The Dalai Lama and the Kalachakra
Although thought to have once been a carefully guarded secret of the Shambhala Kingdom, the Kalachakra Tantra is now widely known. The Dalai Lama himself has given thirty-three separate initiations into this practice all over the world, including in Tibet, India, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States.
In an essay on his website, His Holiness writes, “the Kalachakra initiations empower the disciple to practice the yoga of the Kalachakra tantra, and, ultimately, to achieve the state of Shri Kalachakra.” As with other mandala practices, the goal here is for the initiate to “enter” into the mandala and identify with the deity represented therein.
The Kalachakra Thangka painting represents the wheel of time and the interconnectedness of all phenomena, serving as a potent tool for meditation and spiritual transformation.
Specification
- Materials: Tibetan Gold Dust With Tibetan Colors
- Canvas: Organic Cotton
- Hand Painted In Nepal
- Fine Quality Tibetan Thangka
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The Kalachakra Mandala
Through meditation on the Kalachakra mandala, monks invoke the qualities of the deity, striving in a ritualized way enter the mandala and become the deity themselves. This practice is not usually public, and mostly occurs behind temple walls.In the public realm, the Kalachakra mandala is sometimes rendered as a thangka, a traditional style of Tibetan art frequently used to depict mandalas, and also as a sand mandala. Sand mandalas are performed as a cultural display in universities or other institutions by traveling monks. Upon completion, they are destroyed in a ritual meant to honor the impermanent nature of reality.The symbolism of the mandala is rich. It is a two dimensional depiction of the three-dimensional palace of the deity Kalachakra. At the top of the palace, or the center of the mandala, dwells the god himself. Arrayed around the halls of the five-story palace beneath his feet are 722 other deities, all submitting to the great god Kalachakra who symbolizes the unstoppable passage of time.The floors of the palace depicted in the Kalachakra Mandala, from the ground up, represent:
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Enlightened body
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Enlightened speech
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Enlightened mind
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Enlightened wisdom
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Enlightened great bliss
Arrayed around the palace are four elemental rings and two outer rings. From the inside out they are:
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Earth
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Water
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Fire
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Wind
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Space
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Wisdom
Taken together, all of these elements compose a microcosm of the universe, ruled by time personified.
The benefits of meditating on Kalachakra Thangka paintings are manifold, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions. Physically, meditation promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and strengthens the immune system, leading to improved overall health and well-being. Mentally, meditation enhances concentration, clarity, and emotional resilience, enabling practitioners to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and equanimity. Spiritually, meditation on Kalachakra Thangkas deepens one's connection to the divine and fosters a sense of unity with all beings, leading to greater compassion, wisdom, and spiritual fulfillment.
The Story’s Origin
The Buddha, while appearing on Vulture Peak in Northern India to recite the Prajnaparamita Sutra (known in English as the Heart Sutra, a famous discourse on the role of emptiness in Buddhism), simultaneously appeared in Dharanikota and delivered the Kalachakra teachings to King Suchandra of Shambhala. Shambhala was a sacred mythical kingdom that is iconically representative of virtue in the Tibetan historical narrative. Fiercely pious warrior kings ruled there for centuries and dedicated themselves to the protection and spread of Buddhism.
