Chöd is a wonderful practice for these times. It helps us to understand the root of our pain and gives us a way to resolve our deepest shadows and hardest addictions. Chöd reflects a unique blend of the Tibetan Shamanic traditions and the Buddhist understanding of compassion and emptiness. Chöd is a method using a drum and bell which has been practiced for centuries both for healing and to cut through fear, fixation, and self-clinging. In this practice the self-clinging obstacle makers are called forth and fed to complete satisfaction. The practice thereby awakens one’s awareness of the pure nature of emotions and the emptiness of mental obscurations. Participants will learn the Chöd practice that was popularized by the 11th century yogini Machig Labdrön.

For people currently in the Kapala Training, or for anyone interested in joining the training in the future, the Chöd retreat will be required for Kapala III. This summer is a good opportunity to take the retreat at Tara Mandala as it follows the Kapala Training Level I.

This course meets the qualifications for 20 hours of CEUs. Tara Mandala is licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a continuing education provider (#3260). CEUs are offered for marriage, family, and child counseling (MFCC) and for social work (LCSW). The number of CEUs offered is listed below programs for which credit is available. Please sign up for CEUs at the time of registration; a $15 fee applies.

Schedule:
Wednesday, February 18: 7-9pm.  Evening teaching required to attend retreat. Open to public and free.
Location: Downtown Key West, Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St.

Thursday, February 19 – Sunday, February 22. Chöd retreat
Location: Key West Botanical Gardens, 5210 College Rd.
Feb. 19: 7:30 pm evening teaching
Feb. 20 & 21: 10 am – 1 pm, 3 pm – 6 pm, and 8 pm – 9 pm
Feb. 22: 10 am – 1 pm. Retreat will conclude at 1pm. Sunday morning will include a Tsog (feast) and refuge ceremony.

This retreat is non-residential.
Recommended Accommodations
Recommended Restaurants
Transportation

Registration Form

Tsultrim Allione, M.A., was one of the first American women to be ordained as a Tibetan nun in 1970 by the 16th Karmapa. She is the author of Women of Wisdom, a groundbreaking book on the lives of great female Tibetan practitioners. Her newest book, Feeding the Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, (2008, Little, Brown & Co), connects the ancient knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism with the modern psyche, addressing the major issues of our culture and the roots of our suffering. Based on her pioneering technique using five steps to feed your demons, this book offers a system to transform our inner demons by nurturing rather than fighting them.

After four years as a nun, Tsultrim returned her monastic vows, married, and raised a famity. She earned a masters degree in Buddhist Studies and Women’s Studies from Antioch University. Inspired by the vision of a Western retreat center while living in the Himalayas, and seeing the need to create a place for the reemergence of the sacred feminine, Tsultrim founded Tara Mandala in 1993 where she is now the resident teacher.

Tsultrim is collecting the lineage of Machig Labdrön, the 11th century Tibetan yogini who founded the Chöd lineage. As a long-time Chöd practitioner, Tsultrim has studied Machig’s teachings for decades and taught the practices all over the world. In 2007, Tsultrim was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdrön by Karme Dorje Rinpoche, the resident Lama of Zangri Khangmar in Tibet (see article on opposite page).

In regards to the recognition Tsultrim has recently said, “I think [the recognition] is to make this new phase of collecting Machig’s lineage more empowered. Recognition allows more energy to flow, and Machig’s blessings can manifest more fully. It’s a kind of mirroring from the outside, validating our heartfelt intention to reinvigorate and spread Machig’s lineage in the West. It also felt very natural. We will keep doing what we have been doing already, but the recognition creates an auspicious interdependence for the teachings.”

Tsultrim’s skill at teaching arises from her dedication to the Dharma and the ways she has brought Dharma to the challenges of everyday life. She brings forth the vibrancy of the teachings in a way that makes them germane for accomplished practitioners and those new to the path.