Dalai Lama: Kalachakra begins on birthday



(Kalachakra Sand Mandala)

On July 6, 2011, the 14^th Dalai Lama will not only celebrate his 76^th birthday, but will also begin an 11-day Kalachakra

for World Peace.

By his third birthday, Lhamo Dhondup (his original name) was deemed to be a reincarnation of the 13^th Dalai Lama. With this recognition came a change of name.  He was now known as Tenzin Gyatso, a Bodhisattva of Compassion, and a patron saint of Tibet.  He is also often called “His Holiness.”  By age seven, he had already officially begun his monastic studies.  While many seven year olds are studying phonics and basic arithmetic, the young Dalai Lama was  instead embarking upon a journey through “logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, medicine, and Buddhist philosophy.” 

The dalailama.com website further tells us that the “minor”

subjects in this overall curriculum were “poetry, music and drama, astrology, motre and phrasing, and synonyms.”  These

intense studies continued until his final exams (which he passed with “honors”) at age 23.  He was then awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree (which is “equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy” with “Leadership Responsibilities”).

All these years later, His Holiness is continuing to devoutly fulfill these Buddhist leadership responsibilities.  One of the ways he’s been doing this is by hosting Kalachakra peace gatherings.  The one that begins on his 76^th birthday will take place in Washington D.C.  Huffpost Religion reports that activities within this event include “dancing, chanting of prayers and teachings by the Dalai Lama on Tibetan Buddhist principles.”

Kalachakra (aka Kalacakra) is a Sanskrit term that means “time-wheel” or “time cycles.”  It is also the name of a Tantric deity.  According to Wikipedia, Kalachakra “knows all,” “is without beginning or end,” and “teaches the practice of working with the most subtle energies within one’s body on the path to enlightenment.”

Kalachakra astrology emphasizes the commonalities and interconnectedness between human beings and the cosmos.  The power of all these human beings coming together to practice Kalachakra peacefulness can therefore resonate throughout Creation.           

Resources

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/27/dalai-lama-washington-dc_n_885612.html

http://www.dalailama.com/biography/a-brief-biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalachakra

Copyright July 6, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved