should slow from about 15 times per minute to about 8 times per minute.

Letting the abdomen expand is key. When learning it can be useful to place your hands in a
point-down triangle over your lower abdomen so that the thumbs meet over your navel and
your index fingers come together just above your groin. If you are doing it correctly the hands
will separate.

In Kung Fu they teach that this breath should have the four qualities of man, shen, xi, and jun:
slow, deep, fine, and even. When the vase breath is used, the blood and brain gets a better flow
of oxygen which has many benefits. One of the primary benefits is that the pituitary gland
begins to function optimally. This gland not only controls all the other glands in the body, but is
also the physical manifestation of the 3rd eye and the seat of mystical vision. If you are sensitive
to the energies of the body than you will also note the increased flow of vital force in the body
as well as an improved ability to direct these energies using only the breath and the will.

You can and should practice Vase Breathing as much as you are abl. On the cushion, in
the temple, in the car, at the office - wherever you can remember to do it. Ideally you can
actually make this your ordinary style of breath, but that takes much practice.

THE LOCKS

Once you have the Vase Breath down you should learn to apply locks that will help stop energy
loss, increase intensity, and cultivate the inner fire and power that you will draw on in your sex
sorcery.

THE ROOT LOCK:

The first lock you must master is the root lock, called the Mula Banda in Yoga. This lock will
enable you to stop the release of bodily energy through the lower gates, reverse the flow of
orgasmic energy, and in men stop the release of fluid during orgasm. Use the following steps:
1. To perform the root lock you need to perform the Vase Breath and contract the anus and
pelvic floor. You can identify the correct muscles for this by stopping and starting urine stream
while peeing. Note: only do thus during urination to find the correct muscles. Doing this exercise
regularly while emptying your bladder can actually weaken the muscle.

2. Hold the contraction for 5 seconds five times in a row. Work your way to 10 seconds ten
times in a row. Take care not to flex other muscles while learning to employ the lock.

3. Release the lock and feel the flow of bodily energy rise upward as a result of the release. It
takes time to be able to strengthen a muscle that you have had very little cause to exercise
before, so be patient. Eventually the lock will be strong enough to hold for long periods of time,
and in men be strong enough to stop the flow of semen during orgasm.

UPPER LOCK

Upper Lock, sometimes called the Chin lock, throat lock, or Jalandhara Banda is used to cap off
the upper gates. Like the Root lock it stops the release of bodily energy. This also reverses the
flow of upwardly moving energy in the body and when employed with the Root Lock, creates a
sort of hydraulic pressure that cultivates the fire.

1. Take a vase breath focus on the throat. At the end of the inhale swallow a little spittle and
hold your throat closed. Roll your shoulders slightly forward and tuck your chin. Some teachers
of mind claim that the swallowing and chin movement are only there to teach how to apply
pressure from above but are not strictly necessary. Others claim that they are. Personally I
follow these instructions as given.

2. Hold the contraction for 5 seconds five times in a row. Work your way to 10 seconds ten
times in a row

3. Raise the chin and let the air out slowly, steadily, and evenly - not in one exhalation. Feel how
this cultivates a rise of energy slowly up the central channel into the head.

Once you have mastered the upper lock on its own you can employ it simultaneously with the
root lock. Note how the downward flowing energy moves upward, and the upward flowing
energy moves down, gathering in the base of the vase - your lower abdomen. We will do more
with this later.

MIDDLE LOCK

The Middle lock or Diaphram lock is called the Uddiyana Banda. This lock encourages
movement in the central channel, massages the organs and further stimulates the pressure that
is created by the root and upper locks.

1. Take a vase breath and exhale. NOTE: the other two blocks are learned during inhalation - do
not attempt to learn this during an inhalation.

2. Draw the abdomen inward and upward as deeply as you can. This can involve rolling the
shoulders forward, stretching the back slightly, and
3. Hold as long as you can without experiencing discomfort.

4. Inhale with another Vase breath.

To further assist in this it is sometimes useful to roll the shoulders forward and bend slightly.
Once you have gained competency in this technique you can employ it along with the root and
upper locks on an exhale. This will cultivate a feeling of upward motion in the body that will be
essential in the work of the inner fire.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Before we add in visualizations and energy manipulation you should get used to using all the
locks together in succession. A routine should look like this:
1. Inhale a vase breath filling the lower chambers of the lungs and expanding the
abdomen.

2. When you have drawn in almost as much as you can perform the root and upper
locks. You can also draw the stomach in slightly to increase the pressure in the belly.

3. When you cannot take it anymore take a short sniff of air than slowly exhale.

4. As you exhale bring the lower abdomen so that it feels like you are almost scooping
the breath up from the bottom of the belly. Exhale until almost all the breath has been
expelled. You should feel an upward motion of energy in the body almost as if you are
releasing a pressure valve.

5. Upon the exhalation employ all three locks: bring the anus and pelvic floor up with
the root lock, bring the chin throat closed with the upper lock, and bring the abdomen
up and in with the middle lock. Doing these locks at the end of the exhale allows the
movement of energy to continue even after the breath has been taken.

