A new translation of the Chöd liturgy from the Longchen Nyingtik cycle

Among the many practices contained within the Longchen Nyingtik, the Chöd liturgy known as the Laughter of the Dākinīs occupies a singular place. Chöd — “cutting through” — is the practice of offering the body as feast, dissolving the citadel of self-clinging at its root through fearlessness rather than avoidance. Within the Longchen Nyingtik cycle, this liturgy carries the particular flavour of that terma: vast, playful, and uncompromising all at once.

This will be a new translation of the text — not a reworking of an existing published version, but a rendering made from the ground up. It draws on years of direct engagement with the practice itself, carried out under the guidance of a number of different teachers over that time. That lineage of instruction, rather than textual scholarship alone, shapes the choices made in the translation: where the language is technical, where it is meant to unsettle, and where it is meant to sing.

What “live translation” means

Rather than working from a finished, printed rendering, the text will be translated live — read and translated into English in real time as the session unfolds, phrase by phrase, alongside the context needed to understand it. This keeps the translation close to the practice as it is actually transmitted and practised, rather than flattened into a fixed page.

Sessions run 1.5 hours, held live via Zoom.

Who this is for

This is intended for those with an existing connection to Chöd practice, or a serious interest in beginning one.

Lung (oral transmission) can be arranged on the first session if enough request is there.

What if…?

What if I don’t have the empowerment for this practice? Ideally all participants would have a chöd empowerment before joining in, but with this being said, it is not a restricted text, so it is join without an empowerment for this prior to joining. If you would like to discuss an empowerment or lung for this text, please contact in advance.

What if I can’t attend live? Sessions will be recorded, and shared to registered participants.

What if I already practise from an existing translation? That’s no obstacle — the session will work directly from this new rendering, and differences between versions can be discussed as they arise.

What if I have questions about the practice itself, not just the translation? More details to come.

Membership is a rolling monthly subscription covering four sessions — $120/month ($30 per session) — rather than a pay-as-you-go ticket, so you can settle into the material and follow the translation as it develops over time rather than dropping in and out.

Founding members who join the first cohort will have their rate locked in as the course grows.

Starting date and time will depend on the register participants needs.