Kalachakra Root Tantric Vows

Introduction

In the Kalachakra Tantra, most of the fourteen root tantric vows are defined more specifically than in the other tantra systems. With Kalachakra empowerment (dbang, initiation), we promise to keep both the common and the specifically Kalachakra formulations of them. This is relevant advice for practitioners of any of the higher tantra systems. As corroboration, Ngari Panchen (mNga'-ris Pan-chen Padma dbang-rgyal), a 16th-century master of the Nyingma tradition, has explained in Ascertaining the Three Levels of Vowed Restraints That are Branches of the Natural Path of Dzogchen (Rang-bzhin rdzogs-pa chen-po'i lam-gyi cha-lag sdom-gsum rnam-nges) that the root tantric vows taken at any dzogchen empowerment are a blend of the common and Kalachakra versions delineated separately in the other three Tibetan lineages.

To differentiate clearly the common from the Kalachakra root tantric vows, we shall follow here the explanation given in An Explanation of Secret Mantra Ethical Discipline: A Cluster of Fruit of Actual Attainments (gSang-sngags-kyi tshul-khrims-kyi rnam-bshad dngos-grub-kyi snye-ma) by the early 15th-century Gelug founder Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa Blo-bzang grags-pa). We shall supplement it from A Lamp to Illuminate the Closely Bonding Practices (Dam-tshig gsal-ba'i sgron-me) by the late 15th-century Gelug master Kedrub Norzang Gyatso (mKhas-grub Nor-bzang rgya-mtsho).

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