Dalam tradisi Tantrayana, sangatlah penting untuk memperoleh inisiasi sebelum mengikuti pembelajaran maupun praktek Tantrayana.
Seseorang harus memperoleh inisiasi dari guru spiritual yang sebenarnya dan memiliki keyakinan dan kepercayaan penuh terhadap mereka. Jika sesudah memperoleh inisiasi seseorang memegang teguh komitmen dari praktek Tantrayana, maka penderitaan, kesulitan, rintangan dan keadaan-keadaan yang tidak menyenangkan dari kehidupannya akan hilang seketika. Di samping itu juga membantu membersihkan karma negatif kita sebelumnya dan sebagai hasilnya kehidupan akan menjadi damai, menyenangkan dan berhasil serta membantu kita agar terlahir di alam yang lebih tinggi dan alam suci Buddha setelah kita meninggal.
Tertulis di dalam teks suci Vajarayana bahwa seseorang akan selalu dilindungi oleh Pelindung Dharma dan akan membantu mewujudkan keinginan orang tersebut. Secara khusus, jika seseorang menerima inisiasi Buddha Amitaba, akan membantu menyucikan karma negatif dan dosa-dosa sebelumnya, mencapai keinginan kita dengan menghancurkan rintangan-rintangan dan akan terlahir di alam suci Buddha Amitaba sesaat sesudah kita meninggal. Seperti halnya juga inisiasi Buddha Amitayus membantu memperpanjang usia kita, menghilangkan halangan-halangan yang menyebabkan kita sakit, kematian tiba-tiba dan penderitaan mental. Dikarenakan itu maka inisiasi-inisiasi ini sangat penting baik di dalam kehidupan ini maupun sesudah meninggal untuk mendatangkan kebahagiaan dan kedamaian.

Penjelasan singkat tentang arti dan manfaat dari Chod

Secara umum, signifikasi dan manfaat dari Ritual Persembahan Chod dan Tubuh adalah sangat luas dan mendalam. Untuk menyampaikan maknanya dengan cara yang ringkas, dikatakan bahwa samsara adalah asal mula penderitaan dan penyebab penderitaan tersebut adalah dosa dan kekotoran batin kita sendiri yang dihasilkan oleh mementingkan diri sendiri. Karena itu, tanpa memusnahkan sifat mementingkan diri sendiri, seseorang tidak dapat menghindari penderitaan yang merupakan konsekuensi sebenarnya dari mementingkan diri. Umumnya ada banyak obyek yang menimbulkan pemikiran mementingkan diri dalam diri kita, namun diantaranya obyek utama yang menimbulkan sifat mementingkan diri yang kuat adalah tubuh kita sekarang yang kita hargai, jaga dan dianggap lebih berharga dibandingkan anak-anak, istri, kekayaan, nama dan ketenaran kita sendiri.

Jika seseorang mempersembahkan tubuhnya yang berharga kepada Tri Ratna dan bersumbangsih terhadap makhluk hidup dengan penuh cinta kasih maka melalui hal tersebut dapat menghilangkan atau memutuskan pemikiran mementingkan diri yang merupakan akar dari penderitaan. Itulah mengapa disebut Chod yang secara harafiah berarti memutuskan, dalam hal ini memutuskan akar penderitaan. Dengan cara ini, mempersembahkan tubuh sendiri adalah dimulai dengan mengundang atau memanggil seluruh Buddha, Bodhisattva, makhluk suci pribadi dan Pelindung Dharma dari sepuluh arah dan mempersembahkan tubuh sendiri dengan keyakinan dan pengabdian yang dalam dan akan lebih efektif daripada mempersembahkan kekayaan dan harta benda kita.

Berikutnya, dari kehidupan masa lalu kita sampai sekarang terdapat hutang karma yang telah kita perbuat terhadap orang lain dengan mengkonsumsi atau menggunakan kepemilikan orang lain atau mengambil kehidupan mereka dalam kehidupan masa lalu kita atau sekarang. Kita harus mengundang semua kreditur (mereka yang menyimpan kebencian terhadap kesehatan dan kepemilikan kita) sebagai tamu dan mempersembahkan tubuh kita dalam rangka membayar hutang karma kita kepada mereka. Dengan memuaskan mereka dengan mempersembahkan tubuh sendiri adalah lebih efektif daripada hanya mempersembahkan kekayaan dan kepemilikan.

