| In Mongolia as in other regions of Central | | | | other Kalachakra", some have referred to this |
| Asia a diverse set of Buddhist traditions | | | | integrative process with its natural ebb and |
| have been cultivated by the Buddhist | | | | flow, as the rhythm of time. This rhythmic |
| faithful. Among these traditions, perhaps | | | | flow as represented by the slow moving |
| some of the most important customs are those | | | | currents of the wind and rain, in concert |
| associated with Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, and | | | | with the natural movement of the varied |
| more specifically, a particular symbol known | | | | elements of the universe, could quite |
| as the "Kalachakra, Wheel of Time". The | | | | possibly, even be referred to as a sacred |
| "Kalachakra" "Wheel of Time" is a "Mandala"; | | | | symhony of sound.Opportunities to Expand |
| a Buddhist symbol that has a round, perfectly | | | | Human ConsciousnessWhen we think of the |
| shaped symmetrical form. It is divided into | | | | "Kalachakra", "Wheel of Time", the great |
| four separate sections; each of them | | | | mystery of human life with all of its hidden |
| contributing to a single unitary | | | | secrets may upon further consideration become |
| shape.Recognized in many regions throughout | | | | an active element in the consciousness of any |
| much of the world today, the "Mandala", first | | | | cultivated mind. In the teachings of the |
| appeared as a religious representation of | | | | Dalai Lama, the rituals associated with the |
| Hindu, and afterward Buddhist conceptions of | | | | "Kalachakra" have become an important part of |
| the cosmos. As a complex composite of both | | | | his efforts to promote the realization of |
| philosophical and religious belief, the | | | | people who are seeking spiritual development |
| "Mandala" is a representation of conceptions | | | | across wide regions of the Asian continent |
| of the universe that have existed for | | | | and throughout the world as a whole.In India, |
| millenia. Having appeared in Sanskrit the | | | | Tibet and Mongolia, for example, His Holiness |
| classical script of India and incorporated | | | | has performed a number of "Kalachakra" |
| into the teachings of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, | | | | ceremonies as a rite of initiation to grant |
| the lexis of the term provides an opportunity | | | | permission to Buddhist practitioners to begin |
| for people to examine the realities of life | | | | to practice the "Kalachakra Tantra". These |
| that transcend ordinary notions of time and | | | | rituals are performed to provide blessings |
| space.These notions, both time and space, as | | | | and good fortune to all of the people who |
| esoteric as they may be, are in fact embedded | | | | inhabit the environment in which the sacred |
| in the term "Mandala" as it contains two | | | | ceremony is performed. The practice of the |
| syllables, "manda" meaning essence and "la" | | | | "Tantra", a word that may mean Hindu or |
| meaning container. It is however true that | | | | Buddhist scripture", or in its more literal |
| the precise meaning of the term may lie | | | | form, "stream of continuity" is a process |
| somewhere beyond mere literal translations of | | | | whereby members of the "Sangha" attempt to |
| the written word. English translations of the | | | | free people from human suffering as part of |
| term have in fact included such key phrases | | | | their ongoing quest for spiritual |
| as "Container of Essence" and perhaps more | | | | enlightenment.First performed by the Dalai |
| aptly, "Sphere of Essence". But it is | | | | Lama in the fifth decade of the twentieth |
| arguable that neither has captured the deep | | | | century shortly after the Chinese occupation |
| meaning of the word.Understanding the Meaning | | | | of Tibet, the "Kalachakra" ritual has |
| in the WordWhen we reflect upon the meaning | | | | purportedly been cloaked in a number of |
| of the term, both literal and figurative, for | | | | misconceptions that have yet to be fully |
| many of us, it may certainly sound quite | | | | described. As a means to dispel any |
| mysterious. And for some people who have had | | | | misunderstandings about the nature and |
| no previous exposure to the word at all, a | | | | significance of the symbol or any rituals |
| wide range of images both good and bad could | | | | associated with its existence, His Holiness |
| quite possibly be called to mind. But for | | | | has performed a number of rituals often |
| those willing to expend only a little bit of | | | | utilizing the legendary sand "Mandala".In |
| effort and consider the significance of the | | | | this sacred ritual monks participating in the |
| word itself, the term could quite possibly, | | | | ceremony construct as etheral "Kalachakra". |
| open up a whole new world just waiting to be | | | | It is made from fine grains of sand. And |
| explored.In an assessment of the meaning of | | | | after bearing witness to the natural beauty |
| the word and its relation to self exploration | | | | of the symbol, and upon pondering the |
| and the expansion of human consciousness, M. | | | | profound nature of its design, the |
| Gankhuyag, a lama at Ulaanbaatar's Gandan | | | | "Kalachakra" is subsequently crushed.The |
| monastery says "the Kalachakra, Wheel of | | | | grains of sand from the "Kalachakra" are then |
