For the first time in over a decade, the Dalai Lama will host the Kalachakra for World Peace in none other than our own backyard, the nation’s capital, Washington DC. The empowerment event will occur at the Verizon Center and begin with a consecration of the venue on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, July 6, and run until July 16. Over the course of the week, the Dalai Lama will lead in the chanting of prayers and the creation of the ornate sand mandala by the Namgyal Monks, the personal monastery of the Dalai Lama. On July 9, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will deliver “A Talk for World Peace” on the West Lawn at 9:30 AM. The address will be historic in the making and is free to those from all walks of faith and life.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has received nearly 84 commendations for his service to humanity, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Since the 1950s he has persevered above and beyond to safeguard the people of Tibet following the occupation of their homeland by installing a government in exile engineered under the democratic auspices of equality and freedom. His message of tolerance, compassion, peace, and enduring wisdom has been echoed across 6 continents in over 62 countries around the world. An event hosted by a man of such spiritual caliber is not one to be missed.
The Kalachakra is derived from Tantric Buddhism and translates from Sanskrit as ‘time-wheel.’ It revolves around the Buddhist concept of time, kala, in terms of cycles, chakra, ranging from the astrological cycle to circadian rhythm. The deity of Vajrayana invoked during the ritual is an omniscient embodiment of all that is both bound and unbound by time. The Kalachakra was first given by the Buddha to the King of Shambhala and has been preserved through Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
No matter your personal beliefs or convictions, the event is a magnificent celebration of behemoth proportion covering multiple facets. For those interested in culture, art, and history, the Kalachakra dates back centuries and consists of colorful celebratory practices. For those curious about the spiritual aspects of the Kalachakra and Buddhist teachings, the event will include preliminary teachings that present the foundation of Buddhist thought and meditative forms of yoga. Even for the more scientific crowd, one can take an interest in the complex system of the Kalachakra which is based on precise astronomical computations centuries-old.
The Kalachakra is an absolute necessity and with the event unraveling in Washington DC on July 6, it’s an opportunity that can’t be missed.
‘May no living creature suffer, Commit evil, or ever fall ill. May no one be afraid or belittled, With a mind weighed down by depression.’- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
