The Chöd tradition passed down from Father Dampa Sangye, is of two types: male Chöd and female Chöd. The Chöd instructions spread by Mother Machig Labdron are practiced by all Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
At this nunnery, there is a continuous tradition of severing practice, which has been passed down from many previous holy masters. This tradition includes the “Severing Tsog Rinchen Trengwa” composed by Jetsun Rangjung Dorje, “Zabmo Choe” composed by Rigzin Jigme Lingpa, “Zinpa Rangdrol” composed by Domkhyen Yeshe Dorje, and the “Zabmo Choe Donchok Kusum Khadro” composed by Shuksew Drupwai Wangchuk Semnyid Tokden Rinpoche. These sacred practices, blessed by the previous masters, are performed in the following order:
Every year, on the anniversary of the passing of Jetsun Rigzin Chonye Zangmo, a grand tsog (offering ceremony) is held in accordance with the “Severing Tsog Rinchen Trengwa.” This is done to commemorate the lives and deeds of the previous masters and to inspire the followers in their practice.
Moreover, as a means to sever our deeply ingrained dualistic delusion that we have become accustomed to over many lifetimes, on Sunday evenings, the entire monastic community regularly recites the Sky Dancer’s Roar and Self-Liberating Grasp. After various periods of turmoil and destruction, the restoration of Shugseb Nunnery, including its sacred objects, was undertaken by the reincarnation of Semnyid Tokden Rinpoche, Jigme Dorje Rinpoche. On the day of the commemoration of his passing, a grand feast offering is prepared in the ritual of the Threefold Body Dakini, with strong prayers and aspirations made for the fulfillment of Rinpoche’s profound intentions. In this nunnery, many individuals suffering from physical and mental ailments have experienced healing through the profound hundred-offering severance ritual. For the deceased, the Sky Dancer’s Roar and Self-Liberating Grasp are recited alternately. Occasionally, the monastic community visits the charnel ground, where, during the cremation of bodies, they perform elaborate severance rituals and dedications. In short, the practice of profound severance, passed down from Dampa Sangye to Machik Labdron, and subsequently to Semnyid Tokden Rinpoche, Shugseb Jetsun Rigzin Chönyi Zangmo, and the reincarnation of Semnyid Tokden Rinpoche, Jigme Dorje, has been preserved and practiced without degeneration or impairment.
