The Tibetan word “chöd” means “to cut off” or “to slay.” The traditional practice of Chöd cuts off self-cherishing and grasping at a truly existent “I.” It creates the conditions under which one can develop the mind of conventional bodhichitta, which holds others as more dear than oneself, and the mind of ultimate bodhichitta, which sees reality as it truly is. Attributed to the great Tibetan yogini Machig Labdron, and the only practice that made its way back to India from Tibet, it is an extremely effective and quick tantric method for attaining realizations of the path to enlightenment.

Sound has always been  an integral part of this practice. Chod is chanted to hauntingly beautiful melodies, accompanied at times by hand drum, bell and at one point of the practice, a human thighbone trumpet. 

An original recording of the complete Chod practice according to Pabongkha Rinpoche's text Dedicating the Illusory Body, chanted in Tibetan by nuns from Tsum Nunnery Nunnery in Nepal.

Play time: approx 65 minutes 

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