The Practice of Chöd

Chöd is a profound and extensive system of meditation and ritual within Vajrayana Buddhism, using sacred instruments, music and mantras. As a spiritual practice, it is famed for its transformative power, awakening us to our true enlightened potential. The word Chöd means "to cut" or "to sever", as the goal is to cut-away the shackles of our fixations, and all the outer and inner and secret (hidden) obstacles of hope and fear which beset us. This is a living tradition, with unbroken transmission of methods and results, stretching from ancient times to today's modern masters. While it is a well-traveled path to full enlightenment, it is also a powerful vehicle for both curing of physical and mental illness and healing the individuals and the environment.

Offerings and Repayments

Smoke and water rituals are used in Tibetan spirituality as a vehicle for offering a universe of substances to the Four Classes of Guests (see the Blessing page for a description of the Four Guests). In Chöd however, the offering is based on our most precious and closely guarded possession—our own bodies. In the meditations and visualizations of Chöd, the practitioner's body is left behind, while awareness takes on a pure, enlightened form, as the wrathful feminine Wisdom Dakini. The "corpse" is then transformed into an inexhaustible ocean of whatever is appropriate to each guest. Higher Guests are offered things of great beauty, value and richness. Guests of Quality are offered attributes, objects and residences befitting their nature and kind. Beings of the Six Realms receive whatever they lack, such as food, shelter, possessions, happiness, companionship, love, health, fulfillment or simply release from pain, suffering and torment. All offerings are multiplied infinitely, in vast quantities, so that each and every one is completely satiated and pacified. By making exquisite offerings to enlightened spiritual beings, we creates tremendous positive karma that generates health, prosperity and happiness in this and future lives—and ultimately brings us towards enlightenment. On the other hand, by being generous towards the less fortunate, our negative obstacles are purified, and the obscurity of our spirit is cleansed.

Clearing of Entities

On an impure relative level, The specific focus of chöd, is generosity towards lower guests. This includes the entire spectrum of angry spirits, demonic forces, negative emotional imprints, and all that we associate with the ghostly or "spooky." Particularly, chöd is directed to all those to whom we owe a karmic debt and who seek vengeance and harm by inducing sickness, misfortune or misery. These forces and entities are very real, and their evil intent and malice can create innumerable problems in our lives. Such disturbing forces are responsible for many kinds of disease, mental illness, emotional conflicts, life obstacles, accidents, repeated failure, and so on. The cause of such difficulties will always seem vague and unrelated to recent circumstances or known causes. Through the offerings of chöd, demonic or harmful forces and all those to whom we owe a karmic debt, are satisfied and placated. They are healed and brought towards the spiritual path, giving up their negativity and rage. They too become spiritual practitioners or even Buddhas and Boddhisattvas as they have helped us in our journey towards enlightenment.

Thus Chöd cuts through our obstacles with the Knife of Wisdom. As a  Vajrayana Buddhist practice, it is able to clear karmic blockages arising from our negative physical, verbal or emotional acts performed in countless past lives. It clears chronic negative energies from areas of the home and land in a dramatic way.