Dalai Lama in Washington, DC (Kalachakra)

Dalailama.com


Kalachakra for World Peace

Washington, DC: Last week, during the first three days of the Kalachakra (July 6-8), the Dalai Lama and the monks from Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas conducted rituals to prepare and consecrate the venue. These included chanting of prayers, the creation of a sand mandala [as shown below], and other rituals.

Creating a sand mandala symbolizing the universe

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From July 9-11, he gave preliminary teachings on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's 37 Practices of a Boddhisattva (laklen sodunma) and Kamalashila's The Middling States of Meditation (gomrim barpa). On July 12, the Kalachakra Ritual Dance was performed by the Namgyal Monastery monks.

Then from July 13-15, the Dalai Lama conferred the Kalachakra Initiation. Today, July 16, a long life empowerment (tsewang) and a ceremony offering prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama will be performed. Kalachakra 2011 is organized by the Capital Area Tibetan Association (kalachakra2011.com).

Public Talk in Chicago, Illinois on July 17: The 14th Dalai Lama will give a public talk on "Bridging the Faith Divide" in the afternoon at the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) Pavilion organized by The Theosophical Society in America (dalailamachicago.com).

Discussion in Chicago on July 18: He will participate in a conversation with religious leaders on "Building Bridges" in the morning at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance organized by The Theosophical Society in America. More

• Kalachakra for World Peace 2011
• Kalachakra tickets
• Famous Faces at Kalachakra
• Obama to meet Dalai Lama at White House (AP)
• Obama urged to cancel meeting with Dalai Lama (UPI)
• China warns U.S. officials not to meet Dalai Lama (Reuters)
  
• AUDIO: A Ritual for World Peace (NPR)
• Danny Fischer welcomes Kalachakra
• July Eurozone Debt Summit (should be hint to DC)
  

Wonderlane's amazing Buddhist journey

Wonderlane.com

Statue of the Buddha in the Earth touching mudra (Bhumisparsha), the most beautiful in the world (Wonderlane/Flickr.com)

The Buddhist photographer Wonderlane (wonderlane@gmail.com) plans to attend a third Kalachakra in Washington D.C. in July of 2011 with a plan to honor a commitment to practice.

Brief History of Sakya Monastery
Alexander Berzin (berzinarchives.com)

In the Manjushri Root Tantra, the Buddha is said to have prophesied that a Sakya Monastery would cause his teachings to flourish in the Land of Snows [Tibetan plateau]. It is said the site of this monastery was also prophesied by Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava. Several stupas [burial mounds for the relics of enlightened individuals and revered teachers] had already been built at the monastery’s future location, when Atisha (982-1053) stopped there in 1040.

He saw on the mountainside a syllable "Hrih," seven "Dhih," and one "Hung" and prophesied that an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, seven of Manjushri, and one of Vajrapani would grace this site. In 1073, Konchog-gyelpo (1034-1102) of the Kon (‘Khon) family established the Pelden Sakya Monastery (gompa) in Tsang province in central Tibet. The monastery, and subsequently the tradition he founded, derived its name from the color of the soil of its location. "Sakya" means literally "gray earth." More

Buddha, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, mandala offering, throne, shrine, traditional decorations, books, Seattle, Washington, USA (Wonderlane/Flickr)

Thank you so much for your valuable prayers and donations!

-Wonderlane (Photographer Libre, Sherab Wongmo)

If we cling to this life then we are not Dharma practitioners;

If we cling to the Wheel of Rebirth then we do not possess renunciation (nekkhamma);

If we look only to our own interests then we do not possess enlightenment-mind (bodhicitta);

If clinging ensues then we do not possess right view.

-Sachen Kunga Nyingpo

Sakya Pandita

Sakya Pandita's Elegant Sayings