Though the story of the mythic land Shambhala as related from the Kalachakra Tantra is well known, I thought to recount a portion of the legend here. What follows is an edited excerpt taken from my translation of the introduction to the Kalachakra empowerment, as it was conferred in Italy a few weeks ago.^[1]

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Bestowal of the Kalachakra:

The Buddha Shakyamuni taught this [Kalachakra] system on the 15th day of the black-star month [2nd month according to Kalachakra astrology] at the great and glorious Danyakataka Stupa in South India. At that time, he was surrounded by an unfathomable retinue of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, dakas and dakinis, the 12 great gods and other gods, as well as countless assemblies of naga serpents, yasksha spirits and elemental spirits.

In preparation for the upcoming Kalachakra retreat in Italy with Khenpo Sherab Rinpoche, I thought to revisit some of the central themes on Jonang Kalachakra practice that have inspired many of my conversations with friends and inquirers on the subject. Though much of this can be found in my outline of the practice curriculum, it may be helpful to discuss this again here.^[1]

To begin, its important to distinguish what are "ngondro" (sngon 'gro) or the preliminary practices in the Jonang Kalachakra practice tradition, and what are "ngozhi" (dngos gzhi) or the primary practices. Although this is a division that is found among the Tibetan tantric traditions in general, it takes on a slightly different structure here.

Throughout my readings on the Jonangpa in English, I've noticed the (all too) common attribution of either Yumo Mikyo Dorje or Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen as the "founder" of the Jonang tradition.^[1] Though Yumowa was a major figure in the transmission of the Dro Kalachakra lineage as it was received by the Jonangpa, and was a prominent forefather of the tradition, its unlikely that he even heard the word "Jonangpa" in his lifetime.

Kunpangpa

The term was coined during the time of Kungpang Thukje Tsondru (1243-1313), ^[2] the master who later inherited the Dro Kalachakra lineage as it was transmitted through Yumowa, and the first in the lineage to settle in the valley named "Jomonang." He was the 1st Jonangpa.