Chod means “cutting through,” i.e., severing erroneous concepts about the world of appearances and all illusions regarding the existence of a personal self. The practice of chod is an advanced skilful method that enables practitioners to become free of clinging to false notions and beliefs regarding inherent existence of appearances and experiences and therefore of an individual self. Attachment and clinging to a self are forces that give rise to the defilements, which are the source of anguish and pain. Chod is the practice that enables disciples to understand emptiness of all appearances that are fit to arise and therefore can be apprehended. It is an exceptional practice.
One needs to eradicate unfavourable delusions and hindrances and accomplish favourable conditions in order to realize and manifest perfect awakening. Unfavourable conditions are all negative habits that conceal the pure vision of reality. There are three types of unfavourable conditions: (1) delusions caused by past evil deeds, (2) delusions that are present and manifest as disturbing and therefore harmful emotions and (3) the delusion of not knowing the true nature of all things. These delusions need to be purified. Furthermore, a disciple needs to accumulate favourable conditions, accomplished by practicing the six paramitas.
The six paramitas that a bodhisattva practices in order to achieve the highest goal of awakening are: generosity, ethical conduct, patience, joyful endeavour, meditation and wisdom-awareness. The first paramita (“perfection”) is transcendent giving that dissipates scarcity and wants that beings living in poverty endure. General generosity is giving clothes, food, medicine and other everyday necessities to those who are destitute.
Note: In order to practice chod, the sincere disciple must have received transmission and permission
from an authentic lineage-holder. The transmission is a spiritual blessing that is passed down in
an unbroken lineage, and as such protects the student on this quite advanced path of practice.
Mantra by Margot Reisinger/Lama Tenzin Sangpo
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