Severing the Source of Fear: Contemplative Dynamics of the Tibetan Buddhist GCod Tradition

Abstract

Asking ‘What is the nature of fear?’, ‘How is it that fear and terror are amenable to being “severed” or “transcended”?’, and ‘Why would it be advantageous to “sever” fear?’, this paper investigates the act of cutting-through fear via the Tibetan Buddhist meditative tradition known as ‘gCod’ (‘chöd’). Through examining Mahayana philosophical notions of self and phenomena, as well as the psychological implications of subject-object reification at the heart of gCod, we elaborate on the interior cognitive and emotional dynamics of gCod praxis. In order to elaborate on these contemplative dynamics, we reflect upon translated verses from one of the seminal texts of the gCod tradition, entitled The Essence of Enlightened Awareness: The Quintessence of the Profound Meaning of the Entirety of Expositions and Guidance on the Transcendent Wisdom that Cuts-Through.

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