Hi Holy,
in my opinion, this book and AYP complete each other. From my understanding, AYP uses more of mudras, bandhas and detailed techniques, when mahamudra relies much on vase breathing (kumbakha). In tummo meditation, the core is vase breathing and accute concentration. AYP seems easier, and can help where concentration fails. I have spoken with several friends, everybody find it very difficult to concentrate during hours and hours on a tiny point which is supposed to be a "gate" of the central channel. There, I have found that AYP techniques can help, and I am beginning to use them. Because bliss opens the central channel, and AYP techniques are effective for bliss.
I started with tummo since 13 months, practicing 3-5 hours a day. My results are not overwhelming since I started from scratch, but at least I've had results. Because of karma resulting from past lives, I had very tight channels, and no technique was effective before I tried this tummo thing (I practiced vipassa, mantras, meditation, during 10 years, with no result). That's why I can tell it is effective. But it is not true that someone can reach last stages within 3 years. All the tibetan lamas are practicing tumo and more advanced techniques, and apparently, few of them reach the 3rd stage (which is illusory body). It you read carefully, this stage is equivalent to the 10th bhumi of the sutras, which is very high.
I am practicing within a lineage, but not exactly under the guidance of any guru, because guru do not guide easily people. I understood one day that I had to do my way myself, so I took the initiations and teachings, and now I am doing my way, probably as Yogani did with indian system. No tibetan lama will explain the whole thing to you, unless you're a tulku or at least a monk. If you're one of those small western folks who come to the teachings, you'll have to figure it out by yourself. They probably think that if someone is not able to find it by himself, it will be harmful to give it to him, because these techniques are too powerful. They were designed for people living under the direct watch of a guru, so that he can help if necessary.
By chance, there are people like Kelsang Gyatso who write useful books, and each new book reveals a different information, so, with much practice, and practicing friends, it is possible to make one's way. Many things I had to figure out by myself, I found in Yogani's lessons. The books give the mainlines, the practice and the benedictions of the lineage give what's missing. I'm rather confident, but it's likely I won't have enough time to go to the end of it. For example, Yogani's lesson seems to cover approximetely the tummo yoga, but don't seem to cover the further stages (clear light yoga), and that's normal. Who would understand ? How many people are conscious 24/24 ? I won't be before long and until know, I haven't met anbody who is, except tibetan masters of course.
(Yogani, I don't criticize your work, You're doing a great job and I'm grateful, I wish I could go with tibetan yoga as far as you did with indian yoga)
