About Kalachakra

Kalachakra means ‘Wheel of Time’ or ‘time-cycles.’ He is a yidam or meditational deity, belonging to the highest class of tantric practice within Tibetan Buddhism. Kalachakra’s meditations have the great ability to bring us to complete enlightenment. His name also represents the complex meditational practices contained within Kalachakra literature.

Buddha Shakyamuni is said to have taught several important tantric cycles of teachings like the Guhyasamaja Tantra, Chakrasamvara Tantra, Hevajra Tantra and others. Amongst all these teachings, the Kalachakra Tantra is considered one of the most complex teachings that the Buddha ever taught.

A key point of his practice is to transform our inner world into an outer paradise. This means all situations or experiences in life become neither good or bad for a seasoned practitioner or Kalachakra, as we come to understand all phenomena lack inherent truth. Therefore, cause and effect according to viewpoint and are changeable.

Regarding the origin of the practice, Buddha Shakyamuni transformed into the enlightened deity Kalachakra in Dharanikota, India in order to teach this tantra. In fact, the Buddha at that time was receiving a visitor, Suchandra, the king of Shambhala. The king was initiated into this tantra and he returned to his kingdom and continued to practise intensely, eventually mastering this tantra.

The king then transmitted the Kalachakra practice to his subjects and thereafter it became a main practice of Shambhala, with the practice being proliferated to and by the next generation of rulers. The practice was later transmitted to the masters who introduced to the Tibetan traditions.

Further Reading

• The Lord of Time — Kalachakra
• Happy Family for Kalachakra by Tsem Rinpoche (video)
• The Mystical Land of Shambhala
• Rigdzin Chökyi Dragpa’s Coemergent Kalachakra

• Material: Copper
• Height: 146 mm (5.7-in)
• Width: 105 mm (4.1-in)
• Depth: 50 mm (2-in)
• Weight: 0.56 kg (1.2 lb)