Kalachakra: A Bibliography

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This bibliography was originally published as an appendix to Taking the Kalachakra Initiation (Ithaca, Snow Lion, 1997), reprint: Introduction to the Kalachakra Initiation (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2010), and published here in the preceding items on this website in individual parts. 

Major Tibetan and Sanskrit Sources Consulted

Ashvaghosha II. Gurupancashatika (Bla-ma lnga-bcu-pa; Fifty Stanzas on the Spiritual Teacher).

Buton (Bu-ston Rin-chen grub). dBang-gi le'u'i 'grel-bshad dri-ma med-pa'i 'od mchan-bcas (An Explanation of the "Empowerment" Chapter of Stainless Light, Together with a Line-by-Line Correlation [with the Root Text]).

_______. 'Jig-rten khams-kyi le'u'i 'grel-bshad dri-ma med-pa'i 'od mchan-bcas (An Explanation of the "World Sphere" Chapter of Stainless Light, Together with a Line-by-Line Correlation [with the Root Text]).

_______. Nang-gi le'u'i 'grel-bshad dri-ma med-pa'i 'od mchan-bcas (An Explanation of the "Internal [Kalachakra]" Chapter of Stainless Light, Together with a Line-by-Line Correlation [with the Root Text]).

_______. dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i dkyil-choggi zin-bris (Notes on the Mandala Ritual of Glorious Kalachakra).

_______. dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i dkyil-chog yon-tan kun-'byung (The Mandala Ritual of Glorious Kalachakra: The Source of All Good Qualities).

Seventh Dalai Lama (rGyal-dbang bsKal-bzang rgya-mtsho). bCom-ldan'das dpal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i sku-gsung-thugs yongs-su rdzogs-pa'i dkyil-'khor-gyi dbang-chen cho-ga (The Ritual for the Grand Empowerment into the Complete Mandala of the Enlightening Body, Speech and Mind of Lordly, Glorious Kalachakra).

_______. dPal gsang-ba 'dus-pa mi-bskyod rdo-rje'i dkyil-'khor-gyi cho-ga'i rnam-par bshad-pa dbang-don de-nyid yang-gsal snang-ba rdo-rje sems-dpa'i zhal-lung (An Explanation of the Mandala Ritual of Glorious Guhyasamaja, Illumination Clarifying the Actual Meaning of Empowerment: The Oral Tradition of Vajrasattva).

Fourteenth Dalai Lama (rGyal-dbang bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho) and Yongdzin Ling Rinpochey (Yongs-'dzin gLing Thub-bstan lung-rtogs rnam-rgyal 'phrin-las). Thun-drug-dang 'brel-ba'i dus-'khor bla-ma'i rnal-'byor dpag-bsam yongs-'du'i snye-ma (Kalachakra Guru-Yoga in Conjunction with Six-Session Practice: A Cluster of Fruit from an All-Embracing Wish-Granting Tree).

Detri (sDe-khri 'Jam-dbyangs thub-bstan nyi-ma). dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i bskyed-rim-gyi rnam-bzhag 'jam-dpal zhal-lung (A Presentation of the Generation Stage of Glorious Kalachakra: The Oral Tradition of Manjushri).

Desi Sanggye-gyatso (sDe-srid Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho). Vai-durya sngon-po (Blue Aquamarine).

Dharmakirti. Pramanavarttika (Tshad-ma rnam-'grel; A Commentary on (Dignaga's "Compendium of) Validly Cognizing Minds").

Drongtse Yongdzin ('Brong-rtse Yongs-'dzin Blo-bzang tshul-khrims). dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i rim-gnyis-kyi lam zung-mjug bgrod-pa'i them-skas-pa (The Path of the Two Stages of Glorious Kalachakra: Steps Leading to Unity).

Gyaltsab Je (rGyal-tshab rJe Dar-ma rin-chen). dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i rim-pa gnyis ji-ltar nyams-su len-pa'i tshul bde-ba chen-po'i lam-du myur-du 'jug-pa (The Way to Practice the Two Stages of Glorious Kalachakra: Quickly Entering the Path of Great Bliss).

Third Karmapa (Kar-ma-pa Rang-byung rdo-rje). rNal-'byor bla-na med-pa'i rgyud-sde rgya-mtsho'i snying-po bsdus-pa zab-mo nang-gi don (The Meaning of the Profound "Internal (Kalachakra" Chapter of Stainless Light) that Gathers Together the Essence of Oceans of Anuttarayoga Tantras).

Kedrub Norzang-gyatso (mKhas-grub Nor-bzang rgya-mtsho).Dam-tshig gsal-ba'i sgron-me (A Lamp to Illuminate the Closely Bonding Practices).

_______. Phyi-nang-gzhan-gsum gsal-bar byed-pa dri-med 'od-kyi rgyan (An Adornment for the Stainless Light, Clarifying the External, Internal and Alternative [Kalachakras]).