6. Begin again with step 1 of this process and repeat as necessary.

The Vase Breath and the Three Locks are the main breath system that I would like you to
master for the main exercises needed to cultivate the inner fire.
THE INNER FIRE

If you can perform the process above, you are almost on your way to being able to stoke
the inner fire. In Tibetan it is called Tummo. In Sanskrit it is called Chandali and Kundalini.
Sometimes people think of physical heat as the actual point of the process because people have
been able to successfully raise their body temperature with it to thrive in cold climates 1, but
actually the physical heat produced is a side effect, not the point itself. The point of inner heat
yoga is a process of sublimation in the subtle body, that creates clarity and generates bliss. This
blissful clarity, as well as the increased functioning of the subtle channels, health benefits, and
so on is not only the point of this practice, but is the gateway to many other practices ranging
from sex yogas, to dream sorcery, to dissolving into the elements, and the crossing of the abyss.
It is a process of Alchemic Sublimation - literally making yourself more sublime.

As with the parts of the subtle body, there are numerous traditions and innovations on
the precise details, yet some key points that exist in all methods. For instance, the Second Dalai
Lama, when explaining Nigumas system provides two different visualizations in the same text!
The methods that I am explaining here is very simple and does not require any culturally
specific visualizations such as Tibetan or Sanskrit letters. It is also presented in stages so that
your first sessions can focus on the core essentials, then further stages can incorporate other
elements.
STEP 1. BODY AS LUMINOUS, EMPTY, AND DIVINE: You must visualize your body as being made
of light. It is divine, and luminous, and perfect. Like a balloon it is empty inside save for the
chakras channels and drops that we spoke about in the last chapter.

In Tibetan Tantra you would see yourself in the form of your meditational diety, which you
would have practiced for a considerable amount of time in what is called the Kyr Rim or
"Generation Stage". In Our practice we will be using the Joy or Fierce Body - which is the
reason that lesson preceeded this one.

There are many reasons that we do this but primary among them is that the increased
energy is kept in line with our aspirations towards ascension and realization. As I stated in the
chapter on dangers, increased energy in the body means increased emotions, and unless
purified, can ,mean increased anger, ignorance, and delusion.

STEP 2. THE DROPS: At the base of the central channel you should see a red drop. Very small -
the size of a mustard seed, and radiant in power. At the crown of the head you should see a
white drop, also the size of a mustard seed, also radiant. In addition to this there are dimmer
white drops at the throat, heart and navel. All of of them very small. You do not have to
visualize the chakras in any particular manner for this exercise. Wheels with channels extending
out of them through the body is good enough. Different texts will emphasize different channel
counts of "lotus petals" but for now, just keep the visualization loose.

1
" Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases during g-Tummo Meditation: Legend and Reality" . Public Library of
Science March 29, 2013
 Place your mind at your navel chakra. This should not be mere attention paid to the
navel like you are looking at your belly button. You should feel as if you are inside your central
channel looking up at the heart, throat, and head. Throughout this exercise, your main focus
will be at the navel. Even when triggering action elsewhere in the body, you are doing it from
the position of the navel.

Take a deep vase breath and perform the lower and upper locks. When you do the
lower lock, see the red drop shoot up from the testes or ovaries at the root of the central
channel to the navel chakra which is located about four finger widths beneath the belly button,
and about three inches in from the spine. Hold the locks on inhale for as long as if comfortable.
NOTE: I said comfortable, not as long as you can. You are not trying to strain yourself.

STEP 3. VISUALIZATION OF THE FIRE: When the red drop raises from the sex center and strikes
the navel center it stokes a fire when it hits. Visualize it as blazing hot and radiant. Do not lose
the sense of luminosity and divinity that you hold as you it.
As you exhale, let the air out slowly as if you are releasing a pressure valve. See the fire
rise through the central channel. As you exhale perform the lower, middle, and upper locks and
hold for as long as is comfortable.

Breathe in again and feel the energy enter through the nostrils down into the central
channel, stoking the fire that is blazing there, making it glow hotter and brighter. Again exhale.
Repeat this process for as long as time and comfort allow.

STEP 6: DRIPPING AND BLAZING: Eventually you will feel a strong presence at the heart, as if the
heat from the navel is now consuming it. Let the fire circulate around the heart chakra three
times. Visualize the dim white drops at the heart melt and drip down into the fire at the navel.
This causes bliss to descend over you as the white drop melts. When it hits the navel it pops like
butter on a fire and adds bliss to the fire, which now blazes even hotter and higher.

Continue with the Vase Breathing and Locks and allow the fire to raise to the
throat. Let the fire circulate three times. The same thing happens to the white drop there. It
descends, bringing bliss, and increasing the flame.

Finally the flames reach the crown. Let the fire spin at the top and let the great white
seed there melts and descends. Now a great bliss - a mahasukha, descends over the whole body
and the fire consumes all. You may feel or even visualize the white and red drops merging at
different places in the body. If your attention is still focused on the navel it will likely happen
there. You can at this point raise your attention to your heart and let the drops merge there if
you like. Doing it at the navel will increase bliss and heat, which is better for sex sorcery, but
merging at the heart is better for creating meditative stabilization and non-dual awareness.
Merging in the throat is done to help facilitate dream sorcery, but I would urge you to only
attempt it after you are very comfortable with merging at the navel and heart. Merging at the
head is a no-no unless you are under the direct supervision of someone who has done it.

