Machig Labdron & the Foundations of Chod [Paperback]

Jerome Edou (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

Chod refers to cutting through the ego and emotional entanglements.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...provides some wonderful material on the Chod lineage, Machig Labdron's biography, and the origins of Mahamudra Chod....With its publication, we come a little bit closer to feeling the spirit and incisive wisdom of this great yogini." --Tsultrim Allione, author of Women of Wisdom

Review

"[Jerome Edou] skillfully balances the historical and hagiographical, and deftly expounds her great teaching of the Mahamudra Chod....Consider reading this book as a spiritual investment."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications; 1st. ed edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559390395
• ISBN-13: 978-1559390392
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #596,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proper perspective on the Chöd of Mahamudra, December 30, 2004

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Machig Labdron & the Foundations of Chod (Paperback)

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.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long on psychology, short on superstition, August 19, 2000

By 

James A. Foster (Potlatch, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Machig Labdron & the Foundations of Chod (Paperback)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book on chad and Mahamudra, March 28, 2007

By 

Barbara (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Machig Labdron & the Foundations of Chod (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book, clearly written and well researched yet able to impart the mystery of Chod. This book taught me more about emptiness than any other book I have read, including the mulamadyamika by Nagarjuna>Not for beginners but a fabulous book.