Kalachakra

Kalachakra ( Kalacakra Laghutantra; Sanskrit, from time ( Kāla ) and wheel ( Chakra ), usually with the Wheel of Time translated) is a special system of practice from the group of Anuttarayoga Tantras ( Yoga Tantra unsurpassable ) of Tibetan Buddhism. The name refers to both the Kalachakra tantric deity, as well as the practice of this deity underlying root tantra.

Formation

Kalachakra was taught according Taranatha of Buddha Shakyamuni at the age of 80 years at the Stupa of Dhānyakaṭaka in South India. The practice system connected to Kalachakra but was prevalent in India until the 10th century, and came very probably in the year 1027, in which the Tibetan Kalachakra calendar begins to Tibet. The practice of the Kalachakra deity mandala is regarded as one of the higher tantric meditation practices that should enable rapid development of the practitioner to enlightenment in one lifetime. Kalachakra is a very late transmitted higher Tantra, which belongs to Anuttarayogatantra the new translation traditions. It is due to his late transfer and due to its detailed presentation in addition to the so-called Eight Great Heruka deities ( blood drinkers ), Hayagriva, Guhyasamaja, Hevajra, Vajrakilaya, Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara, Amrita and Mamo.

The text of the Kalachakra Tantra " Wheel of Time ", in addition to comprehensive practical guides describes particular statements to the subtle energy channels of the human body and also phenomena in external and internal cycles of time and ways to harmonize them. Therefore, the Kalachakra Tantra also contains many elements of Indian astrology and contributed greatly to the development of the well-known today Tibetan astrology. The transmission of the Kalachakra Tantra is to be found, with some differences in all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Mainly Kalachakra but taught by the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug school, much less frequently in the Nyingma tradition. There are with the School of Jonangpa also a Tibetan tradition that has specialized solely and alone on the transmission and practice of the Kalachakra Tantra. As the oldest known teacher of the Kalachakra Tantra in Tibet Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (1292-1361) and Buton Rinchen Drup (1290-1364) considered.

Shambhala myth

According to tradition, Buddha Shakyamuni transmitted the Kalachakra Tantra, first to King Suchandra of Shambala, because the time was not yet ripe to spread the Kalachakra Tantra among men on earth.

This transferred it to his side rulers and their subjects in order to unite the kingdom Shambala. The fabled kingdom of Shambala thus played an important role in the dissemination of the Kalachakra Tantra. Shambala is to be a living area, which is particularly favorable for spiritual development. Whether this fabled kingdom can be found on earth, can not be said with absolute certainty.

The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatsho says about Shambala:

The aim of the Kalachakra practice, however, is not to be found in the first place this fabled kingdom, although some lamas - including Panchen Lobsang Yeshe Pälden - Guide have written to Shambala, but as with all Buddhist practices to attain enlightenment.

Prophetic content

With the transmission of the Kalachakra Tantra also prophetic texts were transmitted, the contents of which constitute armed conflicts. According to armies that are disposed of spiritual practice hostile, at the time of the 25th King of Shambhala on the civilized world descend to any possibility of spiritual development to destroy.

According to the Kalachakra texts, the civilized world will get out of the realm Shambala assistance and the attackers are repulsed. Then you want to start a new Golden Age, which brings particularly favorable circumstances for spiritual development. Some relate these predictions to a real conflict, which is to take place in a few hundred years. Others believe that these descriptions do not describe a real external conflict, rather symbolically inner physical and mental processes of the tantric practitioner ( yogi ) relate.

Tantric perspective

Usually tantric texts refer only to the practitioner of Tantra ( Yogi ) himself, who fought with the help of meditation and ritual own poisons. These poisons are referred to in many Buddhist texts as the " enemies of the Yogi." External enemies are the inner vision of the higher Tantric strange, because the external reality is not seen as something of the essence of the practitioners Separate. Although the Kalachakra Tantra is different in the prophetic and astrological parts of the other higher tantras, the Kalachakra practice is based on the same internal point of view. Without this background tantric texts are variously misinterpreted.

Inauguration

Initiations in the Kalachakra Tantra were given in the West among others, the 14th Dalai Lama, Kalu Rinpoche of Sakya Trizin and Penor Rinpoche. These initiations usually also teachings on rituals, lectures on ethics and Buddhist philosophy are held. The ceremony is supposed to represent a special blessing for the location of the event and the participants. The practice associated with Kalachakra is also called the Kalachakra for World Peace, as they will also perform a unifying function.

In 2002 Graz was the site of a Kalachakra transmission. There is a documentary film by Werner Herzog: " Wheel of Time " (Germany 2003). In 2006 there was a Kalachakra initiation from Sakya Trizin in Germany on the Lower Rhine.