Beyond Hope and Fear

Chöd means to sever – to sever the illusion that we are merely physical entities. By loosening the bonds of emotional attachment to our bodies we are liberated from fear which is the ultimate obstacle to spiritual realisation. In practising Chöd we learn to dance ferociously and joyfully in the midst of chaos, horror, and death – whether that’s literal death, or simply death of our hopes. Through cutting addiction to the corporeal form as a major reference point we become free, not only of fear but of persecutory hope. Hope is often merely fear in disguise, with chöd we unmask the false hope in our lives and learn to live joyously free from both hope and fear.

The founder of Chöd is Machig Labdrön, revered as a foremother of the Aro lineage.