Chod Teaching: Cutting Attachments with Profound Bodhichitta Practice: How, Why, Where to Practice

Venerable Zasep Rinpoche introduces Five Dakini Chod Machig Labdron practice with a full teaching, followed by a demonstration, in full, of a Chod Vajrayana Buddhist practice with drumming and chanting.
Chod means to cut through the truly-existent “I”. Chod practice is an advanced skillful method that enables practitioners to become free of this clinging to the belief and false notion in a truly existent individual self.
Attachment and clinging to self, or “I “, are sources of all kinds of mental defilements and suffering. Chod is a profound practice that enables practitioners to understand the union of Bodhicitta and Shunyata.
Chod is not just a practice designed for wandering yoginis or yogis experimenting with their spiritual strength, while being in romantic wilderness sites and scary places.
The teachings and practice of Chod are an advanced and effective means to help us cut our ego, tame our mental defilements and develop pure unconditional Bodhicitta for all sentient beings.
According to the Gelug tradition, Chod practice is aimed at enhancing our meditation on the three principal paths of Lam Rim: Renunciation, Bodhicitta and Shunyata wisdom. Chod practice is a higher Tantric practice and a Dakini Yogic sublime way of transferring our consciousness into the spacious and eternal bliss of Prajnaparamita.
Machig Labdron said Chod is 100 times more effective than Powa practice for transferring consciousness to the Buddha pure lands.
Chod is a powerful healing practice for overcoming our fear, attachments, anxiety, anger, trauma and grief in this time of degeneration, with more people suffering due to the current direction of our society and world.

Includes stunning video and stills shot over 108 days in Mongolia during a 108 Springs Chod Retreat — where Rinpoche and students had to move their camp each day for 108 days and perform Chod. Contents by time index:
Introduction 0 - 0:39

00:40 - 22:27 Initial Teaching
22:28 - 32:33 What is Chod, Why it is important, Where to practice, How to practice, Drum and Trumpet, and the Lineage of the Teachings. [With scenes of Mongolian 108 Spring Wilderness Chod Retreat]. Drumming and Chanting Ritual demonstration
32.38 - 38:06 Advice on Practicing Chod:
38:10 Fire Puja video from Mongolian Chod 108 Spring Retreat

Chod practice combines the Three Paths in an advanced practice: Renunciation, Bodhichitta (compassion), and Shunyata (wisdom understanding Emptiness." Chod means to "cut" -- cutting ego, self-grasping and attachments. Chod also includes Powa practice.

By combining both method and wisdom — Bodhichitta practice and meditation on Emptiness — Chod is considered one of the most advanced practices in Esoteric Buddhism. Rinpoche ends the in-depth teaching of lineage and benefits with a full Chod practice chanted and drummed, and a final section on "Advice for Chod practice".

The video finishes with a spectacular Fire Puja (from the end of the 108 Springs retreat in Mongolia.) Whether you practice or are interested, don't miss this in-depth teaching and demonstration of Chod practice. 41 minutes in length.

Credits for the 108 Springs video and stills include H.E. Zasep Rinpoche and Bill Wells.

#Chod #BuddhistTeaching #Chodteaching #Choddrumming #Chodpractice #Mongolianretreat #BuddhaWeekly #Vajrayana #TibetanBuddhism #ZasepRinpoche
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