Chöd is a
spiritual practice found primarily in Tibetan Buddhism. Also known as
"Cutting Through the Ego," the practice is based on the
Prajñāpāramitā sutra. It combines prajñāpāramitā philosophy with specific
meditation methods and a tantric ritual.
Ritual objects
Some ritual objects used in Chod ritual
Practitioners
of the Chöd ritual, Chödpa, use below ritual objects while reciting the sadhana:
·
A
kangling or human thighbone trumpet
·
A
bell
·
A
Chöd drum, a hand drum similar to but larger than the ḍamaru commonly used in
Tibetan ritual
·
A
kapala mala or beads
·
A
human half kapala
Chöd, like
all tantric systems, has outer, inner and secret aspects.
·
External
chod is to wander in fearful places where there are deities and demons.
·
Internal
chod is to offer one's own body as food to the deities and demons.
·
Ultimate chod is to realize the true nature of
the mind and cut through the fine strand of hair of subtle ignorance.
A yogi
should master these three kinds of chod practice.
"Ultimate chod is to realize the true nature of the mind"
ReplyDeleteWhat would you say about the ultimate nature of the mind?
Who practices external chod in charnel grounds these days?
The nature of the mind is 'empty' inside and out.
DeleteHowever, we cannot say that the nature of our mind is 'empty' alone as this shall be a lopsided theory.
So the practice of chod offeres everything out even the body in theory to show that everything is empty in nature.
Then and again, it is only that the nature of things is 'empty', its functions are not. If a person cuts his hand with a knife, then he bleeds! You still need to pay your bills every month or else all services shall be cut!
In most part of the world, even entering a cemetry is treated as trasspassing; so in civilized world, it is practically impossible to do external chod...