A weekly practice and study group exploring the history, philosophy, ritual methodologies, and pragmatic applications of the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Chöd (gCod).
Each session includes a group practice of the Yuthok Nyingthig Lujin/Kusali Tsok, a concise and pithy text composed by Jamgön Kongtrul (1813-1899) based on the teachings of Machig Labdrön (ca. 1050-1149) and Yuthok Yönten Gönpo (ca. 1126-1202), in addition to lectures, readings, instructions, and group discussion.
These sessions are suitable both for seasoned Chöd practitioners and total beginners. While it is advisable that participants have attended formal Chöd teachings before, this is not mandatory. Rather than focusing on formal explanation, each session dives into a particular area or aspect of Chöd practice more generally, highlighting its key position at the intersection of Indian Buddhist philosophy, indigenous Tibetan animistic ontologies, and the more-than-human world.
We will discuss, among many other topics:
History of the Chöd tradition and its relevance to the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tibetan daemonology and ‘eco-daemonology’ - how nature spirits are approached and engaged with in Tibetan and Himalayan traditions.
The life and teachings of Machig Labdrön.
Approaches to healing and ecology in Chöd and Tibetan Medicine.
The value of relating to the body as nourishment for non-human beings in an ecological and animistic context.
Chöd in the West: how Chöd has been discussed in western scholarship and Buddhist movements.
How to use the Chöd ritual implements.
Exploration of common Chöd melodies and their ethnomusicological study.
Divergences between the Chöd approach and Tibetan Buddhist orthodoxy.
Weather-control and climatic negotiation in the Chöd tradition.
The historical confluence of Chöd and the Mahamudra traditions.
Dehadana: Chöd and the Jataka Tales.
Feeding Your Demons: psychological approaches to Chöd.
Critically exploring the supposedly ‘shamanic’ orientation of Chöd.
How to conduct a Chöd pilgrimage or retreat.
Cutting Through: Chöd beyond religion.
Registration
Please pre-register for sessions below. Registration is set at £10 per session, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. If you need (or want), you can use the code LUJIN to receive 100% off your booking. If you’d like to make an alternate offering, you can do so at https://www.shrimala.com/donation.