Kalachakra Pilgrimage Mongolia Tour w/ Khentrul Rinpoche and Vesna Wallace

You will be guided in a clear step-by-step way through the empowerment ceremony so that you can understand what is happening and what you are receiving. Through lecture, discussion, silent meditation, mantra, and ritual offerings, form a deep connection to your own inner realm of peace and harmony.

Who Can Attend

There are no prerequisites and afterward no commitments other than the ones you choose to take. This path is flexible; it allows you to engage with it wherever you are at. The empowerment can be taken as a blessing or empowerment. The refuge, bodhisattva, tantric vows and uncommon vows of Kalachakra will be given along with the initiation for those taking this as empowerment.

About Kalachakra

Kalachakra brings peace to oneself and the world as we learn to harmonize our environment with our body & mind. Kalachakra, which means wheel of time, transcends religions time, space and perceived reality. It is the essence that makes up our very nature. It harmonizes the cosmic, with our internal system and the enlightened mind. Unlike many Buddhist tantras, Kalachakra is very detailed giving insight and direction to help anyone of any religious tradition realize their true nature. This teaching helps us move past habitual limitations to unleash our limitless potential of love & compassion.

The Kalachakra is the most comprehensive tantric practice in Buddhism. All the lineages in Tibet practice the creation phase of the Kalachakra, but the Jonang lineage has studied and practiced both the generation and completion stages in a continuous unbroken lineage from the 13th century to the present. The Kalachakra Tantra was the first teaching of the Buddha to discuss the Kingdom of Shambhala which is devoted solely to help unite people of all religions and creeds to develop a second golden age of world peace and harmony on our planet earth.

Complete System to Enlightenment

The Tibetan Buddhist Jonang Lineage specializes in the complete path that guides students in a clear step-by-step system to enlightenment. It is known specifically for upholding the 6 vajra yogas. It has never been taught in its entirety to lay (non-monastic) practitioners in the West. Most of the Jonang yogis have remained practicing in their monasteries and caves in the Himalayas. Khentrul Rinpoche, inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s effort to initiate so many students, has made it his life’s mission to bring these teachings to the West in English. He is creating the conditions for lay practitioners to realize the heart essence of these profound teachings in this lifetime and usher in the golden age of peace and harmony (Dzokden).

For students who are ready, who have already been approved or received the empowerment previously, Khentrul Rinpoche will bestow the Higher Empowerment of Kalachakra and the 3 Isolations (wen-sum) transmission. If you are not part of the Higher Empowerment participants, you will have a retreat program focused on Innate Kalachakra. Apply for the Higher Empowerment.

In order for Khentrul Rinpoché to bestow the profound pith instructions of the Kalachakra Completion Stage, it is necessary to first establish a sincere and stable relationship with him as your primary Vajra Master by receiving the Four Higher Empowerments. To help Rinpoché evaluate if you are ready to engage in these advanced practices, please read through the requirements very carefully and then fill out the form that follows.

Requirements
1. Faith in the Kalachakra Path as Your Primary Path
The Higher Empowerments are only given to those disciples who have a sincere desire to achieve enlightenment in this life or the next through the practice of the Kalachakra Path. This level of commitment must arise from a clear understanding of what the path entails and why it is capable of producing the result of enlightenment. You can develop this faith by studying the path as presented in Khentrul Rinpoché’s books. At the Completion Stage level, you will need to make the Kalachakra Path your primary focus and make all other practices secondary.

2. Faith in Khentrul Rinpoché as Your Primary Vajra Master
Unlike the Generation Stage empowerments, Khentrul Rinpoché will only give the Higher Empowerment to students who have the intention of practicing the Six Vajra Yogas under his direct guidance. This level of practice requires a strong devotion towards the Vajra Master in order to really be effective; therefore, you should strengthen your faith in Rinpoché by listening to his teachings and reading his books as much as possible before requesting the Higher Empowerments. While Rinpoché does not need to be your only teacher, you will need to follow his advice above all others.

