Chöd pronounced chö (the d is silent), is a spiritual practice primarily found in Tibetan Buddhism. Also known as "Cutting Through the Ego," the practice is based on the Prajnaparamita sutra. It combines prajnaparamita philosophy with specific meditation methods and a tantric ritual. A form of Chöd was practised in India by the Buddhist Mahasiddha, prior to the 10th Century. However, Chöd practised today developed from the entwined traditions of the early Indian Tantric practices transmitted to Tibet and the Bonpo and Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana lineages. Besides the Bonpo, there are two main Tibetan Buddhist Chöd traditions, the "Mother" and "Father" lineages. In Tibetan tradition, Dampa Sangye is known as the Father of Chöd and Machig Labdron, founder of the Mahamudra Chöd lineages, as the Mother of Chöd. Chöd developed outside the monastery system. It was subsequently adopted by the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
