Rainbow Body Yoga

Rainbow Body Yoga (RBY) is the main post-awakening purification practice of Amrita Mandala. Springing forth directly from the blessings of the inner guru, the techniques of RBY revolve around a central mantra comprised of various meditational deities, or enlightened archetypes (Tib. yidam). In essence, the mantra is a direct doorway to the recognition of the pristine nature of mind, and its perfect qualities of clarity, radiance, and peace. Rainbow Body Yoga is designed to properly reveal these qualities in the mind of the practitioner, thus liberating the self-based mental-emotional habits that keeps us trapped in a cycle of discontentment.

  • ”Rainbow Body Yoga refers to a set of tantric yoga exercises that are easy to learn and practice. Due to some unique practices, such as Dynamic Concentration, Rainbow Body Yoga has immense depth and power of transformation. Rainbow Body Yoga is a practice tailored for common laypeople with jobs and families.”

    Amrita Baba, founder and head teacher of Amrita Mandala

General Info

Practicing Rainbow Body Yoga should be pleasant and joyful. The practice brings the greatest effects if practiced with openness of heart, and a light smile on one’s face. Even though in Amrita Mandala we speak of levels of attainment (bhumi) and use technical terms, all spiritual practice boils down to becoming more open-hearted and open-minded.

Rainbow Body Yoga is a combination of tantric yoga and non-meditation (Skt. abhavana). Regular practice of RBY transform the confused, dualistic mind, into its natural nondual state. It also develops vitality and inner serenity.

Rainbow Body Yoga is a collection of practices offered to us by our gurus, Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, and his consort Yeshe Tsoygal. In a straightforward sequence that takes about 35-45 minutes to practice, several highly effective techniques are brought together. The primary purpose of the practice is to illuminate our own minds for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Two Levels of Practice

Rainbow Body Yoga can be practiced in two ways; Rainbow Body Yoga Lite (RBYL) and full Rainbow Body Yoga. Before starting a daily practice of the full version of Rainbow Body Yoga, Amrita Mandala students should practice Rainbow Body Yoga Lite for a full year. Rainbow Body Yoga Lite includes the same techniques as the full version of RBY but uses different mantras without wrathful deities. When you receive empowerment for RBY you will receive both the mantras for RBY and RBYL. In other words, there is no need for new empowerment before taking up the full RBY practice.

Three Levels of Empowerment

Rainbow Body Yoga has three levels of empowerment. Empowerments given by a teacher representing a particular lineage are mandatory for all tantric teachings. The first empowerment is received prior to learning the techniques of Rainbow Body Yoga. The second and third empowerment are available only to ordained members of Amrita Mandala Sangha.

For more information, read Deities and Empowerments of Rainbow Body Yoga.

Who Can Learn RBY?

Yogic practices are for people of adequate mental and physical health. If you have been diagnosed with physical or mental illness that requires medication or medical treatment, please discuss your situation with the teacher prior to joining teachings.

Learn From a Qualified Teacher

Rainbow Body Yoga is taught by authorized teachers. Authorization as a teacher is given by the head teacher of the lineage after one has followed the teachings, made significant progress in them, and is fit to become a teacher to others.

You are free to discuss your practice with others, but we ask you not to teach or reveal details of the techniques to other people. This is because the techniques of RBY need to be learned properly from an authentic teacher, together with receiving the empowerment. Doing these practices without empowerment can be harmful.

All conversations between you and Amrita Mandala teachers are confidential.

Technical Information

Rainbow Body Yoga is based on certain syllables or mantras. In RBY we do not have long and complex mantras, but rather use short and simple syllables. Because of Guru Rinpoche’s and Yeshe Tsogyal’s blessings, these syllables contain many meditational deities. A deity is not a god or a being separate from ourselves but rather aspects of our own enlightened mind. In tantric practice, it is common to cultivate mantras relating to one or more deities, which then automatically reveal our own pure and clear awareness in the place of former dualistic confusion.

Another principle of Rainbow Body Yoga is breathwork aimed at unifying the five vital energies (Skt. prana). Applying breathing techniques (Skt. pranayama), seals (Skt. mudra), mantras, and visualizations together, our mind is flushed with breath energy charged with the blessings of the deities. This is called wisdom prana and has a deeply transforming effect on the mind. Ultimately, it uncovers the natural awareness (Tib. rigpa) at the ground of our being.

As for the mantras, the visualization techniques of Rainbow Body Yoga are not complex. Instead, we use simple visualizations that have a profound effect on our minds.

To start your practice, please see Introductory Practice, and Learn Rainbow Body Yoga Online.

Watch Amrita Baba’s Rainbow Body Yoga: Introduction and Empowerment

(Empowerments cannot be received from recordings)

  • ”I have various meditation and yoga experiences and I have to say that I have not experienced something as effective as the Rainbow Body Yoga. It has an impact on my entire existence. I dream differently, I experience myself and my environment differently. My daily yoga practice has changed. There are moments of clarity that I have never experienced before.”

  • ”To you, Baba, I can only express my deepest gratitude for being the channel who's made all of this possible. Since the empowerment an incredible deepening of the practice has happened.”

  • ”I took Buddhist refuge almost 30 years ago but in the beginning did not seriously practice meditation, usually only read prayers. I was a student of a Tibetan Buddhist lama for 16 years, and also received empowerments from the Dalai Lama. When I received empowerment of Rainbow Body Yoga, I felt an extremely strong energy. I have never felt such before. It was very comfortable.