Transmission of the Kalachakra Vajra Practice

His Holiness Living Buddha Lian-sheng

(translated by the TBSN Translation Team )

I shall first empower and impart the "Kalachakra Practice" to a Vajra Master. The lineal origin of the teachings, rituals for bestowing the empowerment and procedures of the Dharma-cultivation, will be transmitted to him orally, and on stringent standards. These preparations will ensure that the Vajra Master becomes a consummate teacher of the "Kalachakra Practice". In other words, this Vajra Master is to impart the teachings on my behalf. At the actual ceremony however, I will still be present to supplement the insufficiencies of his sermon.

When the "Kalachakra Practice" was first promoted in Tibet, it was divided into two major schools. The tradition as represented by the Tibetan translator, Bro Shes rab grags, was known as the Bro sect; the other as advocated by Rwa Chos rab, was called the Rwa sect. As for the propagation of the "Kalachakra Practice" in modern times: the Dalai Lama has already bestowed the Kalachakra Great Empowerment on many occasions. The Ninth Panchen Lama held two grand Kalachakra Empowerments in Hangzhou and Beijing. Subsequently, Kalu Rinpoche, who verified my spiritual status, had also transmitted the "Kalachakra Practice". Even the most famous Gongtangcang Rinpoche had organized many "Great Kalachakra Preachings" of very grand scale, on the plains of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan. The lineal transmission of the "Kalachakra Vajra Practice" was passed down from Shakyamuni Buddha to the Dharma Lords of Shambhala. It was later brought into India by Pandita Cilu of Shambhala, and was eventually spread to the snowy range of Tibet by Samanthasri.

The word "Kalachakra", which literally means the "wheel of time", actually has two definitions:

1. Kalachakra Vajra Deity - Buddha Name of the Kalachakra Deity.

2. Kalachakra Tantra - the canonical instructions of the Kalachakra Practice.

According to the "Kalachakra Tantra", the universe is the Greater Time Wheel, and the life span of an individual human the Smaller Time Wheel. It is a practice whereby the universe and the individual man achieve mutual and complete spiritual union, thus actualizing the ultimate goal of Buddhahood. This is the significance of Kalachakra Tantra. Kalachakra or the "Time Wheel", is also divided into:

1. The Outer Wheel - refers to the cosmic time cycle. While each Kala comprises a year, an unit of Chakra is the time taken by the sun to move across twelve constellations and for the Kala to repeat 21,600 times.

2. The Inner Wheel - refers to the life force, channels and energy circulation within the individual man. While each Kala comprises a day, an unit of Chakra is the time taken by the various internal energies to pass the "Twelve Wheels" and for one"s to breathe 21600 times.

3. The Other Wheel - shatters the fetters of life and death, enables the practitioner to transcend the cycle of reincarnations, and gain spiritual purity and emancipation, thus achieving the "Kalachakra Buddhahood". The Other Wheel is based on the mutual interaction, circulation and spiritual union between the Outer Wheel and the Inner Wheel.

After writing about the "Outer, Inner and Other Wheels", I believe everyone now understands that the "Kalachakra Practice" is about the "Union between Heaven and Man". The "Cosmic Wheel" and "Human Wheel" complement each other to arrive at the "Buddha Wheel". This "Kalachakra Practice" is a cultivation which belongs to the Supreme Tantric Section. Its methodologies are extremely detailed, and its procedures comprehensive. The accomplished cultivator can in fact attain Buddhahood within this lifetime. This great practice is extremely rare and superior. A great teaching as such is indeed profound, wonderful and magnificent.

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