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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

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.

Source: WikiPedia: Tibetan Buddhism

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 book cover
context information

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.

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Bhutan Cultural Library: Chö, Severence

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 book cover
context information

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.

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India history and geography

Source: Shodhganga: Vernacular architecture of Assam with special reference to Brahmaputra Valley

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.

India history book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Chod is another spelling for छोड [choḍa].—n. the act of leaving;

context information

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.

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See also (Relevant definitions)

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