Chod Ritual

Introduction Thereissomethingattractivelyromanticaboutthemysterious,shamanic Thereissomethingattractivelyromanticabout themysterious,shamanicpractice practice ofancientChöd(Skt:ccheda-sadhana,Tib:gC ofancientChöd(Skt: ccheda-sadhana,Tib:gChodsgrubthabs).Chöd-pr hodsgrubthabs).Chöd-practice,cutti actice,cutti ngthroughdelusion'sroot,ishaunting,stran ngthroughdelusion's root,ishaunting,strangeandmysteriouslybeaut geandmysteriouslybeautifulall ifulall atthesametime.Thispracticeinvolvesawhi atthesametime.This practiceinvolvesawhirlingdance,accompanied rlingdance,accompaniedbydruma bydruma ndbell.Asthefollowingessaywillrecount, ndbell.Asthefollow ingessaywillrecount,Chödisaspecialtypeof Chödisaspecialtypeofmysticism mysticism thatunitesshamanicpracticewithprofoundyogicmeditation. Chödhaslongbeenawayofseekingdirectandpersonalexperiencesof Chödhaslongbeenawayofseekingdirectand personalexperiencesofmindanddi mindanddi vinityoutsideofconventionalandinstitutionalframeworks. InChöd-practice,theyogioryoginijourneysintothenightworld InChöd-practice,theyogioryoginijourneys intothenightworld thedangerousreg ionsofghosts,spiritsandthedamned,toble ionsofghosts,spirit sandthedamned,toblessallsoulslostforat ssallsoulslostforatimeonth imeonth ewheelofexistence.Theselflessnessofthe ewheelofexistence. Theselflessnessofthepractitioner'scompassion practitioner'scompassion,hisor ,hisor hercontactwithspiritsoftheother-world,a hercontactwithspiri tsoftheother-world,andthemakingofhimself ndthemakingofhimselfintoave intoave hicleofhealing,alltendstobecomeapathf hicleofhealing,all tendstobecomeapathfortheherotowintheno ortheherotowinthenoeticMind eticMind -Jeweloftrueawakening. ChödisapracticethatcombinesBuddhistmeditationwithancientTibet ChödisapracticethatcombinesBuddhistmedi tationwithancientTibeto-Siberian o-Siberian shamanicritual.The"liturgy"ofChödissung shamanicritual.The" liturgy"ofChödissungtotheaccompanimentof totheaccompanimentofdrum,bell drum,bell andathigh-bonehorn.Theword"Chöd"meanst andathigh-bonehorn. Theword"Chöd"meanstocutthrough,to"chop," ocutthrough,to"chop,"andwhati andwhati schoppedoffisultimatelytheEgo.Initially schoppedoffisultim atelytheEgo.Initiallythisbeginswithcutting thisbeginswithcuttingallatta allatta chmenttothebodyandtomaterialthings.Whe chmenttothebodyand tomaterialthings.Whenidentificationwiththe nidentificationwiththefinitem finitem ind-bodycomplexisletgoof,thenthepurea ind-bodycomplexisle tgoof,thenthepureawarenessissetfreetop warenessissetfreetoperceiver erceiver ealityasitreallyis.Thewholeworldbecome ealityasitreallyis .Thewholeworldbecomespotentasaplaceofbl spotentasaplaceofblessingpo essingpo werandawareness. PaDampaSangye,the"Father"ofChöd PaDampaSangyewasadarkskinnedSouthIndiansaddhuwholivedinthe PaDampaSangyewasadarkskinnedSouthIndia nsaddhuwholivedintheeleventh eleventh century.HecametoTibetandintroducedasy century.HecametoT ibetandintroducedasystemofmeditationcalled stemofmeditationcalledZhi-jye, Zhi-jye, thepacificationofsuffering.TheZhi-jyete thepacificationofs uffering.TheZhi-jyeteachingsarefoundedonth achingsarefoundedonthedoctrin edoctrin eofTranscendentalWisdom(Arya-prajna-parami eofTranscendentalWi sdom(Arya-prajna-paramita)andmeditation.Dampa ta)andmeditation.DampaSangyev Sangyev isitedTibetfivetimesatwidelyspacedinter isitedTibetfivetime satwidelyspacedintervalsandimpartedteachin valsandimpartedteachingstodis gstodis ciplesmorenumerousthanallthestarsvisibl ciplesmorenumeroust hanallthestarsvisibleinthenightsky.Heme einthenightsky.Hemetwithth twithth epoet-saintMilarepatowardtheendofthelatter'slife. PaDampaSanggyeissaid,accordingtoonetradition,tohavebeenthe PaDampaSanggyeissaid,accordingtoonetra dition,tohavebeenthereincarna reincarna tionofBodhidharma(c.560AD)whointroduced tionofBodhidharma(c .560AD)whointroducedZenBuddhismintoChina1 ZenBuddhismintoChina1.Another .Another figureinhistorywhoiscreditedwithrepres figureinhistorywho iscreditedwithrepresentinganearlierlifetim entinganearlierlifetimeofPada eofPada mpaSanggyeisKamalashila(c.800AD).Kamala mpaSanggyeisKamalas hila(c.800AD).Kamalashilawasthediscipleof shilawasthediscipleofthelear thelear nedsageShantiraksita.Afterthedeathofthe nedsageShantiraksita .Afterthedeathofthelatter,Kamalashilacame latter,KamalashilacametoTibet toTibet tocarryonhismaster'swork. DuringKamalashila'sstayinTibetafiercedebategrewuparoundaChi DuringKamalashila'sstayinTibetafiercede bategrewuparoundaChinesemonk nesemonk namedHwa-shangMahayana,whowaspreachingv namedHwa-shangMahay ana,whowaspreachingveryfavorablyamongstthe eryfavorablyamongsttheTibetan Tibetan people.Hwa-shangrepresentedthe"Cittamatra" people.Hwa-shangrepr esentedthe"Cittamatra"pointofview,whileKam pointofview,whileKamalashila alashila taughttheviewknownas"Madhyamaka-Yogacara. taughttheviewknown as"Madhyamaka-Yogacara."Itishardtoknowfrom "Itishardtoknowfromthediff thediff eringaccountsexactlywho"won"thisdebate, eringaccountsexactly who"won"thisdebate,butitissaidthatafter butitissaidthatafterthedeba thedeba tetheChinesefactionpoisonedKamalashila,a tetheChinesefaction poisonedKamalashila,andhediedinTibet.Acco ndhediedinTibet.Accordingto rdingto theRi-troChos,orHermitageInstructions,of theRi-troChos,orHe rmitageInstructions,ofKarmaChagme,theconsci KarmaChagme,theconsciousnesso ousnesso fKamalashilawasthenreborninthefarsouth fKamalashilawasthen reborninthefarsouthofIndiaamongstthedar ofIndiaamongstthedarkskinned kskinned Tamilpeople.Hegrewuptobecomeaverysai Tamilpeople.Hegrew uptobecomeaverysaintlyTamilsageandsaddh ntlyTamilsageandsaddhu.Itwas u.Itwas inthisformthatheeventuallyreturnedtoT inthisformthathe eventuallyreturnedtoTibetasthewisdom-master ibetasthewisdom-master"Father" "Father" DampaSanggye. WhenPaDampaSangyecametoTibet,hefoundthepeopleinthecountyo WhenPaDampaSangyecametoTibet,hefoundt hepeopleinthecountyofTingri, fTingri, whichisnearMt.EverestontheTibetanside whichisnearMt.Eve restontheTibetanside,tobeespeciallyamenab ,tobeespeciallyamenabletohis letohis instruction.HethereforesettledinTingria instruction.Hethere foresettledinTingriandestablishedaschoolo ndestablishedaschoolofYogapr fYogapr

acticethere.AyoungTibetanwomannamedMachigLabdrön(1055-1153)wa acticethere.AyoungTibetanwomannamedMach igLabdrön(1055-1153)wasoneofth soneofth osewhobecamehisdisciple. MachigandherguruDampaSangyearegenerallyviewedasthefounderso MachigandherguruDampaSangyearegenerally viewedasthefoundersoftheChöd ftheChöd system.However,itwouldappearthatChödits system.However,itwo uldappearthatChöditselfisablendingtogethe elfisablendingtogetherofPaDam rofPaDam paSangye'steachingsandMachig'snativeinhe paSangye'steachings andMachig'snativeinheritance.PaDampaSangye ritance.PaDampaSangyetaughtMa taughtMa chigtherudimentsofMahamudrameditation.Fa chigtherudimentsof Mahamudrameditation.Fairlysoonafterhermeeti irlysoonafterhermeetingwithP ngwithP aDampaSangye,theTibetanwomanMachigLabdr aDampaSangye,theTi betanwomanMachigLabdrönwenttoliveinCentra önwenttoliveinCentralTibet,wh lTibet,wh ereshetookupresidenceinalonelycaveand ereshetookupreside nceinalonelycaveandsetherselftopractice setherselftopracticemeditatio meditatio n. Followingherguru'sinstruction,shebeganbyspendingthefirstyear Followingherguru'sinstruction,shebeganby spendingthefirstyearcompletin completin gthepreliminaryexercises(ngön-dro).Afterw gthepreliminaryexer cises(ngön-dro).Afterwardsshewenttoaplace ardsshewenttoaplacecalledZang calledZang -riKhar-mar,whichthenbecameherresidence -riKhar-mar,whichth enbecameherresidencefortherestofherlife. fortherestofherlife.Itwast Itwast