Chod (chould, chood).....

• (Tibetan) To cut, destroy; a secret Tibetan Buddhist high initiation rite
• The charnal ground practice in which the practitioners severs attachment to his or her corporeal form. The practice originated by Machig Labdron the great Tibetan yogini. See Machig Labdron.  www.aroter.org/history/mother6.htm

I came across this practice a few months ago via Tsultrim Allione's Cutting Through Fear and being a huge fan of Tibetan practices gave it a whirl, a whiz, a whack.  And I must say that I am finding the practice wildly beneficial. 

Allione relays the predictions that Chod practice would become incredibly potent and prescribed in the West as we face increased disconnect, addiction, obsession, hunger, delusion, disorientation, desire, attachment, anger.  Chod is a cutting practice... intense..... feeding the beast (both sides of the coin).  It is a befriending, caring, liberating practice, no bullshit.

I use the CDs.... I wanted a guide for the practice initially.  The material around the practice is also valuable, although I do believe she gets a bit lost in some of her stories (which is no biggie for me ). 

I'd love to hear from those of you who have experience with this practice, other practices/ teachers, etc. 

In great joy, travelling a winding and messy path..... a Dakini's Inferno ;-)
~ Stacy


Product Description:
Within the ancient teachings of Tibetan Buddhism lies a meditation tradition for facing—and dissolving—our greatest fears and attachments in life. Now one of contemporary Tibetan Buddhism's most experienced and respected teachers,Tsultrim Allione,adapts this practice to the challenges unique to our time,on Cutting through Fear. Based on the traditional Tibetan practice of chod (literally "to cut"),this method was developed by the legendary Tibetan yogini,Machig Lapdron,almost 1,000 years ago and is practiced to this day in Tibet to treat mental and physical illness and as a path to awareness. Drawing from root visualization practices,Tsultrim Allione shares a four-step process that can help you meet and release what the ancient Tibetans called "demons"—fears and other unhelpful emotions and obsessions. Today we all encounter the "demons" of addiction,compulsion,anger,and other difficult emotions,too often as a daily event. Now we have a rare and useful tool to stop struggling against them,and instead liberate them,with Cutting through Fear.

A charming friend shared this with me today.... a delicious "Inbox" surprise, a cosmic joke!

In joy,  ~ Stacy  xo

I'm in awe of good mothers– those heroines all around who sacrifice daily out of love for their children.  In our society, we give motherhood plenty of lip service.  We pat moms on the head, bring them flowers on Mother's Day, and honor them before crowds.  But at the end of the day, we don't extend them the same respect we would a professor, a dentist, an accountant, or a judge.  Women who choose full-time mothering are often put in a box by their friends and former colleagues– a container labeled Just A Mom.

I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is.  To create an environment that's stimulating and nurturing, to pass on a sense of responsibility to another human being, to raise a child who understands that he or she is created from good and is capable of anything– I know for sure that few callings are more honorable.  To play down mothering as small is to crack the very foundation on which greatness stands.

The world can only value mothering to the extent that women everywhere stand and declare that it must be so.  In our hands, we hold the power to transform the perception of motherhood.  Whether we decide to work full-time while raising children, stay home with our kids, or bear no children at all, we need to understand that any put-down of the decision to mother is a threat to women's choices everywhere.  We should no longer allow a mother to be defined as "just a mom."   It is on her back that great nations are built.  We should no longer allow any woman's voice to be drowned out or disregarded.  As we affirm other women, and as we teach our sons, daughters, husbands and friends to hold them in the highest regard, we honor both the mothers whose shoulders we've stood on and the daughters' who will one day stand tall on ours.

In May-- and every other month of the year-- I honor and thank every great spiritual teacher who goes by the name of Mother.  [Mom, Mama, Mommy, Mami, Madre, Mum]

written by Oprah May 2003

Super  wo M O M …
 
           Wonder   wo M O M …

                         Lovely   wo M O M …

True, my womanly expression is mostly channelled through motherhood, although this is transitioning as my daughters enter the school system and expand into a social network of their own. 

To all Mothers Past, Present and Future….

I bow at your feet in gratitude
I adorn your neck with a ring of perfumed delicate blossoms
I offer you an embrace full of love, invitation and appreciation
I kiss each blushed cheek with presence of your preciousness
And I rain cheers of sparkling praise and joy like confetti!

Dedicated today and all days to Moms, Mamas, Mothers, Mums, Mommys, Ammas, Madres, Mamis (however that is expressed through us and throughout the world ;-)

Forever a daughter of Joy,
~ Stacy

My Precious Lovelys,
Such Snuggle Bunnies

She isn't the best mom, and she's not the worst.  She *is* a great mom, and most importantly she is my Mom!  (and I share her with 7 siblings ;-)  Cheers to you Mama Joy... we traveled the road of Mommy, Mom, Mother to Mama Joy.  Forever grateful and in love with you....



always, Stacy