| Time, a "Mandala", has long been associated | | | | shared among members of the entire community |
| with the legendary land of Shambala. Often | | | | in a ritual designed to reinforce the |
| described as a mythical place in a region | | | | teachings of the Buddha and promote the |
| surrounded by majestic snow covered | | | | health and well being of the entire "Sangha". |
| mountains, Shambala is a pure land: a place | | | | These rituals are performed to promote |
| where sentient beings travel upon a beautiful | | | | feelings of happiness and goodwill, and most |
| path. It is a great road to both peace and | | | | importantly to promote enlightenment for |
| enlightenment".As a means to facilitate this | | | | those seeking the Buddhist path.Implications |
| journey, the "Kalachakra", "Wheel of Time" | | | | for Human Thought and DevelopmentIn an |
| has been utilized by Mongolian and Tibetan | | | | exhortation of the merits of the "Dharma" |
| Buddhists to assist people to find their own | | | | that are reflected in the Kalachakra |
| unique spiritual path. In a set of rituals, | | | | ceremonies, the Dalai Lama has encouraged |
| some of which were purportedly performed by | | | | members of the "Sangha" to embrace the |
| the Lord Buddha himself, Mongolian Buddhists | | | | opportunities that surround them as life as |
| continue to engage in a number of activities | | | | we know it will sure come to an end.According |
| that include chants, dance, and perhaps most | | | | to His Holiness there are three fundamental |
| interesting meditations upon fire.In these | | | | principles that can help people to exercise |
| sacred fire rituals, rarely known to | | | | their opportunities as they exist here on |
| individuals outside of Mongolian and Tibetan | | | | earth. These include the realization of the |
| circles, more than twenty types of material | | | | opportunities our human existence affords us, |
| including flesh, butter, seeds, and wood are | | | | an appreciation of the rarity of these |
| offered to venerable deities who exist within | | | | opportunities, and a realization of the great |
| the flames of a fire. The purpose of these | | | | significance of these opportunities.Once we |
| activities are not only to please the gods, | | | | have become inspired to exercise such options |
| they increase the probability of a desirable | | | | we can then attempt to attain the three |
| rebirth and in some cases even release the | | | | primary objectives of the "Dharma". They |
| individual from the ceaseless cycle of | | | | include the attainment of a higher rebirth, |
| painful human existence. This is of course a | | | | the attainment of liberation from cyclic |
| fundamental objective of the Buddhist faith | | | | existence, and the |
| and all of its teachings.And while each of | | | | |
| these rituals have been devised to bring | | | | attainment of full enlightenment.From a |
| people closer to a true state of | | | | Buddhist perspective it is possible to say |
| enlightenment, the fire meditations provide | | | | that enlightenment often becomes possible |
| people with a unique opportunity to begin to | | | | possible only with a fundamental |
| understand key concepts at the heart of | | | | transformation of the human mind. If we look |
| Buddhist thought. And while these ideas | | | | to examples of enlightened people we find |
| include a vast number of concepts perhaps | | | | that the cultivation of such a condition is |
| none of them are more important than the | | | | often contingent upon the realization that |
| Buddhist principles of impermanence and | | | | human existnce is dependent upon a number of |
| emptiness.Both of these concepts timeless | | | | conditions and entitities both organic and |
| precepts which in many instances continue to | | | | inorganic. Therefore as it is virtually |
| have a very important impact upon the | | | | impossible for an individual to exist as a |
| psychology of people in the world's most | | | | discrete entity, the notion of an independent |
| populous regions were no doubt, important | | | | self is not a reality but merely an |
| elements in the consciousness of the Buddha. | | | | illusion.As we begin to acknowledge the |
| And they have subsequently become an | | | | implications of this reality enlightened |
| important part of the Buddhist fath. They are | | | | individuals often begin to see the natural |
| an integral part of the "Dharma", the body of | | | | unity of the universe. Religious piety is |
| Buddhist thought, and the "Sangha", the | | | | likely to increase. And feelings of |
| entire Buddhist community.Pondering the Word | | | | compassion, peace and tolerance are likely to |
| and ImageWhen we focus upon the meaning of | | | | flow.Developing a New Mongolian |
| space and time and its relation to the | | | | PsychologyWhen we consider the collective |
| "Mandala", we find that the concepts of | | | | consciousness of the Mongolian people however |
| impermanence and emptiness are well | | | | we must begin to come to terms with the |
| represented. These concepts are not only | | | | violent assault upon Buddhist beliefs that |
| included in the literal meaning of the word. | | | | occured during much of the twentieth |
| They are also manifest in the physical | | | | century.Begining shortly after the People's |
| representation of the image, especially the | | | | Revolution, Soviet political repression had a |
