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Sakya Spiritual Practice of Chod

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Sakya Spiritual Practice of Chod The Singapore Buddha Sasana Society (Sakya Tenphel Ling) 新加坡佛学研究会（释迦寺） Vajrayogini CHOD Introduction: Chod in Tibetan means’ to cut through’ or ‘to sever’. The spiritual practice of Chod is to cut through self grasping (ego) which is our enemy. When we mention Chod we inadvertently relate it to the Nyingma or Kagyud school of practice. Though the Sakya did practice Chod with its own lineage but in present days we hardly find any Sakya practitioners among its monasteries. The account of Khorchak Rinpoche’s Revival of the Sakya Vajrayogini Chod The Venerable Khorchak Tulku Rinpoche comes from the very old Khorchak Monastery near Mount Kalash, Tibet, which existed before the time of Sakya. In its one thousand years of existence, Khorchak Monastery started as a Kadampa Monastery , and was famous due to the visit and involvement of the then Tibetan King Lha Lama Yeshewog. During the time of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382-1456) it changed to the Sakya Tradition and continues its function till this day. Khorchak Rinpoche, graduated from Sakya College, is one of the 4 lamas conferred by His Holiness as Khenpo (Teacher) of the College. Rinpoche went into Vajrayogini 5 Pasir Ris Drive 4, Singapore 519455 ● Tel: 6581 3902 ● Fax:6581 3903 ● www.sakyatenpelling.org Retreat in January 2015. During the Retreat, he read the Khachot Beu Bum (A Vajrayogini Naro karchod text). In it is a section dedicated to Vajrayogini Chod practice which has very nice and meaningful verses. Rinpoche thinks that this is very beneficial for practitioners and decides to revive practice. After given encouragement from his teacher, the Venerable Khenpo Sonam Gyatso, former abbot of Sakya College, Rinpoche begins to search for present practitioners of this Chod among the Sakya Monasteries, The first lama Rinpoche knows to have some ideas of this Chod practice is His Holiness old ex-secretary, Dungyig la, who now stays in Sakya Centre, India. Dungyig la did practice and chant the chod a long time ago. Now he is very old and unable to chant. He can only give an old cassette that taped the sound of the recitation of this Chod a long time ago. Rinpoche then contact the venerable Tsewang Tulku, the former Director of Sakya Centre who is now in perpetuate Vajrayogini Retreat. Tsewang Tulku is aware of this Chod text but at this present moment is not able to find anyone who could chant and practice it. As Rinpoche cannot find anyone able to chant and practice this Chöd text in India, he went to Nepal to further his search. He approached Wangdu la of Jamchen Lhakhang, the lifelong assistant to His Eminence the late Chogye Trinchen Rinpoche, who recommended one lama called Palden la from Upper Mustang, Tsarang Monastery who may had chanted this Chod text with Damaru before. (Note: Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382-1456) had visited Tsarang Monastery, and the throne that was dedicated to him during His Visit is still standing in the Monastery). Fortunately when Rinpoche contacted Palden la, he was in town. Paldenla stayed at a Monastery in a small village near Jomsom town in Lower Mustang. Palden la can chant the Vajrayogini Chod with the Damaru. He learned and practised it in the old Tsarang Monastery together with an assembly of monks at that time. With the passage of time and depletion of monks, this activity had long gone from the Monastery. Rinpoche asked whether he had taught to any monks there. Paldenla said that he did not as no one had asked him to teach. However he said that he had taught it to some nuns before. Rinpoche asked Paldenla whether he could teach him directly now, and thus subsequently received the entire Vajrayogini Chod teaching from him. Due to his retreat commitment, Rinpoche was unable to stay 5 Pasir Ris Drive 4, Singapore 519455 ● Tel: 6581 3902 ● Fax:6581 3903 ● www.sakyatenpelling.org back and master the entire Chod procedure, but he video recorded the whole chod ritual done by Palden la. Khorchak Rinpoche came back to India after the retreat, and check with his teacher, Khenpo Sonam Gyatsola about the Chod practice. Khenpo Gyatsola advised that it is good to teach the nuns chanting the texts with damarus and bells. As Rinpoche was given the task to lead the Sakya College for Nuns Entourage to Singapore for an official Visiting Program, he requested His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche for permission to perform the Vajrayogini Chod in STL Centre, which was approved. His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche holds the Narokarchod lineage of the Vajrayogini Chod and transmitted the loong to Khorchak Rinpoche. The Vajrayogini Chod Texts There are 2 Chod texts from the Karchod Beu Bum. - The first Chod text “ The Vital Heart Essence of Dakinis” was written by Phagpa Gelek Gyaltsen Pal Sangpo ( student of Lamdre Teacher Ngawang kunga Lekpi Dzungne ) - The second Chod text “ The Critical Point Cutting Razer” was written by Jampal Thinley Yongten (student of Tsarpa Lama Zimwog Tenzin Nyen Drag ) Rinpoche advise that it is beneficial that the Chod text can be practiced regularly as a group in the Centre. Conclusion Due to the enormous blessings Our Centre has received from all our foremost Sakya gurus in the past (including His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche), we are indeed fortunate to have this rare opportunity to receive the Vajrayogini Chod practice for the 1st time as a group in the Sakya fraternity; and we wish all those who has received and learned this practice will treasure it for a life time so as to bring forth all the benefits as a Vajrayogini practitioner. At the same time we look forward with the blessing from over Holy Guru, the revival of these Sakya Chod practice will spread forth throughout the Sakya fraternity in the near future. 5 Pasir Ris Drive 4, Singapore 519455 ● Tel: 6581 3902 ● Fax:6581 3903 ● www.sakyatenpelling.org On this auspicious beginning of the Sakya Vajrayogini Chod Practice, the entourage will offer the hand drum , kangling or bell to any sponsors from the participants in the Chod group only, for their continue practice of this Vajrayogini Chod. Please check with the lama in charge for more detail. We wish all participants enjoy and benefit from the Chod practice!! The 43 EXCO (Note: This information was written by HM Tai on the occasion of interview with Khorchak Rinpoche) SakyaTenphelLing.org Facebook.com/Sakyapa 5 Pasir Ris Drive 4, Singapore 519455 ● Tel: 6581 3902 ● Fax:6581 3903 ● www.sakyatenpelling.org.
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