Machig Labdron Chod Empowerment – Opening the Gate to the Sky

This event is available both Online and In-person.

About the Practice of Chod

Chod is a powerful practice of accepting willingly what is undesirable, cutting through our concepts, reducing our self-cherishing nature, leading us closer to our own true nature. The main obstacle to our own enlightenment is our clinging to our own ego, our own existence. When fear, fixation, and self-clinging are cut through, giving rise to the awareness of the pure nature of emotions and the emptiness of mental obscurations.

Machig Labdron is the creator of a unique form of Mahamudra chöd practice. She is the manifestation of Prajnaparamita, the Great Mother who gives birth to realisation of emptiness. Furthermore, Machig Labdron is also the manifestation of Arya Tara, who gives birth to compassion. A chod practitioner can cut through anything and therefore his or her main intention should be to unify understanding of emptiness and loving kindness and compassion, just as Machig Labdron did.

Khentrul Rinpoche has received the Chod transmission in multiple traditions such as the Nyingma Kagyu, Jonang and the Gelug traditions. He had the pleasure of practicing Chod Retreat and receiving transmission from Kalka Jetsun Dhampa considered to be a reincarnation of Taranatha and the spiritual head of Mongolia.

Throughout Buddhist history, female practitioners have been models of leadership in virtuous conduct, meditation, discipline and practice. Machig Labdron is an extraordinary example of a highly realised female practitioner. One of Rinpoche’s aspirations is to cultivate more realised female practitioners around the world and we hope this practice inspires the prominence and proliferation of more female Buddhist masters.

About the Empowerment and Retreat

This is a rare and precious empowerment of Chöd from the primordial mind of master Jetsun Taranatha. You will receive a booklet to follow along throughout the whole empowerment. Part of the text includes inspiring stories about Machik Labdrön’s life. 

This event includes the following:

1 – “The Chöd Empowerment that Opens the Gates to the Sky” written by Jestun Taranatha
2 – Oral Transmission of “Subduing Through Splendour” (a traditional Chöd Sadhana of the Jonang Tradition) 

Participants online are encouraged to take part in as many live sessions as possible. 

Who can attend?

This event is open to all. There are no formal prerequisites to attend. However, previous Buddhist study and practice (such as the Ngöndro) are very helpful. If you are new to the Buddhist path, you may also like to study beforehand Khentrul Rinpoche’s course titled “What’s Real?” in our learning center and to read Books One and Two of Rinpoche’s trilogy “Unveiling Your Sacred Truth”. 

Schedule by Timezone

Central Europe and South Africa

SUNDAY, June 29, 2025
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Chöd Empowerment Part 1
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Chöd Empowerment Part 2

Offer Dana for Khentrul Rinpoche
If you additionally wish to show your generosity to Rinpoché’s precious teachings and to his immense efforts, you can do it in-person at the end of the retreat or, if you are attending online you can offer Dana for Rinpoche here. This is completely voluntary.

Questions?
Please email  [email protected].