Mönlam
Buddhist Prayers for Healing, Living, and Dying
Each year during the auspicious fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, the Jewel Garland of Chöd Feasts (Tsokle Rinchen Trengwa Chöd) Pūjā is performed for 3 days at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery by monks, nuns, and lay practitioners.
The Tibetan word Chöd means “to cut” or “to slay” and the Chöd practice is known as “cutting through the ego.”
The purpose of the practice is to cut through the ignorance of clinging to the existence of an inherent self or “I” which is recognized as the root of all suffering. This is done using the wisdom that realizes emptiness found in the Prajñāpāramitā or “Perfection of Wisdom” sutra.
One who is practicing Chöd seeks blessings to experience unfortunate circumstances, illness, evil influences, and obstacles as ‘One Taste’; and to gain mastery of natural awareness, in which the three kāyas are innately present. Through the practice, one develops relative Bodhicitta (where others are considered more precious than oneself) and ultimate Bodhicitta (where the emptiness of all phenomena is understood).
Besides its profound meaning, the practice is also famous for its many wonderful melodies.
This Chöd tradition is said to stem from the Tibetan yoginī Machig Labdrön (1055 – 1149). The core of the Tsokle Rinchen Trengwa Pūjā (Jewel Garland of Chöd Feasts) was composed by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorjé (1284–1339), and edited by Karma Chakmé Rinpoche (1613-1678). It is one of the main long Chöd rituals practiced in many Nyingma and Kagyü monasteries.
May the virtue of anyone who rejoices in this auspicious activity be dedicated to the Enlightenment of all sentient beings. May all sentient beings cut self-cherishing through their Compassion and cut clinging to naive beliefs through their Wisdom. May deluded dualistic thoughts disperse into space, and may we, beings of the six classes, abandon the cause, all the stains of dualistic grasping, and swiftly attain unsurpassable awakening!
If you are unable to make an offering but would like to be included in the 3 days of Jewel Garland of Chöd Feasts (Tsokle Rinchen Trengwa Chöd) Pūjā performed at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery, please send your name(s) to [email protected].
