It should be noted that she was chained in the depths of the abyss and split in half by Marduk.
The word Kalachakra means “Wheel of Time,” and is the name of the primary deity who resides in the Kalachakra mandala. In Buddhist teachings, Kalachakra is time itself.
Kalachakra is described as having black skin, four faces (one black, one white, one yellow, and one red), twelve arms, and twenty-four hands. He is represented by a vajra (or “thunderbolt”), drawn in blue sand in the center of the mandala.
The palace contains five floors, each divided into four quadrants by compass direction. Each quadrant is colored to represent the elements within the human body; East corresponds to black, North to white, West to yellow, and South to red (just as the four faces of Kalachakra are colored).
The five stories consist of the Enlightened Body, the Enlightened Speech, the Enlightened Mind, the Enlightened Wisdom, and the Great Enlightened Bliss. They are drawn as mandalas of exponential proportions nested within each other.
Below the palace are four elemental rings and two outer rings (for a total of six). From the inside out, they consist of rings of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and wisdom.
1. The Kalachakra Initiation
The Kalachakra Path is fully integrated with the fundamental practices of the sutra tradition of Buddhism as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, but in order to practice Kalachakra, it is necessary to be formally invited, which is the main purpose of taking an initiation.
As is evident, receiving an invitation to this great path is based on the causes and conditions of both the recipient and the giver; simply attending the ceremony does not guarantee that one will receive a true initiation. Likewise, the ceremony can form a connection with the path, but it is not the path itself.
One can compare the Kalachakra initiation to receiving a seed for practice, but it is the practitioner who plants, nurtures, and cultivates the seed. Teachers qualified to give the Kalachakra initiation must have completed extensive practice (retreat) of the generation and completion stage practices. It is not enough simply to receive the initiation and then pass it on to others.
2. Who teaches Kalachakra?
For those who aspire to participate in the Kalachakra practice, it is important to establish a connection with an authentic Kalachakra teacher who is capable of guiding you through the entire Kalachakra system. Therefore, it is important to identify who the holders of these teachings are and where to find them.
3. The Kalachakra Lineage
After receiving a Kalachakra initiation, you are authorized to begin studying and practicing the Kalachakra system. While many others are teaching isolated pieces of the Kalachakra practice, only the Jonang Tradition provides access to the complete path.
The Jonang tradition has taught, practiced, and mastered Kalachakra since the 13th century. Today, the focus of every Jonang monastery is to master this “King of Tantras” and realize its truth. Unfortunately, other traditions have lost this system of practice in its entirety, however, some continue to teach segments of the tantra, as transmitted from the Jonang.
Jonangpas (those who possess the complete Kalachakra Tantra) have a great desire for the entire system to be rediscovered by other traditions.
4. What is Kalachakra?
Kalachakra is a Sanskrit word composed of two terms; kala means “time” and chakra means “wheel,” literally translated into English as “Wheel of Time.” But what does that really mean? To answer this question, we will need to look at Kalachakra from multiple dimensions or levels of understanding.
5. External Reality
On the most superficial level, we could simply say that Kalachakra is the nature of everything. Or to put it another way, everything that exists is of the nature of cycles of time. There is nothing that exists outside this constant nexus of changing cycles. If we look out into the universe with its many galaxies and solar systems, we can see endless cycles of change unfolding in the past, present, and future. In this way, everything is contained within the Outer Kalachakra.
6. The Inner Reality
Moving from the macro to the micro, we can consider the nature of the beings that inhabit this universe. At the level of an individual person, the kalachakra can be understood as the very subtle structures of a person’s body and mind. This is known as the Inner Kalachakra.
It includes not only the structure, but also the dynamic influence that the mind/body complex has on the surrounding universe. Therefore, by understanding this Inner Kalachakra, we can free ourselves from the domination of our external conditions and transform our experience to create a harmonious and peaceful environment.
7. Enlightened Reality
However, if we delve even deeper, we discover what is known as pure Kalachakra (also known as alternative or enlightened Kalachakra). At this level, we are still talking about cycles of time, but the meaning of these words becomes completely different.
At this last level, we are talking about the unchanging or immutable cycles of time, which are the union of unchanging happiness and empty form. This union is represented by the deity Kalachakra in union with his consort. The male aspect of Kalachakra represents the mind of unchanging bliss, while the female aspect of Vishvamatha represents the sublime empty form.
These two are, in fact, of one essence, representing our own absolute nature. Our ego is the combination of our external universe and our inner being. Our true self, however, is this deepest absolute level, our sacred truth. By practicing with our subtle body and mind, we can purify our gross perceptions and experiences, thus revealing the complete mandala of pure forms of Kalachakra.
8. How does Kalachakra differ from other traditions?
The Kalachakra system offers profound methods for transforming one’s impure perceptions and experiences and revealing our deepest reality. Within the context of Buddhist Tantra, there are many systems that provide methods for attaining enlightenment. However, the Kalachakra Tantra has a number of unique characteristics that make it particularly important for this time.
Comprehensive in scope
The Kalachakra Tantra is known as the “King of Tantras” due to its broad and comprehensive presentation. Within a single system, you can find detailed instructions for understanding a wide variety of scientific knowledge such as cosmology, astrology, medicine, psychology, and philosophy. While its scope is comprehensive, it presents this information in a very clear and direct manner.
This stands in stark contrast to other esoteric systems that are expressed in a hidden symbolic language.
