Chöd practitioner || Tshok Bum || Buddhist teachings || Buddhism || Rinpoche

Chöd practitioner || Tshok Bum || Buddhist teachings || Buddhism || Rinpoche

A Chöd practitioner is a person who follows the spiritual practice of Chöd, a Tibetan Buddhist tantric practice that focuses on cutting through ego-clinging (ātmagrāha). The word "Chöd" means "to cut" or "to sever" in Tibetan.

Chöd is a direct and powerful practice that challenges practitioners to confront their deepest fears and attachments. It is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a transformative experience for those who are willing to put in the hard work.

Chöd practitioners visualize themselves offering their own bodies to the gods and demons as a way to cut the attachment to self and ordinary reality. This practice is often done in remote and lonely places, such as graveyards or mountaintops.

The practice of Chöd is said to have originated with Machig Labdron, an 11th-century Tibetan yogini. Machig Labdron was a fierce and unconventional teacher who challenged the traditional Buddhist teachings of her time. She developed the practice of Chöd as a way to help herself and others overcome their deepest fears and attachments.

The practice of Chöd is not for everyone. It is a demanding practice that requires a strong commitment and a willingness to face one's deepest fears. However, for those who are willing to put in the hard work, Chöd can be a powerful and transformative practice.