The Three Kalachakra Tantras - The Outer, Inner And Other Wheel of Time

The Kalachakra represents the finality of life and death and their endlessness. Seen as a symbol for creation and destruction, it is known as the wheel of time. The Kalachakra is important in understanding the measurements of time and dates in ancient India. This term is most commonly found in Vajrayana Buddhism.

The Three Kalachakra Tantra

The entire meaning of the subject matter of the Kalachakra tantra is included within the three Kalachakras, or Wheels of Time: the Outer Wheel of Time, the Inner Wheel of Time, and the Other Wheel of Time. 

• The outer wheel of time is the external world of the environment, and it is also called "the procession of the external solar and lunar days.
• The inner wheel of time is the human body, which is an inner jambudvipa, or earth surface. Likewise, the inner channels, elements, and movements of the winds are set forth as the Inner Wheels of Time. 
• The Other Wheel of Time is the story of the initiations and paths of Shri Kalachakra, together with their results. It is "other" than the preceding two wheels of time. The guru ripens the disciple's psycho-physical continuum with the initiations, and the disciple meditates on the path that consists of the generation process and the completion process. In this way, the yogi actualizes the result—the Buddha body,whicht is the divine image of emptiness. This is the other wheel of time.

What is the benefit of the Kalachakra mantra?

The purpose of the mantra is to purify the mind, body, emotions, and speech of the person. Through meditation on the mantra and the painting, one gains deep knowledge and insight.

 

What is the significance of the Kalachakra mandala?

It is seen as a gift to Mother Earth, a means to re-energise the environment and the universe. More than a symbol, the ritual of the Kalachakra mandala is a living enactment of the Buddhist cycle of change and a demonstration of one of the most spiritually advanced of all Buddhist cultures.

The Buddha's teaching of the Kalachakra is described in the Paramadibuddha, the Kalachakra, Basic Tantra:

The Basic Tantra also says: "Then Vajrapani's emanation, King Suchandra from famous Shambhala, miraculously entered into the splendid sphere of phenomena. First he circumambulated to the right, then he worshipped the teacher's lotus feet with flowers made of jewels. Placing his hands together, Suchandra sat before the perfect Buddha. Suchandra requested the Buddha for the tantra, redacted it, and taught it too.

The Kalachakra was taught by our teacher, the Buddha Shakyamuni. He showed the way of actualizing the highest perfect enlightenment underneath the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, India, at early dawn on the full moon of April or May. For one year, he taught the general Paramitayana. In particular, at Mount Vulture Heap, he turned the Dharma Wheel of the Perfection of Wisdom, the chief, ultimate Dharma Wheel of the Paramita system of the Mahayana.

On the full moon of March or April, the twelfth month counted from the time he obtained Buddhahood, the Buddha was teaching the Paramitayana at Mount Vulture Heap. At the same time, he manifested another form inside the great stupa of Shri Dhanyakataka, which is near Shri Parvata in south India, where he taught the Mantrayana.

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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