Powerful yoga methods
But Kalachakra is not simply a body of theoretical knowledge. It also presents a complete selection of yogic practices designed to cut through illusion and actualize direct knowledge of the nature of reality. These extremely effective and powerful methods enable even non-academic practitioners to develop the deepest realizations in the course of a single lifetime.
9. Genuine global harmony
The Kalachakra Tantra was first given to Suchandra, the Great Dharma King of Shambhala. Eight generations later, King Manjushri-Yashas united his kingdom by bestowing the Kalachakra initiation on all his subjects. Through this massive shared experience, Yashas created a single vajra family and became known as the first Kalki or “Lineage Holder.”
Since then, the Kalachakra Tantra has been closely associated with cultivating different levels of peace and harmony in the minds of practitioners. For some, this will mean attaining the state of Kalachakra enlightenment.
For others, it will mean being born in the pure land of Shambhala. At the very least, it will mean creating the conditions for being born during the second golden age of the Dharma in this world.
Kalachakra is Sanskrit for “Wheel of Time.” It is a complete, elaborately detailed cosmology. It is based on a tantric cosmogony, a traditional sacred explanation of the creation and structure of Everything. In the description, the microcosm that is Man is no different from the macrocosm that is the Universe.
In addition to these two very complex “maps,” one outside of us and one within us, a method is given: a way to practice and apply this knowledge in order to attain ultimate happiness. Kalachakra (Shilunxu): refers to the symbol (Namju Wangden in Tibetan) that represents this tantric teaching of the Kalachakra Dharma.
Kalachakra can also be translated as the Cycle of Time. It is the name of a highest level tantra and also the name of the dark blue male deity, whose golden consort is Vishvamata (Mother of the Universe). His teaching, which is preparatory for initiation, requires the construction of an intricate Mandala, and doing so is an extensive undertaking.
Tantric Buddhism has its origins in the fourth “Turning of the Wheel” of Buddha Sakyamuni, which is believed to have occurred at the stupa of Sri Dhanakosha near Amravali in Andhra Pradesh, India, in the year of His Enlightenment. All high tantras, such as Chakrasamvara, Guhyasamaya, and Kalachakra, are derived from this.
“According to one interpretation, the Kalachakra Tantra was first spoken by Master Sakyamuni Buddha at the time of the full moon in the third month of the year after he had shown the way to become completely and perfectly enlightened.
According to another interpretation, Sakyamuni, having shown the way to become completely and perfectly enlightened, turned the three wheels of doctrine, and then, one year before his death, presented the Kalachakra Tantra.”
10. How does the Kalachakra fit into the Buddhist system?
The first turning of the wheel was at Sarnath, in the king’s deer park. This was Shakyamuni Buddha’s discourse on the Four Noble Truths (“the truth of suffering”) which he gave particularly to the five companions with whom he had been practicing various austerities. It forms the motivation or basis for all Buddhists.
The second turning of the wheel took place at Vulture Peak, outside Gaya, and includes the discourse on compassion and emptiness. It is exemplified in the Prajnaparamita literature: a condensed form is the Heart Sutra (Skt: hridya): “Form is emptiness; emptiness [is] form.” All Mahayana Buddhists have this teaching as the basis for their consideration of other beings.
The third turning of the wheel was in Vaishali and some other places. It comprises the elucidation of “Emptiness” and its relationship to the nature of Buddha. The Mahaparanirvana Sutra and Mahayana commentaries such as the Uttaratantra Shastra address this.
Not all Mahayana Buddhists have the same view of these texts.
11. How to practice Kalachakra
Practicing Kalachakra is the most constructive and favorable way to reveal our own sacred truth, and it is a profound method that can enable a serious practitioner to attain perfect Buddhahood in a single lifetime.
Although some Tibetan traditions offer Kalachakra Tantra, the Jonang tradition is the only tradition that has preserved the entire Kalachakra practice system. This includes all the extensive practices from the fundamental preliminaries to the completion process containing the six yogas.
This tradition has been practiced for centuries in remote parts of Tibet, untouched by politics or modernization. The recent emergence of Tibet brings with it an authenticity and purity that is almost impossible to find today.
Within the Jonang Tradition, the practice of the Kalachakra Path is divided into four distinct phases or sets of practices:
The external preliminaries
During this phase, practitioners work to familiarize their minds with the Four Convictions of Renunciation and develop a strong connection with the lineage masters of the Jonang Kalachakra lineage. This phase helps to orient the mind away from worldly concerns and toward spiritual practice.
The internal preliminaries
At this point, the practitioner strengthens their resolve toward spiritual practice by working with the five internal preliminaries: refuge, bodhichitta, vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. This process lays the foundation for entering into Buddhist tantra practice.
The unique preliminaries
In order to prepare the mind for participation in the completion stage practices of Kalachakra, practitioners must first practice the two unique preliminaries of innate Kalachakra and Three Solitudes. The latter practice is an extremely effective tantric method for developing shamatha. It is equivalent to the practices found within the Dzogchen and Mahamudra traditions.
The Six Vajra Yogas
Having thoroughly prepared their minds, the final phase is to engage in the practices of the Six Vajra Yogas. Each practice within this six-phase series is presented to the student under the direct guidance of a qualified Kalachakra teacher.
Practitioners receive personal instruction, engage in the practice, and then report their progress to their teacher. The teacher then introduces new practices when the student is ready for them. This process continues until the student attains enlightenment.
