IDAHO to TORONTO: Attending the Kalachakra Teachings
by Barbara McDaniel
Idaho Buddhists joined thousands of others at the Kalachakra initiation and preliminary teachings in Toronto April 25 through May 5, 2004. What drew us away from our small towns and soft spring to Canada's busy (and cold) principle city? A chance to spend ten days with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Members of the Coeur d'Alene Dharma Community in Toronto, (from left) Alice Sackman, Tracy Morgan, Susan Mitchell, and Barbara McDaniel. (Photo by Bets Greer.)
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Tracy Morgan from the Coeur d'Alene Dharma Community explains. “Life is fleeting. If there's one thing I wanted to do before I died, it was to see His Holiness. I thought it was a good idea to do it sooner than later.”
Alice Sackman, also of Coeur d'Alene, had never left her small children before, but couldn't resist these teachings. “His Holiness talked about developing a deeper faith grounded in a better understanding. Being here is a direct experience that propels your practice.” Trusting her husband to mange without her, Alice knows her family will benefit from her Toronto experience.
The Kalachakra initiation was an added attraction. The Kalachakra Tantra is associated with the kingdom of Shambhala and a future vision of world peace.
Kimbal Anderson, an Aikido instructor, brought six students from his Kamyozan Dojo in Boise. Kimbal practices Japanese Shinto and studies with Tulku Thubten Rinpoche. “Shinto is very connected with Tibetan Buddhism,” he says, “and our kind of Aikido is connected with Shambhala. I came to strengthen that connection. My lama said I would get many blessings from coming to this and would purify the karma of many lives.”
“This is Dharma in action,” Alice marvels. “I especially see it in His Holinessthe way he smiles, his
Alice Sackman glows at the Kalachakra teachings.
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playful sense of humor, his deep love and compassion for all of us. I also see it in each person here, although on a lesser levelthat same joy and playfulness, and our common motivation of wanting to make the world a better place.”
Surely that's the best reason for leaving home: to benefit others. With skillful teaching and his vivid living example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama inspired us to work within to achieve the Kalachakra vision of a peaceful world.
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