The lineage of Chöd was established from the realisation of Lord Buddha’s Sutra and Tantra teachings by a female Tibetan master, Machig Labdrön, who received these teachings from her teacher Padampa Sangye.
Statue of Machig Labdrön
The founder of the Gelug or Gaden tradition, Lama Tsongkhapa, is known to have practised Chöd extensively. The Chöd lineage that Lama Tsongkhapa received can be traced back to Machig Labdrön and Padampa Sangye, and from there all the way back to Buddha Shakyamuni. Lama Tsongkhapa also received teachings on the Chöd practice directly from Manjushri.
Chöd means “cutting” and refers to cutting through the self-grasping mind that is at the very root of samsara. Chöd is the essence of Prajnaparamita (transcendent wisdom) which focuses on attaining Bodhicitta and realising Emptiness.
The practice purifies negativity and gathers the accumulations necessary for attaining these realisations through meditation and rituals. These rituals focus on offering the body as nectar to the enlightened beings, offering the body to the spirits and meditation on Emptiness.
All Mahayana training is included in lojong,
Lama Tsongkhapa, Commentary on the Profound Path of Chöd
And all Mahayana Dharma is included in Chöd.
In the Gaden tradition, Chöd is an advanced practice to be fully engaged in only after having completed the study of both Sutra and Tantra. Some melodies used in Chöd are those composed by Machig Labdrön herself. The melodies are the wisdom of Buddha in the form of sound, hence to recite Chöd in its original melodies generates great merit.
H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche
Prior to His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s lifetime, the practice of Chöd in the Gaden tradition was at the point of extinction. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche encouraged the practice of Chöd at Gaden Monastery in Tibet when he was abbot, and later propagated Chöd practice in the Tibetan community in exile in India.
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche is said to be a reincarnation of Suryakirti/Padampa Sangye, who was instrumental in the development of Chöd in Tibet.
The video below shows Kyabje Zong Rinpoche engaging in Chöd practice.
Ven. Zawa Tulku Rinpoche
Venerable Zawa Tulku Rinpoche
Ven. Zawa Tulku Lobsang Dorje Chokyi Gyaltsen Rinpoche is the Spiritual Director of Tsongkhapa Meditation Centre in Canada. He was born in India in 1978 and was recognised as the reincarnation of Zawa Geshe Rinpoche. In 1982, he was ordained at Gaden Shartse Monastery and studied Buddhist philosophy there until 1998. He then embarked on an international tour, teaching at numerous Dharma centres.
In addition to his dedication to teaching Buddhism, Zawa Rinpoche is also a master of the construction of sand mandalas and ritual arts. His specialities include healing and purification rituals and he is renowned for his kindness and pure morality.
In the video below, Zawa Rinpoche is performing Chöd Tsok.
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Sofi
Posted on September 4, 2016 #1 AuthorThank you dorjeshugden.org for sharing this article on Chod in the Gaden Nyengyu tradition. I had known that Chod is a puja twice a month by Tantrikas but now from this article I understand more. It is a beautiful ritual once understood helps to cut through our self-grasping and attachments. And thank you for sharing the video of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche that brings us into a time pass of an attained Master, an incarnate of Padampa Sangye, the very Guru who gave the teachings to Machig Labdron. Chod is the realisation of Machig Labdron on her Guru’s teaching of Buddha’s sutra and tantra. How precious! And the video of Ven. Zawa Tulku Lobsang Dorje Chokyi Gyaltsen Rinpoche, the Spiritual Director of Tsongkhapa Meditation Centre in Canada carrying the tradition of Chod with his group. I noticed a real bone was used as the ritual instrument. Very traditional and symbolic.
Fong
Posted on September 11, 2016 #2 AuthorA very precious practice in the Gaden tradition, Chöd is an advanced practice to be fully engaged in only after having completed the study of both Sutra and Tantra. It is the essence of Prajnaparamita (transcendent wisdom) which focuses on attaining Bodhicitta and realizing Emptiness.
It is to cut through the self grasping using sound as sound is the wisdom of the Buddhas. Very profound sharing. Sounds simple but yet is complex. May Zawa Rinpoche carry on Chod in the Gaden Nyengyu tradition and have the opportunity to teach and pass down the tradition, as did H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.
Thank ds.org for the sharing of this brief explanation of Chod and the precious videos of H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and Zawa Rinpoche.
Alice Tay
Posted on September 19, 2017 #3 AuthorMachig Labdron, a female Tibetan master received the teachings of Chöd from her guru, Padampa Sangye. It is believed that one of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s incarnation was Padampa Sangye, who was instrumental in the development of Chöd in Tibet.
In the Gaden tradition, one may have to complete the study of both Sutra and Tantra, then only can fully engage in Chöd.
Thank you for sharing this useful information of Chöd.
yin ping
Posted on December 23, 2017 #4 AuthorPersonally I like Machig Labdron when I first saw her holy statue in Souvenir Shop few years ago. I was attracted by her graceful pose holding the damaru and bell with one leg slightly bent standing as if she is dancing.
Machig Labdron previous life was Yeshe Tsogyel, a disciple and consort to Padmasambhava. She was the female Tibetan master who held the lineage of Chod. Chod refers to cutting through the self-grasping mind, which is the root that holds us in samsara. The practice of chod is focusing on attaining Bodhicitta and realizing Emptiness.
Chod is an advanced practice according to Gaden tradition. H.H Kyabje Zong Rinpoche encouraged this practice when he was the abbot of Gaden Monastery. Due to the compassion of H.H Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, the nearly extinct practice was revived again.