herethatshedevelopedChödasadefinitesystemofpractice. AnotherleadingdiscipleofPaDampaSangyewasaTibetanknownasKyto AnotherleadingdiscipleofPaDampaSangyewa saTibetanknownasKytonSonamL nSonamL ama.Itwasthelatterwho,wearetold,would ama.Itwasthelatter who,wearetold,wouldcomeandvisitMachigin comeandvisitMachiginhercave hercave residence,andpassalongfurtherteachingsf residence,andpassa longfurtherteachingsfromtheguruDampaSanggy romtheguruDampaSanggyetoher. etoher. Throughtheinteractionofthesethree,theC Throughtheinteracti onofthesethree,theChödsystemgrewintoana hödsystemgrewintoanamazinglybe mazinglybe autifulandprofoundmethodofspiritualdevelopment Chöd,combiningYogaandShamanism ChödthereforeisasubtleblendoftheBuddhistpathtoenlightenment ChödthereforeisasubtleblendoftheBuddhi stpathtoenlightenment(asreprese (asreprese ntedbytheMahamudra-masterDampaSanggye)br ntedbytheMahamudramasterDampaSanggye)broughtfromIndia,andan oughtfromIndia,andanancientf ancientf ormofShamanicritual(introducedbythewoma ormofShamanicritual (introducedbythewomanMachigLabdrön)thatwa nMachigLabdrön)thatwasnativeto snativeto Tibet.Itwasthemergingofthesetwostream Tibet.Itwasthemer gingofthesetwostreamswhichresultedinthea swhichresultedintheactualeme ctualeme rgenceofChödasapracticeusedbyyoginsto rgenceofChödasapr acticeusedbyyoginstoday,intheirdesiretog day,intheirdesiretogainEnlight ainEnlight enmentbytheshortestpossiblepath. ThusChödisamoreadvancedformofshamanism,whichhasbeenraisedt ThusChödisamoreadvancedformofshamanism ,whichhasbeenraisedtoahigher oahigher levelofperfectionbyvirtueofitsblending levelofperfectionby virtueofitsblendingtogetherwiththeinnermo togetherwiththeinnermostteachi stteachi ngsofMahamudra. Machigherselfsaid: "MysystemofChödconsistsoftheintrinsicteachingsofMahamudra.Th "MysystemofChödconsistsoftheintrinsict eachingsofMahamudra.ThisMahamudr isMahamudr acannotbeexplainedinwords.Yet,although acannotbeexplained inwords.Yet,althoughitisbeyondverbalexpre itisbeyondverbalexpression,it ssion,it maybeindicated[bymeansofthesymbolismofChöd]." Traditionallyspeaking,thepathofyogaisapathofself-masteryand Traditionallyspeaking,thepathofyogaisa pathofself-masteryandtheyogin theyogin isone,whethermaleorfemale,whoaimsfor isone,whethermale orfemale,whoaimsforperfectEnlightenment.Th perfectEnlightenment.Thisisnot isisnot ashamanicpath. Thewayoftheshaman,ontheotherhand,hasalwaysbeenapathinvolv Thewayoftheshaman,ontheotherhand,has alwaysbeenapathinvolvingcommu ingcommu nionwithotherpowersandspirits,andinman nionwithotherpowers andspirits,andinmanycasestheattainmentof ycasestheattainmentofEnlighte Enlighte nmentmaynotbeperceivedasitsgoalatall. nmentmaynotbeperce ivedasitsgoalatall.Ashamanorshamaness,b Ashamanorshamaness,bydefinit ydefinit ion(videProf.Hutton,Shamans,Hambledon&L ion(videProf.Hutton ,Shamans,Hambledon&London,London2001),is" ondon,London2001),is"someonew someonew howorkswithspiritstohelpothers."Thesha howorkswithspirits tohelpothers."Theshamanchannelsthesespirit manchannelsthesespirits,toacc s,toacc omplishdefiniteends,suchashealingorgain omplishdefiniteends, suchashealingorgainingaccesstoknowledgeo ingaccesstoknowledgeofsomeki fsomeki nd.ButChödcombinesthepathofEnlightenmen nd.ButChödcombines thepathofEnlightenmentandShamanismintoone. tandShamanismintoone. Chöd'sspecialappealforwomen Chödpracticehashadaspecialappealforwomen,perhapsbecauseitwa Chödpracticehashadaspecialappealforwom en,perhapsbecauseitwaslargelyf slargelyf oundedbyawomansaint(MachigLabdrönwasth oundedbyawomansain t(MachigLabdrönwasthe"Mother"ofChöd).All e"Mother"ofChöd).Alldownthrough downthrough history,womenhavebeenspiritualleadersin history,womenhavebe enspiritualleadersintheChödtradition.Besid theChödtradition.Besideshavingb eshavingb eencreatedbyMachigLabdrönherself,andals eencreatedbyMachig Labdrönherself,andalsoattributedtoPrincess oattributedtoPrincessYesheTsogy YesheTsogy al,otherfamouswomanfiguresintheChödtra al,otherfamouswoman figuresintheChödtraditionincludeShuksebZa ditionincludeShuksebZangmo(1852ngmo(1852-

1953,herselfconsideredtobeanincarnationofMachig),JomoMenmo(1 1953,herselfconsideredtobeanincarnation ofMachig),JomoMenmo(1248-1283) 248-1283) ,JetsunmaMingyurPaldron(1699-1769,thedau ,JetsunmaMingyurPal dron(1699-1769,thedaughterofTerdagLingpa), ghterofTerdagLingpa),Jetsunma Jetsunma ThinleyChodron,ateacherofJamyangKhyentse ThinleyChodron,atea cherofJamyangKhyentseWangpo,andSeraKhadro Wangpo,andSeraKhadroKunzangW KunzangW angmo(1899-1952).AttheShuksebConventnear angmo(1899-1952).At theShuksebConventnearLhasa,morethanonehun Lhasa,morethanonehundredKa'g dredKa'g yununsstillfollowourtraditionofthemKha yununsstillfollowo urtraditionofthemKha'-'groiGad-rGyangsChöd, '-'groiGad-rGyangsChöd,apractice apractice revealedbythegreatmysticJigmeLingpa. Theinvisibledimension Chödisaspiritualpracticeconductedbytheyogini(oryogi)alonein Chödisaspiritualpracticeconductedbythe yogini(oryogi)aloneinthewilder thewilder ness,whereshemustlearntofaceeveryfear ness,whereshemustl earntofaceeveryfearandeverybitofego-clin andeverybitofego-clingingwith gingwith inherself.Indeed,toaccomplishthis,she(o inherself.Indeed,to accomplishthis,she(orhe)isinstructedtode rhe)isinstructedtodeliberatel liberatel ygotoplacesthatinspiresupernaturaldread ygotoplacesthatin spiresupernaturaldread.Traditionally,oncethe .Traditionally,oncetheyoginih yoginih asfoundawildandlonelyspot,whichissupp asfoundawildandlo nelyspot,whichissupposedtobeaplacethats osedtobeaplacethatseemsimbu eemsimbu edwithpowerorreportedlyhauntedbyspirits edwithpowerorrepor tedlyhauntedbyspirits,nottomentionwildbea ,nottomentionwildbeasts,she sts,she setsupatent.Erectingthistentisnotacasualact setsupatent.Erectingthistentisnotacasualact itisdoneritually,andea chofthefourtent-pegsisdrivenintothegr chofthefourtent-pe gsisdrivenintotheground,whilemindfulofth ound,whilemindfulofthesymboli esymboli cactofempoweringthefourdirections:east, cactofempoweringth efourdirections:east,south,westandnorth,e south,westandnorth,eachhavin achhavin gaspecificcolorandmeaning.Asnightfalls gaspecificcolorand meaning.Asnightfalls,theyoginiwillbegint ,theyoginiwillbegintosingth osingth eancientmelodiouschant,signifyingthestar eancientmelodiousch ant,signifyingthestartofthemeditation.She tofthemeditation.Shemustface mustface thespiritsofnature,the"elementals,"and thespiritsofnature ,the"elementals,"andtheghostsofthedead,w theghostsofthedead,whichthe hichthe ritualevokes,anddominatethem;or,failing ritualevokes,anddom inatethem;or,failingthat,bedominatedintur that,bedominatedinturn,which n,which mightmeanbecomingpossessed,possiblyleadin mightmeanbecomingpo ssessed,possiblyleadingtomadnessorevendeat gtomadnessorevendeath. h. AccordingtothebeliefsofpsychicandTibetanmystics,thephysicalw AccordingtothebeliefsofpsychicandTibeta nmystics,thephysicalworldperc orldperc eivedbyourfivesensesisonlyasmallporti eivedbyourfivesens esisonlyasmallportionofthetotalrealityi onofthetotalrealityinwhichw nwhichw elive.Allaroundusareinvisibleentities; elive.Allaroundus areinvisibleentities;typesof"beings"or"spi typesof"beings"or"spirits"whi rits"whi chwecannotsee.Theseentitiesexistinpara chwecannotsee.Thes eentitiesexistinparallel,butseparate,dimen llel,butseparate,dimensionsor sionsor worldsoftheirown.Neverthelessallthese"p worldsoftheirown.N everthelessallthese"parallel"realmsarepart arallel"realmsarepartofthesa ofthesa meplanet.Forexample,whatappearsasarive meplanet.Forexample ,whatappearsasarivertous,mightseemtobe rtous,mightseemtobeacurren acurren tofcolorandenergywithintherealmofthe tofcolorandenergy