Material: Copper. Gold-plated. Painted. (3M adhesive on the back)

Size: 10 X 7.5 cm

Description:

Kalachakra (Tibetan: དུས་ཀྱི་འཁོར་ལོ།, Dus kyi 'khor lo, Sanskrit: Kālacakra) is one of the most important deities in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism. Its teachings and practice system have a profound influence in Tibetan Buddhism.

**Origin**

1. **Legend and historical origin**:

- The teachings of Kalachakra are said to be derived from the Kālacakra Tantra taught by Sakyamuni Buddha in Dhānyakaṭaka (now Andhra Pradesh) in South India. According to legend, in his later years, the Buddha taught this secret method at the request of King Suchandra, who later brought it back to Shambhala, a legendary pure land.

- The Kalachakra Tantra was introduced to Tibet from India in the middle of the 10th century, when Indian Buddhist masters such as Cilupa and Kālacakrapāda spread it to Tibet. In the 11th century, Tibetan Buddhist masters such as Dro-phug-pa further promoted it, making it an important tradition of Tibetan Buddhist Tantra.

- The Kalachakra Tantra contains three levels: the outer Kalachakra (cosmic astronomy and calendar), the inner Kalachakra (human energy and practice), and the ultimate Kalachakra (realization of emptiness and the path to liberation), covering philosophy, cosmology, medicine, practice and many other aspects.

2. **Shambhala legend**:

- Kalachakra is closely related to the legend of Shambhala Pure Land. Shambhala is described as a hidden ideal country. It is said that in the future there will be a Shambhala king who will lead all beings to fight against evil forces and restore the Dharma. This eschatological color makes the Kalachakra teachings have a unique religious and cultural appeal.

**Influence**

1. **Religious and spiritual level**:

- **Tantric practice**: The Kalachakra initiation is one of the most complex and important Tantric rituals in Tibetan Buddhism, attracting a large number of believers to participate. Practicing the Kalachakra tantra is believed to quickly accumulate merit and help practitioners realize emptiness and achieve liberation.

- **Cross-sectarian influence**: The Kalachakra tantra is inherited in all major sects of Tibetan Buddhism (such as the Gelugpa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa, etc.), especially the Gelugpa Dalai Lama system. Successive Dalai Lamas often publicly impart the Kalachakra initiation, attracting believers around the world.

- **Cosmology and Philosophy**: The cosmology and astronomy of the Kalachakra Tantra influenced the calendar system of Tibetan Buddhism (such as the Tibetan calendar). Its philosophical thought emphasizes the unity of time, space and consciousness, which has a profound impact on the metaphysics of Tibetan Buddhism.

2. **Cultural and Social Influence**:

- **Peace and Unity**: The Kalachakra initiation is regarded as a ritual to promote world peace. The Dalai Lama has held Kalachakra initiations on many international occasions (such as Switzerland in 1985 and India in 2002), attracting hundreds of thousands of people to participate and spread the Buddhist concept of peace.

- **Art and Symbolism**: The Kalachakra mandala is the pinnacle of Tibetan Buddhist art. Its complex geometric patterns and symbolic meanings embody the harmony and balance of the universe, and have influenced art forms such as thangka and sculpture.

- **Tibetan Calendar and Science**: The astronomical knowledge of the Kalachakra Tantra has influenced the Tibetan calendar calculation and astronomical observation, and has an important role in the concept of time and festival arrangements in Tibetan culture.

3. **Contemporary Global Influence**:

- The teachings of Kalachakra have spread to the West, and many Western Buddhists have participated in Kalachakra initiations and studied its cosmology and meditation system. The Dalai Lama's global teaching activities have made Kalachakra a bridge for dialogue between Tibetan Buddhism and the modern world.

- The eschatology of the Kalachakra Tantra and the legend of Shambhala have also inspired spiritual exploration in contemporary culture, and even influenced some popular cultural elements such as literature and film.

**Summary**

In Tibetan Buddhism, Kalachakra is not only a tantric practice system, but also a comprehensive teaching that integrates cosmology, philosophy, medicine and art. Its origin is related to the legend of Shambhala and the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha. Through the inheritance from India to Tibet, it has become an important pillar of Tibetan Buddhism. Its influence is not limited to religious practice, but also extends to the promotion of culture, art, astronomy and the concept of global peace. Especially through the Dalai Lama's preaching, Kalachakra has become one of the most representative symbols of Tibetan Buddhism in the world.