The Chöd practice of Tröma Nagmo, the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī, is an exceptionally profound teaching within the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, and a special transmission of Fahsilin — the principal practice of the Rinpoche's root teacher. This article introduces who the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī is, the meaning of Chöd ("cutting through"), and the merits and benefits of the practice.
Who Is the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī?
The Black Wrathful Ḍākinī is a "wisdom ḍākinī," in essence a manifestation of the Prajñāpāramitā, the Mother of the Buddhas. Her wrathful, mighty form symbolizes the destruction of beings' ego-clinging, afflictions and demonic obstacles through incomparable wisdom and majestic power.
The wrathful form is not hatred but "the skilful means of great compassion" — cutting through obstacles with thunderous force to protect the practitioner's path.
What Is Chöd ("Cutting Through")?
Chöd, literally "cutting through," is a tantric practice of Tibetan Buddhism whose core is the severing of ego-clinging; as its name "offering the body" suggests, one visualizes offering one's own body, utterly letting go of attachment to the physical form and the self, and cutting through the root of affliction.
The Chöd of the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī is a profound transmission of our centre, the principal practice of the Rinpoche's root teacher, presided over by a qualified vajra master — using the ḍākinī's mighty power to avert misfortune, bestow blessings, purify karmic obscurations, and dispel obstacles and demonic disturbance.
The Merits and Benefits of the Practice
Dispelling obstacles and demonic disturbance: it destroys the inner obscurations of affliction (greed, hatred, delusion, pride, doubt) and outer demonic obstacles, malign spirits and non-human interference, countering adverse conditions, illness, curses and black magic.
Purifying karma and misdeeds: it purifies grave misdeeds of many lifetimes, with especially great power of confession for breaches of vows (the samaya), and dispels the unwholesome fruits of calamity, short life and poverty.
Enhancing practice and realization: it opens wisdom, increases meditative experience, aids the realization of the nature of mind (as in Dzogchen and Mahāmudrā), and accomplishes the practice of the channels, winds and essences, entering the completion stage.
Protecting the Dharma and accomplishing the four activities: pacifying (averting misfortune), enriching (increasing merit, longevity, wealth and wisdom), magnetizing (drawing beings toward virtue) and wrathful (subduing the most evil beings or obstacles through great compassion, not hatred).
Ultimate liberation: as a manifestation of the Prajñāpāramitā, when practised authentically with the oral transmission and empowerment of the guru, joined with pure motivation and the samaya, one may attain accomplishment in the bardo or in this very life.
Practising the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī at Fahsilin
Our centre regularly holds Chöd pujas and empowerments of the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī, and also performs Chöd on your behalf at Guru Rinpoche's sacred sites for the averting of misfortune. The main practice and empowerment require reliance on a qualified guru to receive the oral transmission and lineage; you are welcome to enquire and register through our official LINE.
Who is the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī?
She is a wisdom ḍākinī, a manifestation of the Prajñāpāramitā, the Mother of the Buddhas, who destroys ego-clinging, afflictions and demonic obstacles through a wrathful, mighty form; the wrath is the skilful means of great compassion, not hatred.
What is Chöd ("cutting through")?
Chöd, also "cutting through," is a tantric practice whose core is severing ego-clinging; "offering the body" means visualizing the offering of one's own body, letting go of attachment to the self and cutting the root of affliction. The Chöd of the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī is a profound transmission of our centre.
What are the benefits of practising the Black Wrathful Ḍākinī?
It dispels obstacles and demonic disturbance, purifies karma and misdeeds, enhances practice and realization, protects the Dharma, accomplishes the four activities of pacifying, enriching, magnetizing and wrathful action, and even leads to accomplishment in this very body.
Can ordinary people take part? Is empowerment required?
You may take part in the pujas for the averting of misfortune and blessing; the main practice and empowerment require reliance on a qualified guru to receive the oral transmission. You are welcome to enquire through our official LINE.
Further Reading · Registration
This article introduces a Dharma practice, compiled according to our centre's lineage; for the main practice and empowerment of Chöd, please rely on a qualified guru to receive the oral transmission.
Related Puja
The Seventh-Month Longchen Nyingtik Great Compassion Avalokiteśvara Self-Liberation Great Puja will be held on Saturday, 5 September, in Zhubei, Hsinchu; you may register online to dedicate liberation for ancestors and karmic creditors.