withintherealmoftheShiningDevas.Againthe ShiningDevas.Againthesamerive samerive rwouldseemtobesomethinglikeacurrentof rwouldseemtobesom ethinglikeacurrentofmoltenironlavatoane moltenironlavatoanevilspiri vilspiri t,or"demon",trappedinitsownself-created t,or"demon",trapped initsownself-createdhell.Forjustlikehuma hell.Forjustlikehumanbeings, nbeings, sotoospiritscanbeeithergoodorevil. Agoodspiritisonewhichradiatesloveoutwardsfromitselftowardsa Agoodspiritisonewhichradiatesloveoutwa rdsfromitselftowardsallothers llothers withwhomitisconnected.Andthe"higher"t withwhomitisconne cted.Andthe"higher"thetypeofspirit,themo hetypeofspirit,themoreitis reitis intrinsicallyconnectedwithallsentientbein intrinsicallyconnecte dwithallsentientbeings.Anevilspirit,onth gs.Anevilspirit,ontheotherh eotherh and,isonewhichhasbecomecloseduponitsel and,isonewhichhas becomecloseduponitself,isolatedfromthewhol f,isolatedfromthewhole,andli e,andli vestightlyturnedinwardsonitsownneurosis vestightlyturnedinw ardsonitsownneurosis.Thetighteranddarker .Thetighteranddarkerbecomest becomest hesufferingofthatspirit,themoredemonicitsnature. ButaccordingtotheAdeptsofChöd,nothingispermanent.Aspiritlos ButaccordingtotheAdeptsofChöd,nothingi spermanent.Aspiritlostforatim tforatim einoneofthehideous"lowerrealms"ofsuff einoneofthehideou s"lowerrealms"ofsuffering,mayalwaysbeheal ering,mayalwaysbehealed(eithe ed(eithe rthroughtimeitself,orbytheintervention rthroughtimeitself, orbytheinterventionoftheChödpa)andgradua oftheChödpa)andgraduallylifted llylifted upintotheLight.ThustheworkoftheChödpa upintotheLight.Thu stheworkoftheChödpa,asofthesaintwhopra ,asofthesaintwhopraysconstant ysconstant lyforthewelfareofothers,istotransform lyforthewelfareof others,istotransformspiritsofdarknessinto spiritsofdarknessintoangelsof angelsof light. AccordingtotheBuddhaourplanetconsistsofsixparallel"levels"of AccordingtotheBuddhaourplanetconsistsof sixparallel"levels"ofexistenc existenc e,orsixbio-zones.Ifwelookatthisfromo e,orsixbio-zones.I fwelookatthisfromourhumanperspective,we urhumanperspective,wecan,for can,for example,talkofthemineralrealm,thevegeta example,talkofthem ineralrealm,thevegetablerealm,theanimalrea blerealm,theanimalrealmandth lmandth ehumanrealm.Butisthatall?Accordingtot ehumanrealm.Butis thatall?AccordingtotheSages,thereisalsoa heSages,thereisalsoatwilight twilight orastralrealmparallelwiththevegetabler orastralrealmparal lelwiththevegetablerealm,whichiscalledthe ealm,whichiscalledtheghostre ghostre alm.Thisisnotaterriblybadzonetoexperi alm.Thisisnotater riblybadzonetoexperience,butitdoesseemto ence,butitdoesseemtobeapla beapla ceofgreatlongingandconsiderableconfusion ceofgreatlongingan dconsiderableconfusion.Thementalstateofthi .Thementalstateofthisghostr sghostr ealmisdreamlike,grey,vegetative,andfill ealmisdreamlike,gr ey,vegetative,andfilledwithayearninghunger edwithayearninghunger.Therea .Therea rebetterplacesindeedtofindoneselfafter rebetterplacesindee dtofindoneselfafterdeath,andindeed,thesa death,andindeed,thesagessayt gessayt hatonesuchplaceisthesuperiorastral,or hatonesuchplaceis thesuperiorastral,or"heavenly"realm,wheret "heavenly"realm,wheretheconsci heconsci ousnessemergesasashiningspiritcalledanangel,orDeva.

Angelsareclassified,inBuddhism,intotwocategories.Whatwemight Angelsareclassified,inBuddhism,intotwoc ategories.Whatwemightcallinfe callinfe riorangelsandsuperiorangels.InChristiani riorangelsandsuperi orangels.InChristianitythesetwoordersarek tythesetwoordersareknownasa nownasa ngelsandarchangels.InJudaismtheyhavelon ngelsandarchangels. InJudaismtheyhavelongbeencalledbeni-Elohim gbeencalledbeni-Elohim(sonsof (sonsof thegods)andElohim(gods).TheancientBudd thegods)andElohim (gods).TheancientBuddhistterminologyisvery histterminologyisverycloseto closeto thelatter,sinceinBuddhismwecallthesesp thelatter,sinceinB uddhismwecallthesespiritsDevaputra(alsocal iritsDevaputra(alsocalledAsura ledAsura s),whichliterallymeans"sonsoftheDevas," s),whichliterallyme ans"sonsoftheDevas,"andDevas(orSuras).Th andDevas(orSuras).Theword"d eword"d eva"or"sura"literallymeansa"shiningbeing". WheredotheDevaslive?Thoseadeptswhocanseewithclairvoyantsigh WheredotheDevaslive?Thoseadeptswhocan seewithclairvoyantsightthehig tthehig hervibrationallevels,experiencetheDevasa hervibrationallevels ,experiencetheDevasasluminous,vaguelyhuman sluminous,vaguelyhumanoidforms oidforms ofintelligence,seeminglyabidinginthemou ofintelligence,seem inglyabidinginthemountainsandinforestgrov ntainsandinforestgrovesorin esorin etherealparadises.Inmostcases,however,th etherealparadises.In mostcases,however,theseshiningspiritualbei eseshiningspiritualbeingsappea ngsappea rtolive"above"thephysicalplane;whenwe rtolive"above"the physicalplane;whenweexperiencethem,theysee experiencethem,theyseemto"com mto"com edown"toourplane,soastocommunewithus edown"toourplane, soastocommunewithus.Templesandshrinesare .Templesandshrinesarealsovie alsovie wedasplaceswheretheseDevasappeartocome wedasplaceswhereth eseDevasappeartocomedowntoearth,asifin downtoearth,asifinasenset asenset hesesacred"powerplaces"areinter-dimension hesesacred"powerpla ces"areinter-dimensionalportalsbetweentheph alportalsbetweenthephysicalan ysicalan dnonphysicalworld. Afterdeath,accordingtotheBuddhistview,abeingcantakebirthin Afterdeath,accordingtotheBuddhistview,a beingcantakebirthinanyofth anyofth esixrealms.Thus,inone'snextexistence,o esixrealms.Thus,in one'snextexistence,oncedeathhasoccurredto ncedeathhasoccurredtothebody thebody ,youmightfindyourselfemergingintoafres ,youmightfindyours elfemergingintoafreshluminousexistenceasa hluminousexistenceasanAsura-s nAsura-s piritinaheaven-likerealmofcolor,scenta piritinaheaven-like realmofcolor,scentandmusicalrhythm.Or,if ndmusicalrhythm.Or,iftortured tortured byunresolvedissuesfromharmfulactionswhi byunresolvedissues fromharmfulactionswhichonehasdone,youmay chonehasdone,youmayemergeas emergeas adark,violentDemonic-spirit,inthediscor adark,violentDemon ic-spirit,inthediscordantrealmdescribedash dantrealmdescribedashell.Ther ell.Ther earesixpossibledestiniesfortheconscious earesixpossibledes tiniesfortheconsciousnessofonewhohasjust nessofonewhohasjustdied. died. Now,thesesixdestiniesorbio-zonesofthisourplanetaryworld,acco Now,thesesixdestiniesorbio-zonesofthis ourplanetaryworld,accordingto rdingto theTibetansystem,areasfollows: Lha(Skt:deva)-superiorShiningOnes,orarchangelrealm Lha-ma-yin(Skt:asura)-inferiorShiningOne Lha-ma-yin(Skt:asura )-inferiorShiningOnes,orangelrealm s,orangelrealm Mi(Skt:nara)-theHumanrealm Du-do(Skt:Tiryak)-theAnimalrealm Yi-dag(Skt:preta)-theGhostrealm=Vegetablerealm Nyal-kham(Skt:Naraka)-theHellrealm=Mineralrealm ItmaybenotedthattheLhaandLha-ma-yindw Itmaybenotedthatt heLhaandLha-ma-yindwellinwhatpeopleofdif ellinwhatpeopleofdifferentcu ferentcu ltureshavealldescribedas"heavenrealms." ltureshavealldescri bedas"heavenrealms."Thehumansandanimalsab Thehumansandanimalsabidetoget idetoget herinwhattousisthe"physicalrealm".And herinwhattousist he"physicalrealm".Andghostsanddemonsappare ghostsanddemonsapparentlyroam ntlyroam whatmightbecalled"thelowerastral"domain. Whenanimal'sdie,theytoomaybecomeelementalspiritschainedtothe Whenanimal'sdie,theytoomaybecomeelement alspiritschainedtothephysical physical locationwheredeathoccurred.Theseunseene locationwheredeath occurred.TheseunseenentitiesaretheElemental ntitiesaretheElementalsspoken sspoken ofbyoccultistsandclairvoyants.Thesearet ofbyoccultistsandc lairvoyants.Thesearethefairiesandspritesof hefairiesandspritesoffolklore folklore .InTibetanteachingstheyaresometimescate .InTibetanteachings theyaresometimescategorizedasfollows: gorizedasfollows: Dri-za(Skt:gandharva)-sylphs,airelementals Namkha'lding(Skt:garuda)-phoenix,fireelementals kLu(Skt:naga)-dragons,waterelementals gNod-sbyin(Skt:yakshas)-gnomen,earthelementals Buttherearemanyothertypesofelementalsp Buttherearemanyoth ertypesofelementalspiritsmentionedinBuddhi iritsmentionedinBuddhistlore, stlore, too.TherearetheMi-'am-c'i(Kinnara),orlo too.TherearetheMi'am-c'i(Kinnara),orlovelycelestialmusicians, velycelestialmusicians,andthe andthe Srin-po(Rakshasa)whichappearasdangerousf Srin-po(Rakshasa)whi chappearasdangerousfireelementals.Thereare ireelementals.Thereare'Byung-p 'Byung-p o(Bhuta)andharmfulSa-za(pisaca),spirits o(Bhuta)andharmful Sa-za(pisaca),spiritsofthejungle,thecremat ofthejungle,thecremationgroun iongroun dsandtheforest,whichcancausemisfortune, dsandtheforest,whi chcancausemisfortune,ordisease,orinsanity. ordisease,orinsanity.Andther Andther earetheGyalpoandtheTsen,powerfulghosts earetheGyalpoandt heTsen,powerfulghostsofslainheroesandLama ofslainheroesandLama-sorcerer -sorcerer s,whohavediedunfulfilledorwithacurseo s,whohavediedunful filledorwithacurseontheirlips;itissaid ntheirlips;itissaidtheirthi theirthi rstforpowerandvengeanceliveson. Dothesegoodandevilspirits(lha-dre)actua Dothesegoodandevil spirits(lha-dre)actuallyexist,oraretheybu llyexist,oraretheybuttheima ttheima

ginationofamoreprimitiveculture?Thedecisionhastobeyours.Sci ginationofamoreprimitiveculture?Thedeci sionhastobeyours.Sciencedoes encedoes notappeartohaveproved,asyet,theexiste notappeartohavepr oved,asyet,theexistenceofparallelrealms,i nceofparallelrealms,invisible nvisible toourtelescopes,microscopesandmeasuringd toourtelescopes,mic roscopesandmeasuringdevices.Asonegrowsspir evices.Asonegrowsspiritually, itually, anawarenessofdisincarnateandnon-incarnate anawarenessofdisinc arnateandnon-incarnateentitiesisoneofthef entitiesisoneofthefeaturest eaturest hatthemysticdevelops.Butthetruthofthis hatthemysticdevelop s.Butthetruthofthisexperiencecannotbepro experiencecannotbeprovennord vennord emonstratedtotheskeptic.Itissimplysomet emonstratedtotheske ptic.Itissimplysomethingthatonehastoexpe hingthatonehastoexperiencean riencean djudgeforoneself djudgeforoneself nooneelsecansaywhetheritistrueornot. Thesamegoesfordeath.Whathappensafterdeath?Somepeoplebelieve Thesamegoesfordeath.Whathappensafterde ath?Somepeoplebelievethatwhen thatwhen thebodydies,sodoestheperson,theminda thebodydies,sodoe stheperson,themindandtheconsciousness.Acc ndtheconsciousness.Accordingto ordingto thiswayofthinking,mindistheproductof thiswayofthinking, mindistheproductofthephysicalbrain,andw thephysicalbrain,andwhentheb hentheb raindies,thatistheend.Thereligionsoft raindies,thatisthe end.Thereligionsoftheworld,ontheotherha heworld,ontheotherhand,have nd,have alltaughtthatafterdeathourexperiencecon alltaughtthatafter deathourexperiencecontinues.Butthedifferent tinues.Butthedifferentreligion religion sarebynomeansincompleteagreementconcer sarebynomeansinc ompleteagreementconcerning"how"thatcontinuat ning"how"thatcontinuationwill ionwill takeplace.Someinsistthattheentitywilln takeplace.Someinsis tthattheentitywillneveragainreturntoahu everagainreturntoahumanincar manincar nation.Some,thoughtheyadmitwemayberebo nation.Some,thought heyadmitwemayberebornasahumanpersonagai rnasahumanpersonagain,denyt n,denyt heideathatwecandescendtoananimallevel heideathatwecande scendtoananimallevelofrebirth.Sothereare ofrebirth.Sotherearedifferin differin gopinions. Buddhismdescribesaworldinwhichthemineral"hell"realmisatthe Buddhismdescribesaworldinwhichtheminera l"hell"realmisatthebottomof bottomof theladderofevolution,sotospeak,andthe theladderofevoluti on,sotospeak,andthe"deva"realmatthetop. "deva"realmatthetop.TheDeva TheDeva realmisalsosaidtoreachfurtherandfurth realmisalsosaidto reachfurtherandfurtherupwards,toevermore erupwards,toevermorerefineds refineds tatesofbeing.ButBuddhismdoesclaimthatw tatesofbeing.ButBu ddhismdoesclaimthatwecanalsodevolve,andn ecanalsodevolve,andnotonlye otonlye volve.Wecangodownthescale,aswellasri volve.Wecangodown thescale,aswellasriseupit.Contactwithth seupit.Contactwiththosewhoh osewhoh avedied,bypsychicswhoarealive,maybeab avedied,bypsychics whoarealive,maybeabletotellusalotmore letotellusalotmoreaboutthi aboutthi ssocalled"nextworld." Butwhatistrue,andwhatreallyhappensafterdeath,canonlybeknow Butwhatistrue,andwhatreallyhappensafte rdeath,canonlybeknownwhende nwhende athitselfintervenes.Untilthen,itisupto athitselfintervenes. Untilthen,itisuptotheindividualtomakeh theindividualtomakehisorher isorher ownrationaljudgment. Theyoginiinhertentcallsthevariousspiritsofthelandtoher.Th Theyoginiinhertentcallsthevariousspiri tsofthelandtoher.Theseshet eseshet henmusttreatindifferentways.Thehigherb henmusttreatindiff erentways.Thehigherbeneficialspirits,shema eneficialspirits,shemaycommune ycommune withforhealingdisease,andtodososhewi withforhealingdise ase,andtodososhewillestablisharelationsh llestablisharelationshipofpea ipofpea ce(Tib:zhi-wa,Skt:santika)betweenherself ce(Tib:zhi-wa,Skt: santika)betweenherselfandthosewhichcomewit andthosewhichcomewithinthes hinthes phereofherinfluence.Shemayestablishasi phereofherinfluence .Shemayestablishasimilarrelationshipwitht milarrelationshipwiththeghosts heghosts (preta)ofthedead,butthemoreconfusedor (preta)ofthedead, butthemoreconfusedortroubledghostsofthes troubledghostsofthespiritwor piritwor ldshemusthelptoguideand,asitwhere,"r ldshemusthelptogu ideand,asitwhere,"raisetheirvibration"(Ti aisetheirvibration"(Tib:rgyasb:rgyaspabyed-pa,Skt:paustika)ifsheistofreet pabyed-pa,Skt:paust ika)ifsheistofreethemfromtheirsuffering. hemfromtheirsuffering.Tormente Tormente dspirits,andelementals,havetobesubdued dspirits,andelement als,havetobesubdued(Tib:dbang-'dus,Skt:va (Tib:dbang-'dus,Skt:vasya)and sya)and directed.Thereallyevilentitiesshemustle directed.Thereallye vilentitiesshemustlearntodominate,exorcise arntodominate,exorcise(Tib:dr (Tib:dr ag-shul,Skt:marana)andultimatelyliberate. ag-shul,Skt:marana) andultimatelyliberate.Allofthistheyogini( Allofthistheyogini(oryogi) oryogi) accomplishesthroughthemeansofherChöd-practice. Attheend,afterthededicationofthepowerwhichhasbeengenerated Attheend,afterthededicationofthepower whichhasbeengeneratedbythepr bythepr actice,theyoginimaymakethefollowingprayer: "Mayallyouspiritsandelementalseventuallybebornashumanbeings, "Mayallyouspiritsandelementalseventually bebornashumanbeings,andinf andinf utureages,becomemydisciples.Thereupon,m utureages,becomemy disciples.Thereupon,maytheUncreatedLightof aytheUncreatedLightofpure,or pure,or iginalMind,ariseintheconsciousnessofyou iginalMind,arisein theconsciousnessofyoubeings;andavoidingthe beings;andavoidingtheerroneou erroneou sbeliefinan'ego',mayyourconsciousnessb sbeliefinan'ego', mayyourconsciousnessbecomethoroughlysaturate ecomethoroughlysaturatedwithth dwithth egentlemoistureofLoveandCompassion." Chödisanadvancedpractice "Asinallyoga,sointhis,"rightlysaidEvans-Wentz,theBritishgen "Asinallyoga,sointhis,"rightlysaidEva ns-Wentz,theBritishgentlemanwh tlemanwh owasthefirsttopublishaChödtextintoth owasthefirsttopub lishaChödtextintotheEnglishlanguage,"the eEnglishlanguage,"theyogiseeks yogiseeks tooutstripthenormal,and,tohim,over-slow tooutstripthenormal ,and,tohim,over-slowandtediousprocessofs andtediousprocessofspiritual piritual unfoldment;and,karmapermitting,winFreedom unfoldment;and,karma permitting,winFreedom,asTibet'sgreatyogiM ,asTibet'sgreatyogiMilarepad ilarepad id,inonelifetime."

