by Sydney Eby | May 5, 2023
The Kalachakra Mandala shows the external universe, our internal universe, and the enlightened reality in a single image. The mandala reflects the entire path to enlightenment, from where we are at now to the state of a buddha. The Kalachakra Dharma was taught by the Buddha Shakyamuni and was held by the Shambhala lineage first, before it was transmitted to India and eventually to Tibet. There, it was spread by great masters of different traditions. Although other schools have preserved these teachings dearly up to the present day, only the Jonang tradition retains in detail the completion-stage practices that swiftly realize the enlightenment of Kalachakra in a single lifetime. This is the result of emphasizing the practice of these teachings for so many centuries. By inspiring us to transform ourselves and our world, this mandala suggests the prophecy of a Golden Age of world peace and harmony.
by Sydney Eby | May 5, 2023
The Buddha Akshobhya is symbolized by a vajra on a multicolored lotus seat, surrounded by eight auspicious symbols, including a dharma conch, two fish, and an endless knot, followed by a dharma wheel, lotus, victory banner, parasol, and treasure vase. As a bodhisattva, Akshobhya vowed never to get angry at any living being until he reached enlightenment. As a buddha, his name means “Immovable,” and he stays in the Eastern Pure Land of Joy. His Vajra family is associated with the expression of mirror-like wisdom. The practice of Akshobhya can encourage us to emulate his fearlessness in not being disturbed by anger. To help abandon attachment to afflictive statements of mind, this practice shows how we can gradually replace negative habits with positive ones by cultivating love and compassion. Akshobhya’s bright clarity helps us simply see things as they are, without being so disturbed by confusion.
by Sydney Eby | May 5, 2023
“The essential method of Kalachakra is to cultivate love and compassion to such a degree that all forms of bias are removed and the mind is able to abide in a pervasive and unchanging experience of peace and harmony. This profound realisation is known as Shambhala. To achieve Shambhala is synonymous with full and complete enlightenment or the perfect manifestation of our primordially pure Buddha-nature. Because this nature is equally present at the time of the ground and the time of the result, Shambhala is considered to be both the source of the Kalachakra teachings and the fruition of its practice.
While ultimately Shambhala is the perfection of peace and harmony, conventionally, it can manifest in a variety of ways depending on the purity of one’s mind. As such, we can identify many intermediate steps along the path that are also given the name Shambhala. All of these manifestations represent provisional opportunities for us to achieve realisation of the definitive meaning of Ultimate Shambhala and are produced through the practice of Kalachakra. This means that even if you are unable to complete the path at this time, you can be sure to create the opportunity to do so in a future life.”
– Khentrul Rinpoche, Unveiling Your Sacred Truth, Book 2: The Internal Reality
by Sydney Eby | May 5, 2023
The fierce roar of Hayagriva demonstrates how sounds appear actively as empty forms in an unwavering expanse. He is displayed as an unchallengeable appearance with a horse’s head as a wrathful aspect of Amitabha and a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara expressing the nature of enlightened speech. Traditionally, Hayagriva practice is considered a very powerful method to overcome obstacles. In particular, it can help to cure disease. More broadly, it can act as a strong antidote to negative conditions. Heyagriva also upholds and protects all the teachings of sutra and tantra as the precious speech of the Buddhas.
by Sydney Eby | May 5, 2023
Also known as the Great Black, the Mahakala Mandala displays the fire at the end of the universe to show how worlds appear and are destroyed. By contrast, its fearsome appearance suggests the natural state that remains after everything false disappears. Signifying the ultimate reality, Mahakala is also a special protector of the Dharma. His practice is said to powerfully contain or dissolve negative energy, and to help us find the clarity to abandon obstacles to a spiritual path.