3. Understand the Nature of Tantric Samaya
While tantric Samaya is important at any stage of the Vajrayana, it is particularly powerful as support for the Completion Stage practices. In order to ensure that you are able to keep your Samaya as purely as possible, it is important that you are familiar with Rinpoché’s teachings on how to work with a Vajra Master. Failure to follow his guidelines could result in a breach of Samaya which would generate enormously negative karma for you and would dramatically reduce Rinpoché’s capacity to benefit sentient beings in this life. Therefore, please read the following chapters from Rinpoché’s book Unveiling Your Sacred Truth:
Book Two: Chapter 3 — How to Follow an Authentic Dharma Teacher
Book Three: Chapter 2 — Cultivating Devotion Towards a Vajra Master

4. Strong Foundations in the Kalachakra Preliminaries
In order to authentically practice the Six Vajra Yogas, it is necessary to have established at least a basic level of realization in both the common and uncommon preliminaries. How much time should be spent on the preliminaries will depend on each individual and the current stage of their development. To learn more about where to focus your energy, you should refer to the guidelines presented in “How to Practice the Kalachakra Path”. The more integrated the preliminaries are in your mind, the more effective you will be able to practice the Kalachakra Completion Stage.

International Flights

You are responsible to book your own international flights. To arrange your airport pickup and dropoff you will need to send a copy of your flight itinerary.

When must I arrive in Ulaanbaatar?
Flights typically arrive in the morning to Ulaanbaatar, so we’ve planned the first day accordingly. We do recommend arriving on the morning of August 4th, the first day of the tour at the latest. We may be taking a bus the next morning to a destination over 7 hours away. If you wish to arrive early, we can help you with hotel reservations.

What time should I book my departing flight from Ulaanbaatar?
The trip is technically finished after breakfast although most flights will leave early in the morning before breakfast is served.

If you wish to stay on and continue your independent exploration of Mongolia, please plan your own trip.

Passport/Visa

First and foremost, your passport MUST be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of the trip, and you’ll need two empty pages in the Visas section of your passport (make sure they are in the Visa section, not the Amendment or Endorsement section). Most countries require a visa for Mongolia. Please check with your local Mongolian embassy for details.

What To Bring

Traveling to Mongolia can be a challenging yet wonderful experience. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with local customs and international laws.

Medical

There are no required vaccines to enter Mongolia. You can read the American CDC’s recommendations here and the UK’s NHS recommendations here. We advise you to check with your local doctor to decide what is best for you.

It is useful to bring a small first aid pack which includes:

Nausea and diarrhea medicine, travel sickness tablets, glucose powder, paracetamol tablets, saline eyewash, cold and flu tablets, mosquito repellent, sunscreen and any other supplies you feel you may need or have been advised to bring. We will not be at high altitude but Mongolia is al at an altitude that can generate sickness in some people. If you are sensitive to an altitude above 1800 meters prepare.

Check with the Mongolian Embassy if you are concerned about any medication you need to bring with you.

Travel Insurance

We suggest medical insurance which includes evacuation and trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, we only suggest it highly. We will be in remote areas that may not have a modern medical facility. Please plan accordingly.

Clothing

Arriving in Mongolia in August, the temperature is +25°C to +38°C during daytime and +8°C to +20°C at nights until 15 August. The temperature cools down +10°C to +15°C after 15 August. In the Gobi desert, the temperature is more erratic and the weather can change rapidly.

Miscellaneous items

When attending the teachings, you will require something to sit on, so bring a meditation cushion with you and a plastic sheet in case it rains. You will most definitely need insect repellent. Other items which will come in handy are umbrella, sunscreen, towel, hat, sunglasses, toilet paper/tissues, batteries, headlamp, camera, SD card for extra storage, torch, chargers, adaptors, pen, paper/writing book, favorite snack food, access to $500 for extra food and miscellaneous expenses.

Drinking-Water

We recommend drinking only bottled water, and you will want to rinse your toothbrush off in bottled water. Bottled and boiled water will be available throughout the trip.

Money

You can either exchange cash in Mongolia or use local ATMs. It’s best to bring some with you as we won’t have time to exchange money in many places. All of your meals and transportation are covered, so you just need personal spending money.