Terakhir, seseorang harus mempersembahkan tubuh sendiri kepada dewa-dewa dan roh-roh jahat yang membahayakan dan selalu menginginkan daging, darah, nyawa dan sebagainya. Seseorang harus memanggil seluruh makhluk hidup karnivora dari alam neraka dan hantu kelaparan dan memuaskan mereka dengan mempersembahkan tubuh dengan ikhlas. Dengan melakukan hal tersebut, seseorang akan terbebas dari segala penyakit dan bahaya yang hendak mereka bawa dan menghilangkan seluruh halangan dan rintangan yang akan membantu memperpanjang rentang hidup kita dan memenuhi keinginan kita.

Secara khusus, Buddha telah menyebutkan dalam sutra bahwa mempersembahkan tubuh sendiri adalah kemurahan hati yang terbesar dan mengumpulkan manfaat yang besar dan lebih efektif dibandingkan mempersembahkan kekayaan dan harta milik seluruh dunia. Ini adalah kata-kata Buddha dan Bodhisattva dan karenanya kita harus mempertahankan keyakinan dan melakukan kegiatan menyeluruh demi orang lain dan diri sendiri.

Ditulis oleh Khenpo Khentse Norbu Rinpoche.

Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche

Biografi singkat Khenchen Pema Shearb Rinpoche merupakan Khenpo palng senior dari tradisi Nyingma dalam Buddhisme Tibet di luar Tibet. Beliau dilahirkan di Tibet dan belajar dalam arahan master dan guru  terpelajar dari semua tradisi Buddhisme Tibet. Beliau ditasbihkan pada tahun 1953 dan tiba di Indiia pada tahun 1959. Pada umur 17 tahun, Beliau bertemu dengan guru spritualnya yaitu HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Beliau menerima kebanyakan ajarannya dari Khyentse Rinpoche, termasuk didalamnya Guhyagarbha Root Tantra, Longchenpa's Treasury of Path Instruction, Kagyud Ngag Dzog, Rinchen Terdzod, Jigme Lingpa's Yoden Dzod, Lochen Dharmashri's Explanation on Ngari Penchen's Three Vows, dsb. Pada kesempatan lain, Beliau juga menerima ajaran Dharma dan inisiasi dari guru-guru senior lainnya seperti HH Dudjom Rinpoche, HH Penor Rinpoche dan HH Takhlung Tsetrul Rinpoche.

Pada tahun 1968, HH Penor Rinpoche mengundang Beliau ke Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple, Bylakkuppe) untuk mengajarkan Dharma. Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, Universitas Keviharaan Nyngma yang tersebar di luar Tibet, didirikan di Namdrolingpada tahun 1978. Sejak itu, Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche telah mengajarkan keduanya Sutra dan Tantra di Institute tersebut. HH Penor Rinpoche menganugerahkan gelar Khenchen (Great Abbot) kepadanya. Khen Rinpoche telah mengelilingi dunia dan memberikan ajaran-ajaran Dharma dan inisiasi-inisiasi. Beliau juga menulis beberapa buku filsafat dan logika Buddhist dan sebuah biografi tentang Guru Padmasambhava.

The Twelfth Throne-Holder of Palyul Lineage

H.H. Karma Kunchen was born on 28th August 1970, in south India. His mother is TsamChod and his father Dorje Namgyal is a descendent of Anag Pon, a religious Lord of Gonjo in Kham province, Tibet. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche recognized him as the unmistaken reincarnation of  Karma Thegchog Nyingpo( 4th Karma Kuchen). In the year 1975, His Holiness Padma Norbu Rinpoche invited him to Namdroling Monastery and enthroned him with elaborate celebration. Under the guidance of His Holiness Padma Norbu Rinpoche, he has learnt all the basic religious educations.

H.H. Karma Kunchen Rinpoche enrolled into the Ngagyur Nyingma University and excelled in all the knowledge of the vast and profound Sutra and Tantra teachings of Buddhist pholisophy. He also received numerous empowerments, instructions and transmissions of Nyingma tradition and particularly the Namchoe teaching, along with the Great Prefection, Tumo and Nyendro from great masters such as His Holiness Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche and H.H. Padma Norbu Rinpoche.
In Bodhgaya, he received the novice vow and full ordination from His Holiness Padma Norbu Rinpoche. Since then he has strictly preserved every aspects of the vows and soon became an authentic holder of the precious precepts. In 1994, as per the recommendation of H.H. Padma Norbu Rinpoche, H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche ariived in the Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling Monastery (one of the great mother monasteries of Nyingma Tradition) in Tibet.There he received various common and particular empowerment, instructions, and transmission of Nyingma and Namchoe teaching through Chogtrul Thupten Palzang, Khamtrul Chokyi Nima and so on. In addition, he practiced the distinct recital of Palyul tradition like ritual dances, establishment of mandalas and the mode of performing rituals. On 14 August 2000, he was formally enthroned as the 12th throne-holder of palyul Lineage and became the supreme head of all the mother and branch monasteries of Palyul Traditions.
Since 2003, he has travelled to many countries and brought numerous beings to maturation by bestowing empowerments and instructions. He bestowed the Terzod Empowerment in Gonjo Gyara Monastery, which was attended by thousands of devottees. In addition, he has built many temples, stupas, prayer well, images of deities and other objects of veneration and faith. Taking into consideration the shortage of accommodation for the empowerments and great ceremonies, H.H. Karma Kuchen has established a great four-story temple, which is giant and functional for the community, and sanctified with many objects of mind, speech and the body of the buddhas. On many occasions H.H. Padma Norbu Rinpoche had appreciated his inexhaustible efforts and unrelenting service in upholding the pure lineage of Palyul tradition and dissemination of Buddha Dharma. The reincarnation of H.H. Padma Norbu Rinpoche and H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche had been repeatedly upholding the tradition of Palyul Monastery through administration, guidance, and developments. Even today, H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche is shouldering the responsibility of the entire Mother and Branch monasteries of Palyul Lineage, and present days, he is visiting in the Palyul Dharma Centres across the world benefiting beings and propagating the message of Lord Shakyamuni.

