About Machig Labdron

Machig Labdron was the famous 11th-century awakened Tibetan yogini believed to have been the incarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal, the consort of Guru Rinpoche. Considered an emanation of the wisdom deity Prajnaparamita, she represents the complete destruction of the self-destructive ego which ties us to samsara.

She is most well-known for being the founder of the unique transmission lineage known as the Mahamudra Chöd tradition. This is one of the most powerful and effective tantric practices for overcoming self-grasping and for liberating our minds of projections and delusions in order to achieve our true nature.

Machig Labdron’s name means ‘Sole Mother from Lab.’ The tantric Mahamudra Chöd tradition or ‘Great Seal of Severance’ derived from the Shije or ‘Pacification of Suffering’ teachings that were transmitted to her from her Indian master, Padampa Sangye. Chöd refers to the severance or the cutting through self-grasping along with its accompanying emotional afflictions.

The tantric practice involves the famous meditation of transforming one’s visualised physical body into food offerings for ghosts, demons and other unseen beings as a means to eliminate the self-grasping mind and replace it with the mind of great compassion. Simultaneously, the practice of Chöd aims to help us realise the true nature of our mind and become enlightened.

She is usual depicted dancing, holding a Chöd drum in her right hand and bell in her left. She wears either a five-point crown or a crown of five dry skulls. She also wears bone ornaments. Alternative depictions show her seated, holding a skullcup in her left hand instead of a bell, with a khatvanga or trident resting in the crook of her left arm.

Further Reading

• Wisdom from an old lady by Tsem Rinpoche
• The founder of Chöd: Machig Labdron
• A study on Chöd practice
• Kyabje Zong Rinpoche explains and performs Chöd (video)

• Material: Copper
• Height: 89 mm (3.5-in)
• Width: 65 mm (2.6-in)
• Depth: 33 mm (1.3-in)
• Weight: 0.11 kg (0.3 lb)