Longprobationaryperiodsofcarefulpreparationandtrainingunderat Longprobationaryperiodsofcarefulpreparati onandtrainingunderateacherof eacherof Chödarerequiredbeforethenoviceisready Chödarerequiredbef orethenoviceisreadytogoforthonhisown,t togoforthonhisown,toperformt operformt hispsychicallydemandingpractice.AsVenBar hispsychicallydemand ingpractice.AsVenBardokChusangRimpochepoin dokChusangRimpochepointsout,C tsout,C hödisnotforbeginnersontheSpiritualPath hödisnotforbeginne rsontheSpiritualPath.Comparingtheyoginstr .Comparingtheyoginstrainingtow ainingtow esternschoolinganduniversity,Rimpocheemph esternschoolingandu niversity,RimpocheemphasizedthatChödisequiv asizedthatChödisequivalenttopo alenttopo st-graduatework.Doneproperly,itisapower st-graduatework.Done properly,itisapowerfulmeansofcuttingdelu fulmeansofcuttingdelusionsroo sionsroo t,butitisalsoadangerousexercise. ParamounttopracticingChödtheseekermustlearntodevelopempathic ParamounttopracticingChödtheseekermustl earntodevelopempathicaltruism.T altruism.T heonlythingthatcandissolvetheemotional heonlythingthatcan dissolvetheemotionaldistancebetweentheChöd distancebetweentheChöd-practition -practition erandcommunionwithotherbeingsisaltruist erandcommunionwith otherbeingsisaltruisticlove.Onereallydoes iclove.Onereallydoeshavetol havetol earntoloveeveryoneandeverything.Itisex earntoloveeveryone andeverything.Itisexactlyforthisreasontha actlyforthisreasonthatChöd-prac tChöd-prac ticeisnottaughttoanyonewhohasnotfirst ticeisnottaughtto anyonewhohasnotfirstundergonethepreliminar undergonethepreliminaries(Skt: ies(Skt: purvaka,Tib:ngön-dro).Thismustbeespecia purvaka,Tib:ngön-dr o).ThismustbeespeciallyemphasizedfortheWe llyemphasizedfortheWesterner. sterner. AsmostcorrectlypointedoutbytheeccentricRussianwoman-mystic,Ye Asmostcorrectlypointedoutbytheeccentric Russianwoman-mystic,YelenaPetr lenaPetr ovnaBlavatskaya,inthelastcentury: "Allwestern,andespeciallyEnglisheducationisinstinctwiththepri "Allwestern,andespeciallyEnglisheducation isinstinctwiththeprincipleof ncipleof emulationandcompetition;eachboyisurged emulationandcompeti tion;eachboyisurgedtolearnmorequickly,to tolearnmorequickly,tooutstrip outstrip hiscompanions,andtosurpasstheminevery hiscompanions,andt osurpassthemineverypossibleway.Whatismis possibleway.Whatismistakenlyc takenlyc alled"friendlyrivalry"isassiduouslycultiv alled"friendlyrivalr y"isassiduouslycultivated,andthesamespirit ated,andthesamespiritisfoste isfoste redandstrengthenedineverydetailoflife. redandstrengthenedi neverydetailoflife.Withsuchideas'educated Withsuchideas'educatedintohim intohim 'fromhischildhood,howcanaWesternerbrin 'fromhischildhood, howcanaWesternerbringhimselftofeeltowards ghimselftofeeltowardshisco-s hisco-s tudents'asthefingersofonehand'?Hewhow tudents'asthefinger sofonehand'?Hewhowouldbeastudent[ofTib ouldbeastudent[ofTibetanoccu etanoccu ltism]mustfirstbestrongenoughtokillout ltism]mustfirstbes trongenoughtokilloutinhisheartallfeeling inhisheartallfeelingsofdisl sofdisl ikeandantipathytoothers.HowmanyWesterne ikeandantipathytoo thers.HowmanyWesternersarereadyeventoatte rsarereadyeventoattemptthis mptthis inearnest? "IntheEastthespiritof'non-separateness'isinculcated[inthemon "IntheEastthespiritof'non-separateness' isinculcated[inthemonasteries] asteries] assteadilyfromchildhoodup,asintheWest assteadilyfromchil dhoodup,asintheWestthespiritofrivalry.P thespiritofrivalry.Personala ersonala mbition,personalfeelingsanddesires,areno mbition,personalfeel ingsanddesires,arenotencouragedtogrowsor tencouragedtogrowsorampantth ampantth ere.Whenthesoilisnaturallygood,itiscu ere.Whenthesoilis naturallygood,itiscultivatedintherightway ltivatedintherightway,andthe ,andthe childgrowsintoamaninwhomthehabitofs childgrowsintoama ninwhomthehabitofsubordinationofone'slow ubordinationofone'slowertoone ertoone 'shigherselfisstrongandpowerful.Inthe 'shigherselfisstro ngandpowerful.IntheWestmenthinkthattheir Westmenthinkthattheirownlike ownlike sanddislikesofothermenandthingsaregui sanddislikesofothe rmenandthingsareguidingprinciplesforthem dingprinciplesforthemtoactup toactup on,evenwhentheydonotmakeofthemthelaw on,evenwhentheydo notmakeofthemthelawoftheirlivesandseek oftheirlivesandseektoimpose toimpose themuponothers."2 ToaccomplishChöd-practiceitisaprerequisitethatonedevelopanun ToaccomplishChöd-practiceitisaprerequisi tethatonedevelopanunconditional conditional loveforall.Suchalovecannotbelimitedo loveforall.Sucha lovecannotbelimitedonlytothosewelike,or nlytothosewelike,orapproveo approveo f.Unconditionallovemeansespeciallyalove f.Unconditionallove meansespeciallyalovefullofcompassionforth fullofcompassionforthosewhow osewhow eleastwouldwanttobeintimatewith.Forif eleastwouldwantto beintimatewith.Forifwearegoingtohealoth wearegoingtohealothersatal ersatal l,weshallhavetobeintimatewiththem.We l,weshallhavetobe intimatewiththem.Wewillhavetosharetheir willhavetosharetheirpain,as pain,as alsobeabletoempathicallysootheandallevi alsobeabletoempath icallysootheandalleviatetheirconfusion,thei atetheirconfusion,theirsufferi rsufferi ng,andtheiractivenegativity. ChusangRimpochemadesomethingofajokeofthis."ThenoviceChödpa," ChusangRimpochemadesomethingofajokeoft his."ThenoviceChödpa,"hesaid," hesaid," issoeagertoofferhisveryownbody,tonou issoeagertoofferh isveryownbody,tonourishandhelpthepoormi rishandhelpthepoormisguidede sguidede vilspirits.Butcomesalongjustonemosquito vilspirits.Butcomes alongjustonemosquito,andthenwhereishisl ,andthenwhereishisloveandc oveandc ompassionforallsentientbeings?" ThepractitionerhastobetrainedinMaitri-meditation.Thelatteris ThepractitionerhastobetrainedinMaitri-m editation.Thelatterismeditatio meditatio nonLove,whereallthewallsprotectingthe nonLove,whereallt hewallsprotectingtheheartfromfeelingtotal, heartfromfeelingtotal,uncondit uncondit ionalaltruismaresystematicallytorndown.T ionalaltruismaresys tematicallytorndown.Theremustbenoemotional heremustbenoemotionaldistanci distanci ngbetweenthepractitionerandthebeingwho ngbetweenthepractit ionerandthebeingwhoistheobjectofhiscomp istheobjectofhiscompassion,w assion,w henhetakesupthedangerous,shamanicpracti henhetakesuptheda ngerous,shamanicpracticeofChöd.Ifthisempat ceofChöd.Ifthisempathicloveha hicloveha snotbeenthoroughlydevelopedasabasis,th snotbeenthoroughly developedasabasis,thenoviceatthepractice enoviceatthepracticeisliable isliable tobeovercomeandpossessedbytheverypowe tobeovercomeandpo ssessedbytheverypowerswhichhehopestowork rswhichhehopestoworkwith. with.

