New Book: Essays on the Kalacakra Tantra in Honor of H.H. the Dalai Lama

As Long As Space Endures: Essays on the Kalacakra Tantra in Honor of H.H. the Dalai Lama

As Long As Space Endures - Kalachakra Tantra book

The Kalachakra Tantra — Kalachakra means “wheel of time“ — is a tradition of Buddhist theory and practice whose root text treats a fantastic expanse of knowledge ranging from observations of the cosmos to investigations of meditative states and vital bodily energies. In the Tibetan-speaking world, a public Kalachakra initiation remains the most sought-after event in the life of a devout Buddhist. The Fourteenth Dalai Lama has long had a strong connection with the Kalachakra Tantra; he brought the initiation to the West in 1981, performing it in the U.S., Switzerland, Spain, and Australia. This volume has been created to celebrate his long involvement with the Kalachakra teachings.

The twenty-five contributors, scholars who have made tantric studies their specialty, have contributed translations of works by great Indian and Tibetan Kalachakra masters, analyses of historical figures, methods of practice, essays on medicine, ritual expertise, and ethical discipline. The collection also includes practical advice for Western students and practitioners from contemporary Tibetan Kalachakra masters.

Ed. by Edward A. Arnold on behalf of Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, fore. by Robert A. F. Thurman. Snow Lion, 2009.

Kalachakra stela at Kalachakra stupa, Karma Guen, Spain (c) Space is Joy http://www.flickr.com/photos/7593961@N08/

Health and Astrology in the Kalachakra Tantra

Excerpt from the book

The cosmos is the aspect of time that is characterized by the passage of days, months, and years, which is determined by the movement of the sun through the twelve houses of the external zodiac. Thus, time is conceptualized and measured as internal and external. The orbiting of the sun through the twelve houses in the course of a year correlates with the daily passage of vital energies through the twelve subtle channels of the internal zodiac. When the positioning of the twenty-seven constellations and ten planets along the zodiacal belt conform to the flow of vital energies in the twelve channels in the navel chakra, they promote physical and mental health. But when they are in disharmony, the configuration of planets in the celestial sphere has a pernicious effect on one’s health and general well-being. This close connection between the external and internal zodiacs is based on the premise that the celestial sphere (gola), which holds the constellations and planets, is of the nature of wind, which is nondifferentiated from the wind of vital energies that supports a human body. These two types of winds support their respective spheres by holding and transmitting the elements of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and gnosis.

Kalachakra Cosmology Diagram (c) Detlev Göbel

The six types of elemental particles, which determine the specific characteristics of the solar houses, their dominating planets, and the twelve sections of the earth, also produce corresponding properties in the plants, metals, minerals, and gems used for medicinal purposes. The elementary particles determine the colors and tastes of these medicinal substances used to counteract imbalances in the elements of the body. For example, the earth-element, which is solidity, produces the color yellow and a salty taste. Substances dominated by this element are used for the elimination of sharp, acute pains, like those of colic, rheumatism, and the like, which are characterized by an excess and disturbance of the wind-element. Being of the nature of solidity, the earth-element calms the bodily wind-element, which is of the nature of mobility. Similarly, substances of the nature of the water-element that are characterized by the color white and a sweet taste are used for balancing the fire-element in the body, for the removal of toxins that aggravate the fire-element, and so on. Substances dominated by the fire-element and characterized by the color red and a hot taste counteract disturbances of the earth-element in the body and diseases caused by spirit possession. Substances of the nature of the wind-element are characterized by the color black and a pungent taste. They counteract disturbances of the water-element and conditions such as stiffness and paralysis. The space and gnosis elements, which produce blue and green colors and give bitter and sour tastes, respectively, facilitate the removal of a wide range of diseases caused by imbalances of various elements.

Kalachakra Cosmology

The elemental nature and medicinal qualities of the natural substances are contingent upon the time of year and season in which certain medicinal plants grow and upon the geographical areas in which particular medicinal substances are found. The time of year and geographical areas, in turn, accord with the nature of particular constellations, planetary positions, and the time of their influence on specific regions of the earth.

Kalachakra yab-yum thangka

According to the Kalachakra tradition, due to the efficacy of the aforementioned six elements there are two sets of six months and six seasons, which make up a solar year. Each set of three seasons consisting of six solar months is characterized by the qualities of sattva (luminosity, intelligibility), rajas (activity, passion), and tamas (darkness, inertia), which are inherent in the elements. These three qualities are also inherent in diverse natural substances, with one of them being the most dominant quality. Similarly, each of the six seasons, which consists of two months, is divided into five periods due to the nature of these five elements—space, wind, fire, water, and earth.

Kalachakra Wheel of Time Sand Mandala

With regard to the human body, the six elements are carried by the vital energies in the channels that spread from the twelve zodiacal houses in the navel during the development of the fetus and that make up the mind-body complex. According to this Buddhist system, three hundred and sixty solar days, thirty lunar days (tithi), sixteen digits (kala) of the moon, and other divisions of time have their individual correlates in the various channels of the vital energies that carry the previously mentioned elements in the body. The vital energies in the body become disturbed by these elements, which constitute the three main bodily humors (dosa)—wind (vata), bile (pitta), and phlegm (kapha), which correspond to the three previously mentioned qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas. In consequence, the disturbed vital energies give rise to physical and mental disorders that can lead to death. In contrast, the equilibrium of the elements of the three humors keeps the vital energies in balance and maintains good health. For as long as vital energies circulate through the twelve houses of the internal zodiac in the course of a day and night, the individual’s life is preserved. But when vital energies begin to uninterruptedly circulate in a single left channel, that is, in a single uneven zodiacal house, for a day and night, for a fortnight, or for a month, then premature death becomes imminent within a year, a half year, or three months, respectively.

Kalachakra Sacred Logo

According to the Kalachakra tradition, the optimal lifespan of the individual is one hundred years. In the course of one hundred years, the bodily elements undergo a process of maturation that lasts ninety-six years and ten-and-a-half months. For the first thirty-two years and three-and-a-half months, vital energies in the body are dominated with the quality of sattva. For the next thirty-two years and three-and-a-half months, the vital energies are dominated by the quality of rajas; and for the last thirty-two years and three-and-a-half months, the vital energies are dominated by the quality of tamas. In the course of the remaining three years, three fortnights, and three days, vital energies gradually cease circulating, as the houses of the internal zodiac begin to collapse.

In this way, vital energies leave the bodily elements, causing their sequential dissolution that results in death. This division of the human lifespan of ninety-six years and ten-and-a-half months corresponds to the length of time it takes eight planets altogether to move through the circle and a half of twenty-seven constellations.