An important feature of the Kalachakra Tantra is that it is given for a community.  The Buddha offered it for an entire country, in the mythical kingdom of Shambala, so historically the initiation has been given to large groups.  The Dalai Lama has remarked that in earlier times communities were separated by valleys, rivers, mountains or oceans, whereas today, with instant communication and transportation, our community includes the entire planet.  This is another reason why he feels Kalachakra is a teaching for our time.

Teaching on Shambhala

The real Kalachakra teaching of Shambhala has been secretly present on the Earth and throughout the Galaxy for over a million years.  It is a teaching about cycles of cosmic and neurobiological personal evolution that is itself evolving, ever reaching out into the universe for fresh insights and know-how.

Though the philosophy of the Kalachakra is at the highest level of Buddhism anyone can use it at any time. This philosophy urges us to reach a splendid, pure inner world while still living in our imperfect, earthly one, using Kalachakra as a model. For example, a pure body comes from healthy eating and not smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs. Pure speech means not gossiping or saying unkind things about others. A pure mind is trained away from angry, hateful and selfish thoughts. Once each of us purifies our body, speech and mind, we can find inner peace. When we have inner peace, at last it is possible to experience the state of bliss, or perfect happiness.