SomeChöd-practicehasalreadybeenintroducedintotheWest.Consequen SomeChöd-practicehasalreadybeenintroduced intotheWest.Consequentlywenow tlywenow havesomegenuine"Chöd-pa"practicinginvari havesomegenuine"Chö d-pa"practicinginvariousplaceshereinAmeric ousplaceshereinAmericaandlikew aandlikew iseinCanada.However,somethinghastobesa iseinCanada.However ,somethinghastobesaidaboutsomeoftheprac idaboutsomeofthepracticewhic ticewhic hhasbeenintroduced,butwhichisnotverya hhasbeenintroduced, butwhichisnotveryauthentic.Inanumberof uthentic.Inanumberofcaseswhe caseswhe reChödisbeingtaught,theprofoundnatureo reChödisbeingtaugh t,theprofoundnatureoftheexerciseismissing ftheexerciseismissing.Sadly,wh .Sadly,wh enthatisthecase,theperformanceisnomor enthatisthecase,t heperformanceisnomorethan"playacting,"and ethan"playacting,"andwhatwas whatwas forthegenuinepractitionerintheHimalayas forthegenuinepract itionerintheHimalayasaveryreal"outofbody averyreal"outofbody"experie "experie nce,andawayofdirectlydealingwiththesp nce,andawayofdire ctlydealingwiththespirit-world,inAmericath irit-world,inAmericathishasbe ishasbe comenomorethananimaginaryjourney. Students,takingupthepracticewithoutrealtraining,arelefttomer Students,takingupthepracticewithoutreal training,arelefttomerelyvisua elyvisua lizethemselvesgoingthroughtheperformance. lizethemselvesgoing throughtheperformance.Itisallpretend.One" Itisallpretend.One"pretends" pretends" tobecometheblackwrathfulDakini(krodhak tobecometheblackw rathfulDakini(krodhakali-ma);one"pretends"t ali-ma);one"pretends"toleapou oleapou tthroughthefontanelintotheopenspaceof tthroughthefontanel intotheopenspaceofthespirit-world.Butthe thespirit-world.Buttheactuale actuale xperienceismissing.Andthatisinpartbeca xperienceismissing. AndthatisinpartbecausetheseWesternstudent usetheseWesternstudentsarenot sarenot beingcorrectlyinformedaboutwhatthepract beingcorrectlyinfor medaboutwhatthepracticeisreallyallabout. iceisreallyallabout. TheadvantageofthosewhopracticeChödwithoutthoroughlyunderstandi TheadvantageofthosewhopracticeChödwitho utthoroughlyunderstandingit,ist ngit,ist hatbyonlyplayactingtherole,theyavoidt hatbyonlyplayactin gtherole,theyavoidthedangerofrealcontact hedangerofrealcontactwiththe withthe spiritworld.TheWesternstudentthereforem spiritworld.TheWes ternstudentthereforemayapproachChödasamil ayapproachChödasamildformof" dformof" self-help"system,withtheaimofpromotinga self-help"system,wit htheaimofpromotingafeelingofcompassionfo feelingofcompassionforothers. rothers. Inthatsenseitcannotbutprovetobeofso Inthatsenseitcann otbutprovetobeofsomebenefitforthoseprac mebenefitforthosepracticingit ticingit . Needlesstosay,JeromeEdon(see:MachigLabdrönandTheFoundationso Needlesstosay,JeromeEdon(see:MachigLabd rönandTheFoundationsofChöd,Snow fChöd,Snow Lion,NY1996)isutterlymistakenwhenhemak Lion,NY1996)isutte rlymistakenwhenhemakestheclaim"thatinthe estheclaim"thatintheChödtradi Chödtradi tionthereisnotraceofeithertranceorecs tionthereisnotrace ofeithertranceorecstasy,norofwhatinsham tasy,norofwhatinshamanistict anistict erminologyisreferredtoasaninitiatoryjourney." Frequently,onceasystemofspiritualpracticeis"popularized"inthe Frequently,onceasystemofspiritualpractic eis"popularized"intheWest,it West,it spowerbecomeswatereddown.Thishashappene spowerbecomeswatere ddown.ThishashappenedtoHatha-yoga,theform dtoHatha-yoga,theformofyoga ofyoga devisedbyMahasiddhaGorakhnathwhichusesph devisedbyMahasiddha Gorakhnathwhichusesphysicalposturesandmovem ysicalposturesandmovementsoft entsoft hebodytotriggertheKundalini(Tib:gTu-mo) hebodytotriggerthe Kundalini(Tib:gTu-mo)experience.Withthecor experience.Withthecorrectphys rectphys icalpostures(asanas),Gorakhnath'syogawas icalpostures(asanas) ,Gorakhnath'syogawasadangerousexercisetaug adangerousexercisetaughtonlyt htonlyt oadvancedinitiate'sofhisNathSiddhaSchoo oadvancedinitiate's ofhisNathSiddhaSchool.However,havingbeenb l.However,havingbeenbroughtto roughtto theWest,andthenre-introducedbackintoIn theWest,andthenre -introducedbackintoIndia,asasystemofphysi dia,asasystemofphysicalexerc calexerc isesforthepurposeofinducinghealth,thew isesforthepurposeo finducinghealth,thewholesystemhasbeensoc holesystemhasbeensochangedas hangedas tobecomequiteineffectiveasatoolforKun tobecomequiteineff ectiveasatoolforKundalini.Thus,itisfairl dalini.Thus,itisfairly"safe"3 y"safe"3 . ThestudentofChödmustreceivepropertransmissionandpermissionto ThestudentofChödmustreceivepropertransm issionandpermissiontopracticeChöd practiceChöd .Thistransmissionisaspiritualblessingth .Thistransmissionis aspiritualblessingthatispasseddowninanu atispasseddowninanunbrokenl nbrokenl ineagethroughalineofwisdom-masters,anda ineagethroughaline ofwisdom-masters,andassuchprotectsthestude ssuchprotectsthestudentonthi ntonthi smostadvanced,criticalpathofendeavor4. Furthermore,thediscipleneedstolearntheproperintonationofthem Furthermore,thediscipleneedstolearnthep roperintonationofthemysticman ysticman tras;themannerforbeatingthedrum,thesou tras;themannerforb eatingthedrum,thesoundingofthespirit-evoki ndingofthespirit-evokinghornm nghornm adeofhumanthighbone,andtherhythmofthe adeofhumanthighbone ,andtherhythmofthebell.EachChödtransmiss bell.EachChödtransmissionhasac ionhasac ertainspecific"liturgy"ofitsown,andthis ertainspecific"litur gy"ofitsown,andthishastobecarefullyadhe hastobecarefullyadheredto. redto. WithgenuineChöd,thewholepracticemustbecommittedtomemory.The WithgenuineChöd,thewholepracticemustbe committedtomemory.Thestepsofth stepsofth edanceinrelationtothevariousgeometrical edanceinrelationto thevariousgeometricalarenashavetobemaster arenashavetobemastered.Andt ed.Andt hespirits,boththosethataresafeaswella hespirits,boththose thataresafeaswellasthosethataredistinct sthosethataredistinctlyevil, lyevil, needtobetrulyevoked.Toaccomplishthelat needtobetrulyevoke d.Toaccomplishthelatter,itissaidthatiti ter,itissaidthatitisbestto sbestto performtheexerciseinaplacewellknownto performtheexercise inaplacewellknowntobehaunted,suchasace behaunted,suchasacemetery.S metery.S o,afteralltheactsoftheperformancehasb o,afteralltheacts oftheperformancehasbeenthoroughlymastered, eenthoroughlymastered,theLama theLama sendsthestudentout,togotoahauntedspot sendsthestudentout, togotoahauntedspotalone.Itisthenthats alone.Itisthenthatsheorhe, heorhe, inthedarkofthenight,hastoconfrontnot inthedarkoftheni ght,hastoconfrontnotonlyallthesupernatura onlyallthesupernaturalfearsc lfearsc reatedbysuchaplace,butalsoactualspirits.

