Chod, Chöd, gcod: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Chod means something in Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Chöd (often pronounced “Chö”) is a meditative practice found in both the Buddhist and Bön traditions of Tibet. Chöd, translated literally as “cutting through”, incorporates chanting, music, and visualization aimed as cutting through hindrances and obscurations that cloud ultimate wisdom and understanding of emptiness—the ultimate nature of reality. Closely linked with the teachings of the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras, or “Perfection of Wisdom Sutras”, Chöd enables the practitioner to cut through their anger, jealousy, arrogance, fear, and attachment as well as the dualism of seeing their self as a separate entity in order to transmute undesirable circumstances into opportunities for awakening.
Chöd (gcod, lit. “to sever”) is a spiritual practice found primarily in the Yundrung Bön tradition as well as in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Chöd means “cutting through the ego” and the associated practices are based on the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras, which expound the “emptiness” concept of Buddhist philosophy. According to Mahāyāna, emptiness is the ultimate wisdom of understanding that all things lack inherent existence. Chöd combines Prajñāpāramitā philosophy with specific meditation methods and Tantric ritual. The Chöd practitioner seeks to tap the power of fear through activities such as rituals set in graveyards, and visualisation of offering their bodies in a Tantric feast in order to put their understanding of emptiness to the ultimate test.
According to Jamgön Kongtrül, Chöd involves “accepting willingly what is undesirable, throwing oneself defiantly into unpleasant circumstances, realising that gods and demons are one’s own mind, and ruthlessly severing self-centered arrogance through an understanding of the sameness of self and others”. According to Machig Labdrön, the main goal of Chöd is “cutting through ego clinging”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Chöd (or Chö) is a very expedient Mahayana Buddhist practice primarily aimed at reducing and eliminating one’s sense of ego or attachment to oneself, using the tactics of fear and selfless giving. Chö, which literally means ‘cutting off’, uses the techniques of fear and practice of giving as a way to ‘cut off’ one’s attachment to self. [...] The Chod practice may involve the visualisation of the practitioner as a Buddha or deity depending on the Chod tradition. In Bhutan, the most well known Chod practices are those based on Dudjom Lingpa’s Trhoema, Jigme Lingpa’s Khandro Gyejang or Karmapa Rangjung Dorji’s Chodtshog Rinchen Trengwa. The sessions of Chod practices can be varied: some are short sessions while others can last for several ways. Some dedicated practitioners of Chod practice live in haunted solitudes for years practicing the conceptual giving.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
India history and geography
Chod is a Tai Turung term referring to “post”.—It appears in the study dealing with the vernacular architecture (local building construction) of Assam whose rich tradition is backed by the numerous communities and traditional cultures.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Nepali dictionary
Chod is another spelling for छोड [choḍa].—n. the act of leaving;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+15): Chodachada, Chodaigudi, Chodana, Chodapatra, Chodaunu, Coda, Cota-pottiluppu, Cotaca-kala-pracatam, Cotacacaivam, Cotacacamskaram, Cotacacuram, Cotacakalai, Cotacakam, Cotacakarmam, Cotacakarumam, Cotacakiriyai, Cotacam, Cotacapavanai, Cotacatanam, Cotacavatanam.
Full-text (+76): Cho, gcod sgrub thabs, gri gu, skyi gri, Chedasadhana, Ceta, Karttika, Paripantha, zhe gcod pa, gcod par mdzad pa, Coda, tsar gcod pa, bar du gcod par byed pa, srog gcod pa spangs pa, srog gcod pa spong ba, Sha sheng zhe, Heluya, gcod par byed pa, bar du gcod pa'i phung po, bar du gcod par byed pa'i chos.
Relevant text
Search found 33 books and stories containing Chod, Chöd, Gcod; (plurals include: Chods, Chöds, Gcods). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects (by Ayesha Fuentes)
“gCod” and its sources in the “bKa’ brgyud” traditions < [Chapter 3 - “rKang gling” in the iconography of “gcod”]
Thighbone trumpets (Kangling or “rkang gling”) andTantric practice < [Chapter 4 - Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects: A technical study]
At the Burning Ground: Death and Transcendence in Bengali Shaktism < [Volume 14, Issue 8 (2023)]
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu — The Master Who Revealed Dzogchen to the Western World < [Volume 4, Issue 2 (2013)]
The Distinctive Mindfulness of Dzogchen < [Volume 13, Issue 7 (2022)]
Tibet (Myth, Religion and History) (by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya)
3. Bon Teachings and the Texts < [Chapter 6 - Tonpa Shenrab Mibo and Bon Religion]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 5b - The Separate Lineage (brgyud pa thor bu ba) < [Book 12 - Peace-Making Lineages]
Chapter 1 - Female Cutting (mo gcod kyi skabs) < [Book 13 - Cutting and Kharakpa]
Introduction: The (system) of gcod yul and kha rag pa < [Book 13 - Cutting and Kharakpa]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
The Horse Book of the Prince of Jharkot < [Volume 17, Number 3-4 (1995)]
Part 2 - Biography of Meuton Gongdzad Ritrod Chenpo < [Bonpo Studies: The A Khrid system of Meditation (Part 1)]
Lay Religious Movements in 11th and 12th Century Tibet < [Volume 18, Number 3-4 (1996)]
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
Effect of Organic Loading on Rotating Biological Contactor Efficiency < [Volume 2, Issue 3 (2005)]
A Kinetic Model for Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production of Plant... < [Volume 19, Issue 11 (2022)]
Effect of Acid Whey Pretreatment Using Ultrasonic Disintegration on the... < [Volume 19, Issue 18 (2022)]