Speak Truth To Power (News)
The Dalai Lama Confers The Kalachakra For World Peace In Washington, D.C.

After over 60 years of service as spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people, both in Tibet, and later in exile in India, His Holiness The Dalai Lama announced in March that he would resign from his political office. His Holiness, who is featured in Kerry Kennedy’s book Speak Truth To Power and is also included in the Speak Truth To Power human rights curriculum, has advocated for his political resignation throughout his tenure, and now with this announcement he hopes to encourage the Tibetan people to come together as a nation to choose their own political leadership. This does not mean, however, that His Holiness will be rescinding his spiritual role. Instead, the Dalai Lama continues to tirelessly promote the values of Buddhism in an effort to encourage peaceful solutions to political and social conflicts around the world.

It is to this end that he arrived on Tuesday, July 5, in Washington, D.C. to confer the Kalachakra for World Peace for the first time in the U.S. This 12-day series of spiritual events, led by the Dalai Lama and the monks of Namgyal Monastery, will feature talks, lectures, performances, prayer, chanting, and the creation of the Sand Mandala, a Buddhist spiritual symbol. The entire program will be kicked off on July 9 with a free “Talk for World Peace” by His Holiness. 

The teachings of the Kalachakra date back to the 6th century BCE, during the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni who is said to have transmitted them to the king of the semi-mythical land of Shambhala. The purpose was to help the king and his 96 lieutenants unite Shambhala’s subjects against possible foreign invasion. Thus began the tradition of associating the Kalachakra teachings with the promotion of world peace. Since that time, the Kalachakra Initiation has been given by an unbroken succession of great masters, including revered figures such as Lama Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa, and continuing directly to the present Dalai Lama, who has offered this great ceremony to hundreds of thousands of eager participants around the world.

While the participants in the Kalachakra are committed to rigorous personal discipline, the observers are welcome to watch and absorb the teachings and to receive the blessings. As His Holiness noted: “The initiation to the Kalachakra is one of the most important... because it takes everything into account: the body and the human mind, and the whole external aspect -- cosmic and astrological. We firmly believe in its power to reduce conflict and we believe it is capable of creating... peace of spirit and therefore peace in the world.”

As his role in the political affairs has diminished, this visit nevertheless exemplifies the Dalai Lama’s continuing commitment to preach for peace around the world.