The Essence of Chod Practice

Pema Dragpa January 3, 2020

Now, my body, possessions, and the source of my virtue, all together

I give without clinging to all beings who have been my parents.

May I accomplish great benefits, unobstructedly, for all beings.

“Three gifts are mentioned here: (1) my body, (2) my wealth, and (3) my virtues. These three cover everything that the “I” or ego holds dear. There’s nothing else. In this prayer it says, “da ni lu dang long cho ge tsa che.” That’s pointing out what we hold on to. We grasp on to our body, we grasp on to our belongings and wealth, and we grasp on to our merit or good deeds. The term getsa also means our reputation as someone good or renowned. These are the points in samsara where we’re grasping, attached, and stuck. So in this prayer, we’re giving it all away—everything that we could hold on to. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche says that this is the essence of Chod practice.”

Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches

Cutting Through Ego and Revealing Fearlessness (pg 180)

www.padmasambhava.org/chiso/books-by-khenpo-rinpoches/cutting-through-ego-and-revealing-fearlessness-chod-practice-according-to-jigme-lingpas-bellowing-laugh-of-the-dakini

Photo of Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches at Padma Samye Ling in 2008, by Derek Sarno.