Eleventh throne holder of Palyul Tradition

The third Drubwang Pema Norbu ("Penor") Rinpoche is the 11th Throne holder of the Palyul Lineage of Nyingma. He is considered one of the foremost masters of the Buddhist tradition of Tibet. Throughout the Buddhist community he is respected for his vast knowledge and accomplishment and for the integrity and strength with which he upholds the Buddhist teachings. H.H. Penor Rinpoche was born in the Powo region of Kham East Tibet to father Sonam Gyurme and mother Dzom Kyi during the twelfth month of the lunar calendar the year of the Water Monkey (1932). Khenpo Ngaga foresaw exceptional destiny for the new incarnation. In 1936, the year of the Fire Mouse, the young Penor Rinpoche was invited to the Palyul monastery where he took refuge with the greats and learned masters. Khenpo Ngaga performed the traditional hair cutting ceremony and gave him the name Dhongag Shedrup Tenzin.

Khenpo Ngaga then granted him the long life empowerment of Amitayus and composed the long-life prayer which is till chanted daily by thousands of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche's followers all over the world. His Holiness Penor was formally enthroned by his master Thubten Chokyi Dawa (1894-1959) the second Choktul Rinpoche, and Karma Thekchok Nyingpo (1908-1958) the fourth Karma Kuchen. In time, Penor Rinpoche would become the eleventh throne holder of Palyul Monastery with its more than four hundred branch monasteries. He spent years at Palyul, studying and receiving teachings from numerous masters and scholars, including 4th Karma Kuchen, who carefully prepared him as his successor.

After the invasion of China in 1963, His Holiness settled in Bylakuppe in south India and began the daunting project of establishing Namdroling Monastery under extremely harsh conditions. Today, Namdroling houses around 5000 monks and 900 nuns and is one of the thriving centers of excellence for Tibetan culture and religious training. The complex consists of a school, a college for Higher Buddhist Studies, a retreat centre, a nunnery, a hospital and a home for the elderly. His Holiness is also actively involved in helping local Indians through education and health care. In addition, His Holiness has managed to rebuild the monasteries in Tibet and reintroduced Buddhist study and practice. Simultaneously he has set up a network of palyul centers in other parts of the world such as in United States of America, England, Greece, Canada, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippine,  Macao etc.

His Holiness is considered the reincarnation of Vajrapani and living embodiment of Vimalaitra, who brought the Dzongchen teaching in Tibet. One of the few prominent masters in the Nyingma tradition. His Holiness is renowned as both a scholar and as a leading figure in meditation by hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide. Throughout the Tibet communities, His Holiness renowned for his personal integrity, will power, determination and magnanimity in propagating the teaching of the Buddha. His Holiness served as the Supreme Head of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism for over ten years.

As always, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche works tirelessly for the dissemination of Buddhism in all part of the world. He has founded Dharma centers in the  USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan etc.
The 11th Throne holder of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche passed away, entering the stage of Thugdam, the final stage of meditation, as of 8:20 PM on Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Namdroling Monastery in Bylauppe, South India.  His Holiness Penor Rinpoche remained in Thugdam for almost eight days until Friday April 3, 2009. Present days, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche's holy body is preserved in the first floor of Zangdog palri Temple of Namdroling Monastery in order to receive blessing for the devotees around the world.
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is one of the last greatest Master upholding the complete and realization of the Nyingma or Ancient Tradition. His Holiness visible achievements are too numerous to list fully, not to mention the full spectrum of his hidden activates for the benefit of all sentient beings.