Beginning on July 6, 2011, the 76th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Kalachakra for World Peace will be offered in the heart of the US capital, Washington, DC. His Holiness will offer this great ritual empowerment, including preparatory teachings, from July 6 through 16. During the event, "Kalachakra for World Peace", His Holiness will lead ritual prayers, dances, teachings, and chanting in the Kalachakra tradition, an ancient Buddhist Tantric system. On July 9, as well, His Holiness will give a public talk on World Peace.
The event is being organized by the Capital Area Tibetan Association, a Washington nonprofit, and will take place at the Verizon Center in Washington. "Kalachakra for World Peace" begins at 7am on July 6.
Now we will explain a bit about classical Mahayana Tantric Buddhism. If neo-tantra people are going to use the word "tantra", you owe it to the Buddha to actually read this and learn something about the real tantra. Here goes...
Kalachakra, an ancient Indian tantric tradition, goes back to the time of the historical Buddha. The complex tradition revolves around ideas of time and cycles, and involves controlling the breath and the energies within the body. Kalachakra is set of tantric Buddhist practices and teachings that include philosophy, meditation instructions, cosmology, medicine, and yoga. Utilizing visualization of deities and mandalas, recitation of sacred mantra, and meditation brings about such pure perception. It is believed that through such practices, one’s ordinary outlook can be fundamentally transformed into a ‘sacred perception,’ where all sights, sounds and even thoughts, are experienced purely in their true nature. The ultimate point to the methods found in tantra is to transform the mind and mature one’s innate wisdom and compassion. The Dalai Lama has said, “Buddhism is not about rituals, mantras, visualizations, or ceremonies. They may be part of it, but the fundamental point of Buddhism is to transform the mind.”
To practice the Kalachakra, as with all tantric teachings, consistent guidance by a qualified master is required. Central to this guidance is an empowerment, or initiation, into the various visualizations of deities and mandalas, mantra recitation and all associated practices. Empowerment is analogous to the manner in which an unlit candle is poised to illuminate a dark room but requires the condition of another flame. In a similar manner, when a qualified master conducts an empowerment, the student’s spiritual potential can be ignited which allows their indwelling wisdom and compassion to shine forth.
His Holiness and other senior monks from the Nangyal Monastery, his personal monastery, will conduct ritual prayers and create a sand mandala during the first three days of the event. The next three days consist of teachings by His Holiness, followed by ritual dancing on July 12, Kalachakra initiation ceremonies on July 13-15, and finally, a life empowerment (Tsewang in Tibetan) and a prayer ceremony for the conclusion on July 16. As part of Kalachakra for World Peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give "A Talk for World Peace" at the US Capitol Building on July 9. The talk is part of a "World Peace Event" and also includes a Tibetan cultural performance, a cello performance, and a question-and-answer session. The event is free and open to the public. After speaking in Washington, His Holiness will continue his travels in the USA.
More info: www.kalachakra2011.com