WIFI

For most of the trip, there will not be wifi available. You will have wifi at our hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

Required Reading

To get the most out of the retreat section you will need a copy of the Profound Path of Vajra Yoga. You are advised to purchase a copy in advance from our store or in the USA at store.dzokden.org as we will not have extras with us on the trip.

Profound Path of Vajra Yoga

This prayer book contains the traditional Jonang Kalachakra preliminary (ngondro) practice materials in English with transliterated Tibetan. Two complete sadhanas, the traditional lineage sadhana of the Divine Ladder and Khentrul Rinpoche’s version Enlightening the Heart are included along with a wide variety of lineage prayers and supplications.

Suggested Reading

There is no required preparation. If you want to familiarize your mind with any of the material related to the trip we have selected a few of the text.

Unveiling Your Sacred Truth 1, 3 or 3 by Khentrul Rinpoche

The Kalachakra Path offers a profound method for actualising your greatest potential and contributing to greater peace and harmony within this world. For the first time ever, this extraordinary path is revealed in a step-by-step manner, allowing students to gradually approach this uniquely comprehensive system in a structured and methodical way.

Hidden Treasure of the Profound Path By Khentrul Rinpoche

In this direct and clear commentary on Jetsun Taranatha’s classic text “The Divine Ladder”, Khentrul Rinpoché reveals the profound methods which have been used by Kalachakra masters for hundreds of years to achieve extraordinary realisations. Through these practices, you will be guided in a step-by-step manner through a process of transformation that allows you to gradually experience your greatest potential in this very lifetime.

The Inner Kalachakra Tantra

Translated by Vesna Wallace The Kalacakratantra, the latest and most comprehensive Buddhist Tantra available in its original Sanskrit, has never been the topic of a full-scale scholarly study. This fascinating volume fills that gap, concentrating on the inner Kalackaratantra and discussing the nature of human beings.

The Kalachakra Tantra: The Chapter on Sadhana

Translated by Vesna Wallace This is the first complete English translation of the fourth chapter of the esoteric Buddhist Kalacakra Tantra text and its eleventh-century commentary, the Stainless Light (Vimalaprabha).

Requirements for Kalachakra Practice

You will need to have a copy of “Divine Ladder” written by Khentrul Rinpoche. It is preferable that you have a mandala set, however, it is not compulsory. It would also be beneficial to have a copy of “Hidden Treasure” a commentary on the Divine Ladder as well as Sacred Truth book 3. These items are available online at www.dzokden.org

General rules

• Mobile phones should be kept to a minimum. Other technologies should be left at home where possible
• The rooms are for at least 2 persons.
• All meals are included in the tour costs and are pre-ordered. If you have any special requests please contact your tour guide representative the day before.
• Please be punctual and attend all sessions where possible
• Out of respect for the teachers, we ask that participants attend all sessions
• It is recommended that any personal items be kept in a locked bag. The Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute cannot be held responsible for any items left around the property that is stolen or damaged.
• Please be prepared for the Gobi desert. Pack electrolytes to prevent heatstroke. The Tibetan Buddhist Rime Institute cannot be held responsible for any injury incurred.

Food Or Medical Issues

If you have a serious food allergy or medical condition we should know about please inform us by email to discuss as soon as possible.

This is not a strenuous trip. We will be driving for several multi-hour stretches times on this trip, so guests should be able to sit in a vehicle for up to 5 hours at a time (although we can stop for bathroom breaks and leg-stretching along the way). At times, during the Kalachakra practice retreat, we will be sitting on the ground for hours at a time. It is unknown how many of the facilities will have chairs as this is not common in the nomadic culture.

Offerings

Traditionally, an offering is made to the teacher at the conclusion of the Tour (please note that this is entirely optional) as a gesture of appreciation. You can offer whatever you think is appropriate. However, here are a few suggestions – a card, flowers, money, food or other items. A Tibetan offering scarf (khata) is given to the teacher for a blessing as part of the ceremony and can be borrowed or purchased from retreat volunteers or you may like to bring your own.