Chöd (གཅོད) is a profound tantric practice prevalent in Kagyud and Nyingma traditions of Buddhism was first propounded by the mahasiddha Pha Dhampa Sang-gyé and the Tibetan female mahasiddha Ma-ched Labdrön in the late 11th century.
Pha Dhampa Sang-gyé visited Tibet on several occasions in 12th century. The following image shows him as an Indian mahasiddha in the classical style. The unusual colour of his body is the combination of a dark skin dusted with cremation ash. The ash is also matted with his beard and hair. It is interesting to note that at this time Vajrayana was lived overtly rather than expressed symbolically. (Source: Drala Jong facebook page)
Unlike other liberal practices, it requires deepest concentration and focus. Therefore, high lamas do not recommend this practice to ordinary people like us. Acclaimed practitioners perform Chöd in demon infested and fearful places like cremation grounds, nam-drugsum and sa-drugsum. My late grandfather, Lam Gyeltshen, aka Gelong Karchung was a Chödpa (Chöd performer) and had served the Royal court in Bumthang as Sungkhob. He was a close dharma associate (choe-drog) of late Je Nyizer Trulku Thinley Lhundrup. Sadly, our family do have a photograph of him and he passed away before I was born.
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. (Chod – The Introduction & A Few Practices, 2006).
Some scary stories of Chöd performers and their encounters with demons:
A Chödpa was performing Chöd in a fearful place in Nahi gewog many decades ago. As he was performing the ritual, a giant holding an axe appeared right in front of him. He started cutting the tree standing right next to him. The Chödpa knew it was a trick of the demon around that area and paid him no heed. Ineffective, the demon then turned himself into a beautiful girl and displayed mouth watering food items in front of the Chödpa. One of the items was smoked yak's meat with red chilli eazy (pickle). Despite knowing that he was being tricked by the demon, he couldn't resist taking a piece of yak meat with eazy. After he was done performing the Chöd, he knew he ate a piece of his own flesh from the thigh. That way, the demon won him over.
Once a Chödpa was performing in a fearful cremation ground all alone. A non-believer and cold-blooded man came by and saw him perform the Chöd. The intruder purposely slashed the Chödpa's head off his body with his sword. Right away, the head fell on his lap. Unbelievably, the Chödpa lifted his head as if nothing had happened, put it back on and continued with the ritual. That man regretted immediately yet left the scene quickly filled with great repentance. A month had passed and still haunted by what he had done on to the Chödpa, he decided to see him and seek forgiveness. He met the Chödpa and started narrating the whole incident that had happened. Moment the Chödpa realized that his head was cut off for real and not by the 'dhuegi chom-thruel' or demon's trick on him, the Chödpa passed away on the spot.
(Photo: The perfumed skull. Stories narrated by my late father)
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