Machig Labdron and the Practice of Chod

Rating:
Summary: Long on psychology, short on superstition
Review: Loved this book! This book emphasizes the psychological nature of chod practice, and works very hard to disentangle historical fact from mythical or mystical explication. The explanations of the lineage, and the historical context of different chod lineages was very, ahem, elightening. Good book.

Rating:
Summary: Long on psychology, short on superstition
Review: Loved this book! This book emphasizes the psychological nature of chod practice, and works very hard to disentangle historical fact from mythical or mystical explication. The explanations of the lineage, and the historical context of different chod lineages was very, ahem, elightening. Good book.

Rating:
Summary: Proper perspective on the Chöd of Mahamudra
Review: This is a great book on Chöd. It explains 3 levels of practice with the most famous, the offering of one's body to the demons, as the lowest level and Mahamudra approach as the highest. It provides the context for understanding (i.e. knowledge vs. mere information). It also describes the many varied sources used in this study. Lineages are described in both words and diagrams. It includes not only historical/biographical data but also the hagiographical/miraculous/mythical tradition. The latter is expertly explained via pithy, concise endnotes. Most importantly are the explanations of the relationships among Chöd, Mahamudra, and the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita Sutras of various lengths--see Conze's translations--including the Heart Sutra). Perhaps the most key concept is the definition of demon (there's an interesting analysis of 4 types provided by Machig). Some great illustrative quotes:

p. 67-9: quoting Machig: `The origin of all demons is in the mind itself. When awareness holds on and embraces any outer object, it is in the hold of a demon. Likewise, mind is stained when a [mental image] is wrongly taken to be a real object. In this way, all outer and inner objects grasped by mind as if they were real which thereby generate desire, aversion, or arrogance, should be viewed as demons because they prevent the realization of the clear light emptiness nature of mind, Mahamudra...Since mistaken grasping to reality comes from material objects, I have explained this as tangible demons...The intangible demons...are the positive or negative thoughts that arise in the mind...the intangible demons ...are the emotions such as suffering and so forth...they all derive from arrogance, the faulty grasping onto a self. They are the demons of mistaken attachment to reality.'

pp. 73-4: quoting Machig: `whatever miraculous displays of gods and demons appear, recognize them as the miraculous display of your own mind.'

p. 76: quoting Machig: `Attachment to any phenomenon whatsoever, from coarse form to omniscience, should be understood as the play of a demon.'

pp. 76-7: The main function of Chöd: to serve as a link between the highest metaphysical vision and the popular religion.

I'd also recomment Tsultrim Allione's cassette entitled: "Feeding the Demons: Relaxing Dualism." You can also read Lama Zopa's pamplet on Chöd for a description of the practice. For extensive descriptions with minute details of the lowest level practices see "Machik's Complete Explanation Explanation Clarifying the Meaning of Chöd" by Sarah Harding.