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yoga-ṣaḍaṅga-nāma

The six branches of yoga

    I prostrate before the glorious Vajradhara!
    Individual detachment, meditative immersion, control of the vital force, appropriate grasping, subsequent remembrance and samādhi - thus is yoga proclaimed in the six branches.
    By the possession of the three firmnesses, prāna is brought into dhūtī. [Thereby] arise the signs of external and internal suppression of thoughts. Such is the branch of individual cutting off.
    When the signs are seen as stable, [there will arise] wisdom, conceptual analysis, joy, bliss, unidirectionality, steadfastness, and non-conceptuality. This is the branch of meditative immersion.
    Through the introduction of numerous winds in the form of essence [into the central channel], the appearance and disappearance of the essence of prana will form within the bindu of the four chakras. Such is the branch of life force control.
    Due to the introduction of the life force prana inside the bindu - prana and mind will be held within the bindu of the syllable haṁ chakra of Great Bliss. That is the branch of retention.
    Because of the power of retention of prāna and mind in the bhindu, the fiery light of the chandali will shine in the bhindu and special bliss and warmth will appear. Such is the branch of subsequent remembrance.
    If the ten signs become perfect, the vision of the great bindu will arise. In the great multicolored bhindu, a pattern of a black image will arise. Then one will see six kinds of beings, etc., very subtle manifested bodies, many sambhogakaya bodies. The multicolored images represent clear light. If you dissolve the mind in them, you will bring the branch of samadhi to completion.
    Such are the six branches of yoga.
    It was said by Pandita Shavarishvara for Pandita Mahavibhuti-chandra. It was proclaimed on the basis of his own translation of the words.
    It was translated by Karma Paljor (O.E. Filippov).