Turning Fear into Freedom with Radical Compassion
In the misty expanse of Tibetan mysticism, few practices are as startling—and as liberating—as Chöd (pronounced “chö”). At first glance, it appears almost morbid: practitioners visualize offering their own bodies to wrathful deities and demons. But look deeper, and Chöd reveals itself as one of the most profound methods for cutting through ego, fear, and self-clinging.
Let’s unpack this ancient practice and understand why feeding your demons might just be the smartest spiritual move you’ve never considered.
The Origin: Machig Labdrön’s Genius
Chöd was pioneered by an extraordinary 11th-century Tibetan yogini, Machig Labdrön, who wove Indian Buddhist teachings with indigenous Tibetan shamanic rituals. The word Chöd literally means “to cut through”—specifically, to sever the root of suffering: the ego’s grip.
Unlike many practices that center on protecting the self, Chöd flips the script. It asks:
What if the very things you fear or resist are your greatest teachers?
The Radical Premise: Invite the Demons In
In Chöd, “demons” aren’t literal monsters. They’re psychological and emotional patterns—the internal voices that whisper “I’m not good enough,” “I need to control this,” or “They shouldn’t treat me this way.” These are the protectors of ego, disguised as anxiety, addiction, anger, or shame.
Instead of fighting them, Chöd teaches us to feed them.
That’s right. You offer these demons what they crave—not as surrender, but as transformation.
A Practical Example: The Demon of Perfectionism
Let’s say you’re paralyzed by the need to be perfect. It haunts your work, relationships, even your spiritual practice. You meditate on this demon: What shape does it take? Where do you feel it in your body? What does it want?
Maybe it wants control. Validation. Certainty.
You visualize offering it everything—your body, your pride, your polished persona—like a grand feast. You don’t resist; you give it exactly what it’s clinging to.
The result? The demon softens. It may even vanish. And what’s left is space—clear, open awareness where fear once sat.
The Practice: How Chöd Works
Traditionally, Chöd is practiced with a ritual that includes:
- A Chöd drum (damaru) and bell to create rhythmic trance-like states.
- Chanting liturgies composed by Machig Labdrön and later masters.
- Visualizations of offering one’s body as a sacred feast.
But you don’t need the full ritual to practice its essence. Here’s a modern, simplified approach:
Mini Chöd Practice (5 Minutes):
- Identify a “demon”—a fear, craving, or inner critic.
- Ask what it wants. Be honest.
- Visualize yourself offering that exact thing. Let it devour your self-image, your control, your certainty.
- Stay present. Notice what shifts. Breathe into the space that opens.
This isn’t self-sacrifice. It’s ego-sacrifice. And it’s strangely exhilarating.
Why It Works: Ego Can’t Eat Humility
The ego survives on resistance—on being right, in control, or superior. Chöd disarms it by giving up the fight. You offer what the demon demands, but from a place of fearless compassion.
It’s psychological aikido.
It’s spiritual judo.
It’s genius.
Closing Thought: Fear Is a Doorway
Chöd is not about getting rid of the self, but about seeing through the illusion of a separate, threatened self. In feeding your demons, you discover they were hungry ghosts all along—starving not for your suffering, but for your understanding.
So the next time fear rises or ego flares, consider this radical question:
What if I fed this demon instead of fighting it?
You might just find it was never a demon at all—but a teacher in disguise.