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KALACHAKRA
By His Holiness The Dalai Lama
At Amravati, Andhra Pradesh, India
January 4-16, 2006

It is hereby announced that the 30th Kalachakra Empowerment to be given by H H the Dalai Lama
will take place at Shri Dhanyakataka, where the Buddha first taught the Kalachakra.
It also commemorates the 2550th year after the Buddha's death.

Click Here for a Detailed Itinerary

Amaravati is an important Buddhist site located near the ancient Satavahana capital, Dhanyakataka, now called Amaravati. It was one of the four renowned Buddhist centers of learning in the country which attracted students from all over the world. It nutured art, architecture, trade and facilitated the spread of Buddhism on the east coast. Today, Buddhists consider it the most sacred pilgrim centre in South India.

The Preliminary teachings will be from Jan 6-9
Ritual Offering Dance Jan 10
The Main Kalachakra Initiation will be from Jan 11-14

In addition to participating in the Kalachakra Initiation ceremony with local Buddhist pilgrims, we will visit several important Buddhist and Hindu sites.

Kola is a Sanskrit word that means time. Chakra is a wheel or wheel of time. Tantra is translated as lineage. The lineage of time or wheel of time is the translation for Kalachakra Tantra. It was taught by the Lord Buddha on the 15th day of the 3rd month of the Iron Dragon Year.

The Kalachakra Tantra has five main chapters but we categorize these in three: external, internal, and alternative.

The external Kalachakra explains the universe, creation, evolution, the geographical structure of planets, and the interrelationships of humans with their environment, animals, planets, zodiac, etc. The internal Kalachakra explains more about the channels and chakras or the six main power points within the body. The alternative Kalachakra is about how to combine these two energies.

Through taking initiations and empowerments you learn how to convert your body into a vajra-body. When you convert your body into a vajra-body, then you will attain enlightenment. This is the long process of the Kalachakra.

The Kalachakra puja called Dam-jho is particularly important during this time of great difficulties, wars and natural disasters. Among the Hindu this is known as the Sri Chakra. In Buddhism the ÔWheel of TimeÕ is usually illustrated in a thangka, sand mandala or sacred Tibetan painting, regarded with activating the internal as well as the external forces. It symbolizes the supreme aim of enlightenment.

Traditionally, the Kalachakra Initiation has been a closely guarded secret and the viewing of the mandala forms the culmination of a twelve day initiation ritual for Buddhist practitioners. However, the Dalai Lama, recognizing the many misconceptions surrounding Tibetan Buddhist practice, began presentations of the Kalachakra Sand Mandala to the general public as a cultural offering.

Practitioners use the mandala to visualize in meditation the steps along the path to enlightenment. In the Kalachakra Mandala, 722 deities, or manifestations of the supreme deity Kalachakra, are portrayed within a circle of some 2 metres in diameter in the form of miniature human, animal and flora forms, abstract pictographs and Sanskrit syllables.

The Kalachakra is very powerful in activating spiritual development hence is the favorite of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, as a ritual worship. Only the Dalai Lama is able to perform it many times. It is reportedly so powerful that ordinary lamas can only do it three times, beyond three they apparently die.

Price: $1955 per person based on min 10 people; single room supplement: $425

Includes:

• acommodations
• accompnying escort
• daily breakfast + dinners
• arrival, departure transfers
• sightseeing and land transport in ac coach except Amaravati portion., Transport at Amaravati in ac Toyota Qualis (4 people in one jeep)
• Professional local guide during sightseeing in Bombay, and Hyderabad as per itinerary
• All monument entrance fees
• Train tickets in two tier A/C Hyderabad-Guntur-Hyderbad
• Porterage
• Mineral water during long drives
• India Gov Service Tax 4.08%

Does not include:

• International Air
• Insurance
• Airport departure taxes
• Meals other than mentioned above
• Tips
• Any expenditure of personal nature such as drinks, telephone phone calls, laundry etc.

Click Here for a Detailed Itinerary