Tradition: Zhije & Chod (Pacifying, Cutting, Severing)
Religious Traditions Main PageSubjects & Topics:
- Zhije & Chod Explanation (below)
- Padampa Sanggye
- Machig Labdron
- Chod Refuge Field
- Blue Annals: (Chod) Female Cutting (Mother)
- Blue Annals: (Chod) Male Cutting (Father)
- Surmang Cutting (Chod)
- Eight Chariots of Spiritual Accomplishment
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Video: Chod Refuge Field
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Jeff Watt [updated 12-2019]
Zhije & Chod:
"Also from India was the Saint Padampa Sangye, who taught the Zhije Lineage involving regulations for purification. Following him was the dakini Machig Labdron who started the Lineage of the holy Dharma of gCod, which cuts through demonic interferences."
(Excerpt from the Opening of the Dharma, A Brief Explanation of the Essence of the Limitless Vehicles of the Buddha. Written by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. Translated by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Gyatso, Malaysia, October 1984).
The Shije (zhi byed) and Cho (gchod) lineages weave in and out of almost all institutionally independent traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, although they themselves never became the established dominant tenet system of any monastery. The Shije lineage in Tibet originated with the Indian master Padampa Sanggye (pha dam pa sangs rgyas, d. 1117), who is said to have visited Tibet five times. He had a number of disciples in the Tingri area of Tibet, to whom he taught his method of pacifying suffering. Padampa Sanggye also taught a method for cutting through demonic obstruction (bdud kyi gcod yul) to his relative Kyoton Sonam Lama (skyo ston bsod names bla ma), who transmitted it to Machig Labdron (ma gcig lab sgron, 1055-1143). Her lineage of Cho, which she passed down to her children, came to be known as 'mother Cho' in contrast to the lineage stemming from Padampa Sanggye, which is known as 'father Cho.' Additional Cho developed, including one stemming from treasure revelations ('treasure Cho'), the Gyaltang Cho, stemming from Machig Labdron's disciple Gyaltang Samten Ozer (rgyal thang Bsam gtan 'od zer), and the Zurmang Cho, transmitted by Rangjung Shabla Ngawa (rang byung zhabs la mnga' ba).
Alexander Gardner, 2009
[Extracted from the Treasury of Lives, Tibetan lineages website. Edited and formatted for inclusion on the Himalayan Art Resources website. November 2009].