GivingupoftheSelf ThepracticeofChödmeansthattheyoginioryogimeditatesinsucha ThepracticeofChödmeansthattheyoginior yogimeditatesinsuchawayastob wayastob ecome,stagebyeverdeepeningstage,absorbed ecome,stagebyeverd eepeningstage,absorbedintothewholeprocesso intothewholeprocessofsurrend fsurrend eringandofferingone'sbodyandself.Thiss eringandofferingone 'sbodyandself.Thisselflessofferingonlyrea elflessofferingonlyreallyoccur llyoccur swhenthepractitionerisfinallyabsorbedin swhenthepractitione risfinallyabsorbedintotrance(samadhi)throu totrance(samadhi)throughtheus ghtheus eoftheritual,aidedinparticularbythest eoftheritual,aided inparticularbythesteadybeatofthedrumand eadybeatofthedrumandbell.Th bell.Th eadeptofChöd,utteringasecretmantra,the eadeptofChöd,utter ingasecretmantra,thenleaveshisbody,mounti nleaveshisbody,mountingthesky ngthesky intheaspectoftheSecretGnosticDakini,an intheaspectoftheS ecretGnosticDakini,andthere,inthemind-made dthere,inthemind-made-body(ma -body(ma nomayadeha)oftheDakini,Whoisblackasnig nomayadeha)oftheDak ini,Whoisblackasnightitself,sheseversthe htitself,sheseversthemetaphys metaphys icalmind-bodycomplexsoastoofferittoth icalmind-bodycomplex soastoofferittothecommuningspirits(lhaecommuningspirits(lha-dre),goo dre),goo dandbad.Whatisreallygiventothespirits dandbad.Whatisrea llygiventothespiritstofeaston,istheener tofeaston,istheenergyusedt gyusedt obindtheEgointhemind-bodyform.Indevou obindtheEgointhe mind-bodyform.Indevouringthis,theybecomeli ringthis,theybecomeliberated, berated, asdoestheSiddhaherself. The"offeringupofone'sbody"inthisfashionisdonenotinthiswor The"offeringupofone'sbody"inthisfashio nisdonenotinthisworld,buti ld,buti nthespiritdimensionofvirtualspace.Ifdo nthespiritdimension ofvirtualspace.Ifdoneproperly,itcaneffec neproperly,itcaneffecthealing thealing ,andmanyaChödpahasbeencalledintoarre ,andmanyaChödpaha sbeencalledintoarrestthecourseofaplague stthecourseofaplagueorepidemi orepidemi c.Chödpashavealsobeenrequestedtomaketh c.Chödpashavealsob eenrequestedtomaketheiroffering-of-selfonb eiroffering-of-selfonbehalfofth ehalfofth edead.Thus,inTibet,wefrequentlyseeChöd edead.Thus,inTibet ,wefrequentlyseeChödpaspresentontheoccasi paspresentontheoccasionofafun onofafun eral. However,itmustbekeptinmindthattheultimatepurposeofChödisn However,itmustbekeptinmindthattheulti matepurposeofChödisnotonlyan otonlyan actaimedathelpingothers,butmuchmoreimp actaimedathelpingo thers,butmuchmoreimportantly,itisfortheg ortantly,itisforthegeneration eneration ofEnlightenment.TheEnlightened-mindis,ho ofEnlightenment.The Enlightened-mindis,however,amindofutterly wever,amindofutterlyselfless selfless love.Sointhatsense,thetwoaimsgohandi love.Sointhatsense ,thetwoaimsgohandinhand.Realloveandcom nhand.Realloveandcompassionc passionc annotbeartificial;ithastobeabsolutelyr annotbeartificial;i thastobeabsolutelyreal.TheChödpatherefore eal.TheChödpathereforeapplieswi applieswi sdomasaremedyto"cutthrough"ignorance,w sdomasaremedyto"c utthrough"ignorance,whichishisownerroneous hichishisownerroneousnotiono notiono fego. TherealdemonsthatareslainbyChöd Whatcommonfolkthinkofasademonissomethingvery,verybig,andc Whatcommonfolkthinkofasademonissometh ingvery,verybig,andcoloredde oloredde epblack.Whoeverseesoneoftheseistruly epblack.Whoeversee soneoftheseistrulyterrifiedandtremblesfr terrifiedandtremblesfromheadt omheadt ofoot,"saidMachigLabdrön."Nevertheless,n ofoot,"saidMachigL abdrön."Nevertheless,nosuchdemonsreallyexis osuchdemonsreallyexistapartfro tapartfro mthemind!" Thetruthofthematteristhis:Anythingwhatsoeverthatobstructsor Thetruthofthematteristhis:Anythingwhat soeverthatobstructsorlimitsth limitsth eattainmentofLiberationisademon.Evenou eattainmentofLibera tionisademon.Evenourlovingandaffectionate rlovingandaffectionaterelative relative scanbecome"demons"forus,iftheyareobst scanbecome"demons" forus,iftheyareobstructingourspiritualevo ructingourspiritualevolution.T lution.T husthegreatestofall"demons"isactuallyt husthegreatestofal l"demons"isactuallytheDemonofEgo,whichis heDemonofEgo,whichisyourown yourown senseofapermanent,independentself,separ senseofapermanent, independentself,separatefromallothers.Ify atefromallothers.Ifyoudonot oudonot slaythisclingingtoaself,thengoodandb slaythisclingingto aself,thengoodandbadspirits(lha-dre)will adspirits(lha-dre)willjustkee justkee pliftingyouupandlettingyoudown. MachigLabdrondefinedfourtypesofpsychological"demons"thatmustb MachigLabdrondefinedfourtypesofpsycholog ical"demons"thatmustbeexorcis eexorcis edbythepractitionerofChöd. ThefirstiswhatshecalledtheTangibleDemon(thogsbcasbdud),whic ThefirstiswhatshecalledtheTangibleDemo n(thogsbcasbdud),whichisthe histhe errorofmistakenlygraspingattheobjectsof errorofmistakenlygr aspingattheobjectsofsense-perceptionasift sense-perceptionasiftheworld heworld wereanobjectiverealityseparatefromconsci wereanobjectivereal ityseparatefromconsciousness.Wehavetocome ousness.Wehavetocometoexperi toexperi encethefactthatall"outer"appearancetake encethefactthatall "outer"appearancetakesplacewithinMind.Asl splacewithinMind.Aslongasth ongasth eneophytehasnotrealizedtheholographican eneophytehasnotrea lizedtheholographicandentirelysubjectivenat dentirelysubjectivenatureofex ureofex istence,andcontinuestoviewphenomenaasso istence,andcontinues toviewphenomenaassomethingotherthanMindi methingotherthanMinditself,th tself,th enrealityisa"tangibledemon"whichmustbecutthrough. Thesecondofher"fourdemons"iscalledtheIntangibleDemon(thogsm Thesecondofher"fourdemons"iscalledthe IntangibleDemon(thogsmedbdud). edbdud). Thisisnotexternal,butrather,standsfor Thisisnotexternal, butrather,standsforthepositiveandnegative thepositiveandnegativethoughts thoughts ,feelingsandimpulses,whicharewithinours ,feelingsandimpulse s,whicharewithinourselves.Thesereactionsan elves.Thesereactionsandemotion demotion

s,suchaspain,fear,jealousy,greed,dislikeofothers,andsoforth s,suchaspain,fear,jealousy,greed,dislik eofothers,andsoforth,arean ,arean IntangibleDemonthathastobeslain.Theade IntangibleDemonthat hastobeslain.Theadeptwhoaccomplishesoverc ptwhoaccomplishesovercomingthi omingthi sinnerdemonisdescribedasfearless. ThethirdistheDemonofManic-Inflation(dga'brodbdud)orof"Exult ThethirdistheDemonofManic-Inflation(dga 'brodbdud)orof"Exultation",w ation",w hichcanbebornfromacquiringoccultpowers hichcanbebornfrom acquiringoccultpowersorspecialblissesinthe orspecialblissesinthemeditati meditati onexperience.Manic-Inflationisasenseofp onexperience.Manic-I nflationisasenseofpower,aheightenedsense ower,aheightenedsenseofspirit ofspirit ualworthorsupernaturalability.Itisthep ualworthorsupernatu ralability.Itisthepresumptionofspirituals resumptionofspiritualsuperiorit uperiorit y5.Inmeditationitiscommontobethrilled y5.Inmeditationiti scommontobethrilledbytheenergyandfeeling bytheenergyandfeelingofmagni ofmagni fiedglory,bythedivinegracefloodingthrou fiedglory,bythediv inegracefloodingthroughallthecellsofone's ghallthecellsofone'sbeing.T being.T hereisnothingwrongwithsuchbliss,butthe hereisnothingwrong withsuchbliss,buttheadepthastobecomeunat adepthastobecomeunattachedto tachedto theexperience. ThefourthdemondescribedbyMachigLabdrönistheDemonofPride(sny ThefourthdemondescribedbyMachigLabdröni stheDemonofPride(snyembyedkyi embyedkyi bdud),theDemonofEgoitself.Thislatter, bdud),theDemonofE goitself.Thislatter,shesaid,istherootof shesaid,istherootofalltheo alltheo therthree,forultimatelytheDemonwhichmus therthree,forultima telytheDemonwhichmustbekilledisourownse tbekilledisourownself.Asso lf.Asso onasonecutsofftheDemonofEgo,allother onasonecutsoffthe DemonofEgo,allotherdemonsaresimultaneousl demonsaresimultaneouslyconquer yconquer ed.ImmediatelytheDemonofEgoisslain,the ed.ImmediatelytheDe monofEgoisslain,thepersonbecomesEnlighten personbecomesEnlightenedatonc edatonc e. "Usingobstacles[i.e.,demons]onthepathisthemeaningofChöd-prac "Usingobstacles[i.e.,demons]onthepathis themeaningofChöd-practice.Reali tice.Reali zingthateverythingismind,nottheslightes zingthateverythingi smind,nottheslightestobjecttocutthrough. tobjecttocutthrough.Whenthe Whenthe emptinessofminditselfisrealized,thenno emptinessofminditse lfisrealized,thennodualitybetween"cutter" dualitybetween"cutter"and"cut" and"cut" remains.Whenthisnondualityisrealized,th remains.Whenthisno ndualityisrealized,thenangelsanddemonsvani enangelsanddemonsvanishandon shandon eisleftlikeathiefinanemptyhouse,with eisleftlikeathief inanemptyhouse,withnothingtocut."