At this point it is helpful to place the tip of the tongue to the top of the mouth. This
connects and important channel for the downward flow of wisdom nectar. Taoists will be
familiar with placing the tongue to the roof of the mouth behind the teeth from Microcosmic
Orbit practice, but in this practice it is best if you can roll the tongu back as far as is comfortable
and touch on or closer to the soft pallet. This is called the Kechari Mudra in yoga, and helps
cultivate the nectars descent.

STEP 7: EXPANDING OUTWARD: At this point you can let the fire and bliss fill the body,
overflowing from the central channel and into the side channels and out into the cells of the
body. Let the fire even leave the eyes and nose and flow out into the hosts of dieties or beings
around you. Let the world be aflame with bliss and clarity.

EFFECTS AND DANGERS OF INNER FIRE

It is essential that you approach the practice of inner fire with gentleness, patience, and
care. Very real damage can be done to the physical body when working with the etheric body.
Some effects that people have reported:

 Pressure behind the eyes, in the throat, or at elsewhere along the central channel.
 Heart Palpitations
 Temporarily loss of sight - or astral sight so strong that it eclipses ordinary vision.
 Increased depression, anger, or other negative emotions.
 Stomach pains and digestive troubles.

In all these cases the problems can be solved by being more gentle in your practice, circulating
the fire at the various problem points, being patient with some temporary effects, keeping a
solid meditation practice, and if necessary doubling down in purification practices.

SUPPORTING BREATH TECHNIQUES

BELLOWS BREATH

In addition to the practices above The Bellows Breath is a quick way to increase energy
in just a few seconds. I can use it instead of coffee in the morning if I have to. The technique is
simple. Take a full deep inhalation, than exhale rapid, short, sharp, forced bursts. You should be
able to exhale about 30 short breaths in 10 seconds. After about three breaths like this, switch
back to the vase breath. As you inhale, focus on drawing the breath deep down, towards the
genitals. As you exhale, move your focus up the spine to the top of the head. The vital force will
follow your mind. After a few vase style breaths in this manner, you can go back to the short
sharp rapid exhales.

The rush that this breath technique provides is very tangible and acts as a sort of reboot
for the brain. Some people have even used it to fend off cravings for cigarettes and coffee.

Doing the Bellows Breath just before beginning inner fire meditation, and interspersed
within the inner fire process is a great way to increase the potency of the fire.
REVERSE BREATH

The Reverse Breath is a technique used by Taoists Alchemists and Martial Artists to
gather and pack energy into muscle tissue, bones, and the energy body - specifically the belt
channel that surrounds the body like a spiral and provides natural shielding.

Reverse breathing gets its name from the motion of the abdomen: rather than expand
the abdomen with the in-breath, you draw it in, rather than draw in with the out-breath, you
expand it out. Other than that you still want to perform the breathing as you would the vase
breath: filling the lower chambers of the lungs first, followed by the upper chambers.
1. Take a deep inhalation and as you do draw the abdomen inward and upward while
doing the root lock clenching the anus and perineum.

2. Exhale and push the abdomen out, releasing the lower lock.

3. Feel how the energy of the breath, rather than staying in the central channel as with
the normal Vase breath and locks, gets distributed and "packed" into the body.

People that often feel tired, have little libido, or simply want to cultivate good health
should consider doing some short sessions of reverse breathing at the end of meditation or
yoga sessions to redistribute and pack energy in the body. It should not however become a
normal mode of breathing and people that have not mastered the normal Vase Breath should
avoid it entirely. If you begin to reverse breath as your normal method of breathing it can cause
health problems associated with lack of oxygen.

Doing Reverse Breath after a session of inner fire will help distribute the energy evenly
throughout the body leading to greater health and dispelling any lingering feelings of threshold
sickness or not being able to return to "normal" awareness and functioning.

EMBRYONIC BREATH

The Embryonic breath is not really something that you can do as much as it is something
that happens. Many people who meditate or do relaxation exercises have noted that they
seem to just stop breathing, yet not run out of breath. In reality the breath has not stopped but
has become so shallow that the lungs are no longer moving discernibly and the normal
movement of the chest and abdomen have stopped. This can happen to many people about 10
minutes into a post-coital meditation session, thus my mentioning it here in the context of sex
magic prep.

While you cannot willfully force yourself to breathe this way you can, keep the
phenomena in mind and not let it disrupt your meditation or freak you out when it happens. It
is actually a very good sign to have this happen, but many people get very disturbed when it
registers that they have not been breathing in a normal way. When this happens just react
naturally and carry on. If it feels natural to abide in the state of embyonic breathing, do so
without fear. If it feel natural to resume normal breath, then do that and don't worry about
losing some precious attainment. Just abide in the state and be natural.