Dharmakaya Hollow Interior Practice

Meditation on the Spheres/Drops within the Hollow Interior

Also called Dharmakaya Hollow Interior Practice or “Third Tongra.”

First we do the Sambhogakaya Hollow Interior Practice and the Nirmanakaya Hollow Interior Practice as this practice builds upon those as a foundation.

In the text “The Golden Spoon” it says, “At the lower end of the central channel is a sun cushion with a clear syllable RAM which is red color and clear aspect of the Great Mother, Thugje Kundro. At the upper end of the central channel is a moon disc with a clear syllable HAM which is white and the clear aspect of the father, Drenpa Namkha. The head of the HAM is upside down pointing to the mother.”

Visualize within the central channel, at the lower junction of the three channels is a sun cushion the size of a pea. On this sun cushion is a fire in the form of a small upside down A syllable about four inches, called an A-shad fire [needle-like flame]. This fire blazes with a resounding fire sound “[W]UR [W]UR.”

Visualize within the central channel, at the upper end in the center of the great bliss chakra at the crown of the head is a fingernail sized moon cushion. On this moon cushion is an upside down white round HAM syllable. The nature of this HAM is the enlightened mind, bodhichitta – the mandala of the element of bodhichitta. 

The practice is to visualize both of these clearly in the top and bottom of the central channel. 

If it is difficult to visualize both of these at the same time, then first focus on the bodhichitta HAM and its four characteristics. The bodhichitta HAM has four characteristics. The white represents the blissful energy of bodhichitta. From this energy, drops come. And these drops are the nature of the natural state of mind or we can say the blessings of the natural state of mind. 

Four Characteristics of Bodhichitta:

1. White like an autumn moon. 

2. Luminous like a sesame oil lamp.

3. Round like a bird egg.

4. Melting like mercury rolling down. 

Then when you have stabilized your visualization of the bodhichitta HAM, you can include the A-shad fire. At the lower end of the central channel, visualize the A-shad (“A” stroke) fire. It has the four qualities of the A-shad fire.

Four qualities of the A-shad fire:

1. Color is red like the lac dye from the flower of a lac tree.

2. Luminous like a sesame oil lamp.

3. Heat is like feeling molten iron (or the top of the butter lamp).

4. Shaped like a copper needle. Four finger widths tall.

If you visualize very finely, the sign of heat will arise quickly. When you visualize the HAM and A-shad fire you need to connect to the natural state of mind. It is through the natural state of mind that we visualize both. By this practice mind works properly, and all deluded conceptual thoughts will cease. It is very necessary to familiarize oneself in all three of these tongra practices for Tummo practice.