Question asked by Dongho
So I received a Chod empowerment, but am having questions on this. I still do the practice of Palden Lhamo, but I have read that the dharmapalas will ward off and terrify the local deities, which isn't a good thing in the Chod practice. What am I to do exactly? Do I quit Palden Lhamo for Chod? Or give up Chod for Palden Lhamo? Or is there some sort of solution to this?
Dear Dongho,
As an emanation of Saraswati, Palden Lhamo is completed enlightened, therefore she knows what we are doing and thinking. Since you have received the Chod empowerment and practice, part of which is to make offerings to beings of the six realms including local deities, she will not ward them off or terrify them into running away. Even though Palden Lhamo ordinarily will grant practitioners protection from such beings if they are negative and intend harm, she will let them through during the Chod practice, and even make sure that they cannot harm you during the process. There is no reason to give up either of the practice, they do not conflict with each other in any way whatsoever, in fact they are very much complimentary to each other. I hope this helps.
Thank you.