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Traditionally practiced by Tibetan doctors and students, the ritual of Chöd (“Severance”) has been employed by yogis, healers, and weather-makers across the Himalayas for nearly a millennium. Accomplished adepts are famed in Tibet for their capacity to quell epidemic disease and appease troublesome local spirits.
Chöd has gained a widespread reputation in the Himalayas as a potent healing rite, and practitioners across the globe use the practice today for healing of the self and others, environmental healing, and profound inner development.
The allure of this esoteric ritual has captivated spiritual seekers and academics alike for centuries, yet its essence transcends its occult mystery, tapping into a profound understanding of the human mind. Its teachings on the nature of the “four demons” reveal the true nature of our hopes and fears, while the ritual framework offers an opportunity to accumulate positive karma, develop spiritual potency, cancel karmic debts, and facilitate healing.
On a most essential level however, the true power of Chöd lies in its power to cut through dualistic ego-fixation, the root of all negative emotions.
Teacher and practitioner Erik Jampa Andersson has been studying and practicing Chöd since he was a young teenager and draws from a wealth of both traditional study and personal experience in sharing this practice with others.
In this daylong workshop he will cover:
- The historical and philosophical foundations of the Chöd tradition, founded by the 11th century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön
- The role of Chöd in the Tibetan Buddhist path of spiritual development, and its variable uses as a healing rite, environmental offering, and exorcism
- The approach of feeding not fighting, the alienated shadow aspects of our psyche, in order to heal underlying deficiencies and inner conflict
- How to incorporate this ancient practice into our modern life and into our spiritual path
You will receive:
- Transmission and explanation of the Yuthok Nyingthik Chöd practice, allowing participants to begin their own practice
- Easy-to-follow guidance in the melody used for this practice, ensuring confidence in a approaching this sung liturgy
- Instrument instructions for the Chöd drum, bell, and thigh-bone trumpet, non-essential ritual components of the practice that can be incorporated whenever the student is ready
Please be aware that this is an in person workshop taking place physically at the College.