(Jigme nothingtocut."(JigmeChokyiSe ChokyiSe nge) ThoughChödmayappearonthesurfacelikeashamanicrite,theYogaof ThoughChödmayappearonthesurfacelikeas hamanicrite,theYogaofChödfollows Chödfollows thesameprocessofmysticaldevelopmentasi thesameprocessofm ysticaldevelopmentasinothersystemsofBuddhi nothersystemsofBuddhism.Machi sm.Machi kLabdrönherselfexplainsthisasfollows: "Oncetheyoginihasrecognizedthenon-existenceofinnerandouterph "Oncetheyoginihasrecognizedthenon-existe nceofinnerandouterphenomena, enomena, afterthepsychicenergy(prana-vayu)hasente afterthepsychicener gy(prana-vayu)hasenteredandstartedtoriseu redandstartedtoriseupthecen pthecen tralnervoussystem(avadhuti),thenshewill tralnervoussystem(a vadhuti),thenshewillbegintoexperienceextra begintoexperienceextraordinary ordinary statesofecstasyand[eventually]theClearL statesofecstasyand [eventually]theClearLightitself.Knowledgeof ightitself.Knowledgeofthethre thethre etimes,andclairvoyantperceptionofevents etimes,andclairvoya ntperceptionofeventsnearandfar,willbegin nearandfar,willbegintoemerge toemerge .HavingattainedtheuncreateClearLight,th .Havingattainedthe uncreateClearLight,thentheyoginiwillacquir entheyoginiwillacquireanabil eanabil ityofmindtoaidvastnumbersofsentientbe ityofmindtoaidvas tnumbersofsentientbeingseverywhere...Thein ingseverywhere...Theinstruction struction lineagethatexplainshowtoaccomplishthis lineagethatexplains howtoaccomplishthisisthatcalledtheChödo isthatcalledtheChödofMahamudra fMahamudra ."6 Tocuttheegooffattheroot,whereitisrootedintheunconsciousne Tocuttheegooffattheroot,whereitisro otedintheunconsciousness,andl ss,andl ikewisetocutoffthefiverootafflictions ikewisetocutoffthefiverootafflictions greed,hatred,confusion,prideanda varice variceistherealmeaningof istherealmeaningofChöd.Fortheyoginithi Chöd.Fortheyoginithismeansalsotocutthrou smeansalsotocutthroughho ghho peandfear,allofwhichpossessesandcontro peandfear,allofwh ichpossessesandcontrolsordinaryindividualsj lsordinaryindividualsjustlike ustlike goodorevilspirits.Tobefreeofthat,ist goodorevilspirits. Tobefreeofthat,istobeLiberated.Thisist obeLiberated.Thisistheultima heultima tevalueofChöd. Conclusion ThesystemofChödwhichcomesdowntousfromtheVenerableBardokChu ThesystemofChödwhichcomesdowntousfrom theVenerableBardokChusangRimpoc sangRimpoc heandfromKhanchenPaldenSherabRimpocheto heandfromKhanchenP aldenSherabRimpochetotheDharmaFellowshipis theDharmaFellowshipisthetran thetran smissionofYesheTsogyalrevealedbyJigmeLi smissionofYesheTsog yalrevealedbyJigmeLingpa,knownasthe"Far-r ngpa,knownasthe"Far-reachingL eachingL aughteroftheDakini". (mKha'-'groiGad-rGyangs),aprofoundChöd-practicefromtheLongchenN (mKha'-'groiGad-rGyangs),aprofoundChöd-pra cticefromtheLongchenNyingt'igtr yingt'igtr adition.Thankstothebrillianttranslationw adition.Thankstothe brillianttranslationworkandmusicalabilityo orkandmusicalabilityofDavidM fDavidM olkandhiswife,whoresideinBigSur,wear olkandhiswife,who resideinBigSur,weareabletolearntosingt eabletolearntosingthisChöd-pr hisChöd-pr acticeinEnglish,whileretainingtheancient acticeinEnglish,whi leretainingtheancientTibetanshamanicmelody. Tibetanshamanicmelody.Sinceit Sinceit isanadvancedpractice,itmayonlybetaugh isanadvancedpracti ce,itmayonlybetaughttomembersoftheFello ttomembersoftheFellowshipwho wshipwho

aredeemedreadytoproperlytakeiton.Thisbeautifulanduplifting aredeemedreadytoproperlytakeiton.This beautifulandupliftingritualis ritualis aprofoundmeditationwithmanifoldtranscend aprofoundmeditation withmanifoldtranscendentalramifications,yiel entalramifications,yieldingtot dingtot hehighestofinsights.ThroughthisChöd-prac hehighestofinsights .ThroughthisChöd-practicemanyawesternperso ticemanyawesternpersoncannowr ncannowr apidlyprogressonthepathofEnlightenmenta apidlyprogressonthe pathofEnlightenmentandwinthroughtocomplet ndwinthroughtocompleteLiberat eLiberat ion. Footnotes 1WhenaskedwhetherhethoughtitafactthatPaDampaSanggyewasar 1Whenaskedwhetherhethoughtitafactthat PaDampaSanggyewasareincarnat eincarnat ionofBodhidharma,thefounderofZen,theVe ionofBodhidharma,th efounderofZen,theVenerableBardokChusangRi nerableBardokChusangRimpochesa mpochesa idthathethoughtitquitepossible,butulti idthathethoughtit quitepossible,butultimatelywhetherornothe matelywhetherornothewas,was was,was notoverlyimportant.VenerableBardokRimpoch notoverlyimportant. VenerableBardokRimpocheishimselfrecognizeda eishimselfrecognizedasthepre sthepre sentdayreincarnationofPaDampaSanggye. 2GorakhnathwasthefounderofHatha-yoga.Theheartofhissystemis 2GorakhnathwasthefounderofHatha-yoga.Th eheartofhissystemistobefou tobefou ndintheSixKhorloofNaropa,whichiskept ndintheSixKhorloo fNaropa,whichiskeptasecretteachinginthe asecretteachingintheKa'gyuSc Ka'gyuSc hool.Gorakhnath'sorginalasanasandmudrasa hool.Gorakhnath'sorg inalasanasandmudrasarestilltaughtamongsti restilltaughtamongstinitiates nitiates oftheNineNathtradition. 3TherearesomeinAmericawhoarepracticingChödoutsideofarecogn 3TherearesomeinAmericawhoarepracticing Chödoutsideofarecognizedlineo izedlineo ftransmission.Thisispsychicallydangerous. ftransmission.Thisi spsychicallydangerous.TopracticeChödsafely TopracticeChödsafelyandbenefic andbenefic ially,onemustbeintimatelyembracedbyasc ially,onemustbeint imatelyembracedbyaschoolor"brotherhood"of hoolor"brotherhood"ofothers,w others,w hoareallpartofone'sparticulartransmissi hoareallpartofone 'sparticulartransmission.Therearealsodiffer on.TherearealsodifferentChödli entChödli neages,andoneshouldpracticealwaysaccordi neages,andoneshould practicealwaysaccordingtotheoralinstructio ngtotheoralinstruction,encode n,encode dliturgy,andpracticeofone'sownlineage dliturgy,andpracticeofone'sownlineage notmixthelineagepractices notmixthelineagepractices otherwise thepracticemayresultindireconsequences, thepracticemayresu ltindireconsequences,orevenprovefatal. orevenprovefatal. 4H.P.Blavatsky,Raja-Yoga,orOccultism,TheosophyCompany(India)Ltd 4H.P.Blavatsky,Raja-Yoga,orOccultism,Theo sophyCompany(India)Ltd.,Bombay .,Bombay 1931). 5IsMachigLabdrönheretalkingaboutwhatmodernpsychiatrycallsthe 5IsMachigLabdrönheretalkingaboutwhatmo dernpsychiatrycallsthe"messianic "messianic complex"?. 6MachigLabdron,Phung-pogzanskyunrnambsh 6MachigLabdron,Phun g-pogzanskyunrnambshadgcodkyidongsalbyed adgcodkyidongsalbyed. . topofpage