..续本文上一页hat we should not invoke. Should I invite him or exclude him from my practice

　　 Thirdly, when I invite the demons, do I visualize them in front and among the lineage masters

　　 If I visualize them in front, I would be taking refuge in them. Or do I visualize them surrounding me

　　TR: The main teacher is the one you are connected to the most. Secondly, the purpose of practicing chod is to increase wisdom, so beginners do not need to invite controversial images. There is no need to worry. Thirdly, the practice of chod offers a possibility to increase love and compassion, so demons are very important. They are situated below Machig Labdron and look at us.

　　Q.: Is it possible to practice chod for others, like doing phowa for the deceased

　　TR: It is possible to do phowa for others. There exists a practice called “phowa for the living,” in which the method of the transference of the consciousness to a buddhafield may be given as a blessing for the benefit of longevity in life. The practice of phowa that is carried out during chod is done only for oneself.

　　Q.: If we have offered our body as a mandala, what about the other offerings we need to make

　　TR: That doesn”t matter. We can repeat it.

　　Q.: Is there a subtle difference between the offerings

　　TR: When we offer the best we can imagine, accumulation of wisdom and merit increases. We imagine that our offerings really please and appease the recipients.

　　Q.: Isn”t there the danger that we see devils and gods in life when we engage in practices like this

　　 Wouldn”t it be better to concentrate on our own simple mind

　　 Aren”t these visualizations dangerous, doing all these things

　　 Our mind is filled to the rim as it is. Wouldn”t it be better to use our simple mind as a basis

　　TR: Yes, if one can. The practice of cutting through is a wonderful method to directly realize the final result, which is primordial awareness. Then one is free of discursiveness that causes people to assume that apprehensions are real. Skilful methods are practiced in order to realize the true nature of apprehensions. We do employ various methods to increase and establish positive factors of the mind, making it easier to realize reality. If we want to realize the true nature of our mind, fighting and being stubborn will lead nowhere; avoiding those factors will not help either. Visualizing enemies is only dangerous if one is proud, jealous, angry, greedy – bigger dangers in life. In the practice of chod, our aspiration to help others with love and compassion is so very pure and sincere. Therefore, nothing dangerous can ensue.

　　Q.: It seems that seeing the nature of the mind is difficult if one is busy with all these ideas rather than with simple things.

　　TR: Yes, it would be less complex if it were possible to simply realize the true nature of the mind. That would be perfect realization - simple and clear. But it is just simplicity that seems to be so difficult to appreciate and realize. In order to realize the true nature of the mind, practicing love and compassion is a very beneficial approach and makes it so much easier. Being suspicious that evil lurks in every corner of the world and learning to deal with apparitions kindly - by giving spirits and ghosts only the best so that they are happy and content - increases one”s own love and compassion. Then fear decreases and eventually subsides, which makes it easier to realize mind”s true nature, which is simplicity.

　　Q.: Why all the trouble of preparing such a lavish offering in chod

　　TR: Looking at daily life, we too can think it is okay to only eating bread every day of the year, but vital nutrients that our body needs would be missing. Some people spice their food a lot, making their meals more tasty and delicious. So we include many ingredients in the offering pract…

《Chod – The Introduction & A Few Practices》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…