The Kalachakra Tantra Teachings and Shambhala
By A. T. Mann

According to traditional sacred history, the two thousand stanzas of the Kalachakra Tantra teachings were revealed by the Shakyamuni Buddha at Dhanyakataka in South India at the request of King Suchandra of the mythic kingdom of Shambhala. Over thousands of years the teachings have been modified, condensed and spread quickly by subsequent dharma kings or "kulika" who bear the Kalachakra lineage.

Shambhala is a mythic kingdom, supposedly located somewhere between the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas. It is reputedly protected by a psychic barrier so that no one can find the kingdom that is not meant to. For centuries the people of Tibet and Mongolia have believed in the existence of this mythical kingdom of Shambhala, hidden behind the distant mountains. In the West it is sometimes referred to as El Dorado or Shangri La.

According to the Kalachakra tantra teachings, the continuing lineage of enlightened kings guards the highest wisdom through those times when spiritual values in the world outside will be lost in war and destruction. The prophecy of Shambhala states that each of these kings will rule for 100 years, that there will be thirty-two in all, and as their reigns pass, conditions in the outside world will deteriorate. Men will become more warlike and pursue power for its own sake, and an ideology of materialism will spread over the earth. When the "barbarians" who follow this ideology are united under an evil king and think that there is nothing left to conquer, the mists will lift to reveal the icy mountains of Shambhala. At that point a great king will come out of Shambhala to defeat the forces of evil and establish a golden age.

It is therefore very relevant that we experience these profound teachings as we are living in a time as described in these prophesies.

Although by definition Shambhala is hidden, many generations of Tibetan Buddhist lamas have spent a great deal of their lives in spiritual development before attempting the journey to Shambhala. Those who try to get there who are not wanted are swallowed by crevasses or caught in avalanches. People and animals tremble at its borders as if bombarded by invisible rays. There are guidebooks to Shambhala, but they describe the route in terms so vague that only those already initiated into the teachings of the Kalachakra can understand them.

Shambhala symbolizes the realization of an enlightened society through an appreciation of the senses and bringing the sacred dimension into everyday life. According to some legends, Shambhala ascended into a higher realm because its population was enlightened and there was no further need for the kingdom to exist on earth, although with the caveat that it might reappear when its wisdom is needed by the world. When relating how King Suchandra of Shambhala, accompanied by the leaders of the ninety-six provinces of Shambhala, came to receive the teaching, the Dalai Lama says that, "I think all of this happened on the mystic level and I don't think it happened on the common level."

The Dalai Lama talks about Shambhala as a model for enlightened society whose code is the Kalachakra Tantra teachings. The teachings also have an effect upon anyone who makes the effort to receive them. He relates a story about the Consort Dorje Chang when he gave Kalachakra initiation at Ganden. He stated that irrespective of whether or not one has physically attended the Kalachakra initiation, everyone who was within the compound of Ganden monastery would receive the Kalachakra initiation and its benefits.

In this version of the Kalachakra Tantra teachings, the Dalai Lama talks about the lineage of the teachings and also of the existence of Shambhala. "So if you relate yourself to the Kalachakra teachings, then you make some karmic connection. Then one could opt in certain added facilities to leave positive imprints to be reborn in Shambhala."

The Dalai Lama asks the question: Where is Shambhala? Can we find it in the world geography? On the world map? And he answers that if you spread out the world map and look for it, you won't find it. Does this mean that Shambhala is nonexistent? The Buddha Shakyamuni taught the Kalachakra Tantra to the Shambhala King Suchandra and similarly to the kulikas or dharma kings. Later on it came into India and Tibet. Many of these great Indian and Tibetan masters sincerely practiced it and they were able to develop genuine realization. So this clearly shows that the Kalachakra Tantra is the genuine highest tantra. Since the teaching is genuine, it is not that easy to say that Shambhala is nonexistent, or that these dharma kings and kulikas are nonexistent.

But on the other hand it is not that easy to refute the existence of Shambhala. Not only is there a history of Prajapati visiting Shambhala, but Janataranata, by holding his dream body, visited Shambhala. At the same time we will not be able to find Shambhala in the ordinary human geography. Only a follower or practitioner who is fully qualified can visit and receive the teachings. It is even difficult to accept the existence of Shambhala literally, as is thought, and yet we also we cannot deny its existence that easily.

In Tantric practice you are able to undertake genuine unified practice, method and wisdom, developing them as an entity of one mind. In this special method you employ on the one hand the very subtle mind, and the subtle energy, which is the mount of that subtle mind, and the subtle mind and the subtle energy which is the mount of the mind are always there together right from the time of the birth. The central portion of the Kalachakra does not employ the subtle mind but it employs an aspect of the subtle mind, which is empty form, which is the aspect of the appearance of the subtle mind as the object to use to actualize the body of the Kalachakra. In accordance with the unique Mother Tantra it explains actualizing the "insight body" by which one actualizes the form body and in terms of actualizing the wisdom body all the highest classes have the same explanation. So there are a total of seven "patterns of childhood" initiations. And then there are three initiations of vase, secret and wisdom of the provisional world initiation and the ultimate beyond the world initiation. And then these are supplemented by "ultimate beyond world" initiations.

So there are a total of eleven initiations. The making and preparation of the deities in the Kalachakra mandala is in accordance with the Indian monastery practice created by Putantichandra, and later translated by the Seventh Dalai Lama. The offering dances and the making of the mandala, drawing the lines, were transmitted through the tradition of Putantichandra.

The time of conferment initiation, if possible, should be the fifteenth of the third month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. If that is not possible, then it should be a full moon day in the rest of the eleven months. So this conferment of the Kalachakra initiation is on the full moon in the sixth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.

In this Mystic Fire Video collaboration with the Dalai Lama's Foundation for Universal Responsibility, the ten day Kalachakra Tantra Initiation has been edited to seven hours. It retains the power and wisdom of the extensive preliminary commentaries by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as the introduction of the deities into the mandala. The ceremony is as profound as it is beautiful to see and hear.

In a very emotional moment the Dalai Lama states that he received the Kalachakra initiation from his Abbot the Kuntroltrim holder, and his senior tutor, Dr. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. It seems that they made great prayer and wonderful wishes for him, particularly when he was granted the Vajra Master initiation. He blesses Dr. Ling Rinpoche with a special kind of feeling and wishful prayers and since he has had the opportunity of giving this Kalachakra initiation so many times, he really feels that this is all due to his kindness, blessing and prayer.

Visit Tad Mann's Website at A T Mann

Visit the Mystic Fire Video site to get the Kalachakra film when it vecome available.