| "Kalachakra", "Wheel of Time".And while the | | | | major affect upon the thought processes of |
| meaning of the word, "Mandala", may provide | | | | the Mongolian people and continued for many |
| individuals seeking spiritual guidance with | | | | decades. Yet the fate of Mongolian monks and |
| an opportunity to begin to understand some of | | | | members of the "Sangha" was by comparison |
| the finer points of Buddhist thought, the | | | | even much worse.Many monks perished and |
| physical representation of the image provides | | | | members of the Mongolian lamasery were left |
| a tangible concrete form, to provide | | | | to cower in the corner. Nothing could have |
| interested people with an opportunity to | | | | been more depressing.In more than a decade |
| begin to absorb a set of abstract ideas that | | | | however, prospects for the Mongolian "Sangha" |
| could otherwise be quite difficult to | | | | have appeared much brighter. The Gandan |
| comprehend.To illustrate this point it can be | | | | Monastery has been resurrected. And large |
| said that the "Kalachakra" may be divided | | | | numbers of people are free to worship in a |
| into three distinct layers of meaning. Each | | | | climate that is almost completely open. The |
| layer is joined to form an integrated image | | | | benefits of this newfound freedom are quite |
| that represents the relationship between all | | | | obvious.If we consider the contemporary |
| things, particularly the relationship between | | | | consciousness of the Mongolian people we find |
| the universe, the individual, and the | | | | that more and more people are returning to |
| mind.Unraveling an Ancient Multilayered | | | | their religious roots. Children are becoming |
| LexisAs a means to express the relationship | | | | more familiar with the "Dharma". And while |
| between the universe, the individual and the | | | | their still may be a long way to go, a more |
| mind, the outer layer of a "Kalachakra" | | | | natural form of selflessness consistent with |
| typically represents the whole human | | | | the teachings of the Buddha has come |
| environment complete with depictions of the | | | | increasingly into play.A Modern Day |
| natural elements the earth, wind, water and | | | | Consciousness Based upon Buddhist ThoughtWhen |
| fire. And it may even include a | | | | we consider the developments in Buddhist |
| representation of Mount Meru.Mount Meru, a | | | | thought during the last decade we can |
| symbol in Tibetan mythology, is a place which | | | | experience a new form of contentment that is |
| represents the center of the universe, a | | | | strong and deep. As children become more |
| dwelling place of gods. It also represents | | | | familiar with the "Dharma" our heritage and |
| the stillness of the human mind; a symbol of | | | | culture begins to bloom.Buddhist values like |
| self cultivation for those who have chosen | | | | Peace, Compassion and Tolerance increasingly |
| the Buddhist path.The inner layer of the | | | | take root. The benefits of such a state of |
| "Kalachakra", in contrast, represents the | | | | mind are completely clear.And as we consider |
| existence of humans within their native | | | | the prospects for the spread of our faith we |
| surroundings. The integration of these two | | | | should feel heartened. A new era is upon us. |
| layers represents a natural reciprocity that | | | | We should exercise the opportunities that now |
| exists beween both the organic and inorganic | | | | exist.We feel fortunate. It is now once again |
| elements in the environment, the larger | | | | a very good time to be a Buddhist in |
| community and individual people. Individuals | | | | Mongolia. For this we are happy and |
| choosing to utilize the "Kalachakra", to more | | | | grateful.We will continue to ponder the |
| fully understand the Buddhist path, may come | | | | natural mysteries that are a part of our |
| to realize the relationship between the | | | | faith. And we will continue to spread the |
| natural elements, the perception of self, and | | | | teachings of the Buddha so Peace and |
| the human mind. This is a natural state of | | | | Enlightenment will continue to spread |
| progression that involves a profound course | | | | throughout the land. It is with this |
| on the development of the human mind and | | | | sentiment that we will continue to light the |
| ultimately, and more importantly the human | | | | lamp that shines so brightly upon the |
| soul.The third layer of meaning by | | | | Buddhist path.Source:Illuminating the path to |
| comparison, also known as the "other | | | | Enlightenment,Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness, |
| Kalachakra" represents the teaching of the | | | | The Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet, Thubtin |
| "Dharma". This layer represents the natural | | | | Dhargye Ling publications (2002).* The |
| integration of ther inner and outer layer, | | | | Mongolian terms for Kalachkra are Dukhuin |
| which culminates in a realization of the | | | | Khor and |
| teachings of the Buddha that are so | | | | |
| beautifully illustrated within the context of | | | | Morgoliin Khurd.Gerald Marchewka is an |
| this sacred symbol. It no doubt represents | | | | American free lance writer currently living |
| the natural unity of the universe.In "the | | | | in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. |