Kedrub Je (mKhas-grub rJe dGe-legs dpal-bzang-po). dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i cho-ga dgongs-pa rab-gsal (The Mandala Ritual of Glorious Kalachakra: Clarifying the Intended Meaning).

_______. dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i 'grel-chen dri-med 'od-kyi rgya-cher bshad-pa de-kho-na-nyid snang-bar byed-pa (An Extensive Explanation of the Stainless Light Grand Commentary to Glorious Kalachakra: Illuminating the Actual State).

Kongtrul ('Jam-mgon Kong-sprul Blo-gros mtha'-yas). rNal-'byor bla-na med-pa'i rgyud-sde rgya-mtsho'i snying-po bsdus-pa zab-mo nang-gi don nyung-ngu'i tshig-gis rnam-par 'grel-ba zab-don snang-byed (Illuminating the Profound Meaning: A Commentary in Few Words on [the Third Karmapa's] The Meaning of the Profound "Internal [Kalachakra" Chapter of Stainless Light ] that Gathers Together the Essence of Oceans of Anuttarayoga Tantras).

_______. dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo sku-gsung-thugs yongs-rdzogs-kyi dkyil-'khor-du byis-pa 'jug-pa'i dbang-bskur bklags-chog-tu bkod-pa ye-shes rgya-mtsho'i bcud-'dren (Conferring the Empowerments of Entering Like a Child into the Complete Body, Speech and Mind Mandala of Glorious Kalachakra, Arranged for Study: Extracting the Essence from the Ocean of Deep Awareness).

_______. Shes-bya kun-khyab (An Encyclopedia of All That Can Be Known).

Kyenrab-norbu (mKhyen-rab nor-bu). Rigs-ldan snying-thig (The Essential Drop [Teachings] of the Kalki [Rulers of Shambhala]).

Mipam ('Ju Mi-pham 'Jam-dbyangs rnam-rgyal rgya-mtsho). dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i rgyud-kyi tshig-don rab-tu gsal-byed rdo-rje nyi-ma'i snang-ba (The Illumination of the Diamond-strong Sun Clarifying the Literal Meaning of the Glorious Kalachakra Tantra).

Naropa. Sekoddeshatika (dBang-dor bstan-pa'i 'grel-pa; A Commentary Explaining the "Initiation" (Chapter of the Root Kalachakra Tantra)).

Ngari Panchen (mNga'-ris Pan-chen Padma dbang-rgyal). Rang-bzhin rdzogs-pa chen-po'i lam-gyi cha-lag sdom-gsum rnam-nges (Ascertaining the Three Levels of Vowed Restraints that are Branches of the Natural Path of Dzogchen).

Ngulchu Darma-badra (dNgul-chu Dharmabhadra). Thun-drug-gi rnal-'byor mdor-bsdus-pa (An Extremely Abbreviated Six-Session Yoga).

Ngulchu Jedrung Losang-tendzin (dNgul-chu rJe-drung Blo-bzang bstan-'dzin). Thun-drug-gi rnal-'byor bsdus-pa (An Abbreviated Six-Session Yoga).

Pabongka (Pha-bong-kha Byams-pa bstan-'dzin 'phrin-las rgya-mtsho). Thun-drug-gi rnal-'byor rgyas-pa (An Extensive Six-Session Yoga).

Fourth Panchen Lama (Pan-chen Blo-bzang chos-kyi rgyal-mtshan).dPal dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i 'grel-chen dri-ma med-pa'i 'od-kyi rgya-cher bshad-pa de-kho-na-nyid snang-bar byed-pa'i snying-po yid-bzhin-gyi nor-bu (Wish-granting Gem: The Essence of [Kedrub Je's] An Extensive Explanation of the Stainless Light, Grand Commentary to Glorious Kalachakra: Illuminating the Actual State).

_______. Thun-drug rnal-sbyor (Six-Session Yoga).

Pundarika. Vimalaprabha-nama-laghu-kalacakra-tantra-raja-tika (bsDus-pa'i rgyud-kyi rgyal-po dus-kyi 'khor-lo'i 'grel-bshad dri-ma med-pa'i 'od; Stainless Light: A Commentary Explaining The Regal Abbreviated Kalachakra Tantra).

Tagtsang Lotsawa (sTag-tshang Lo-tsa-ba Shes-rab rin-chen). Dus-'khor spyi-don bstan-pa'i rgya-mtsho (An Ocean of Teachings on the General Meaning of Kalachakra).

Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa Blo-bzang grags-pa). Byang-chub sems-dpa'i tshul-khrims-kyi rnam-bshad byang-chub gzhung-lam (An Explanation of Bodhisattvas' Ethical Discipline: The Main Path to Enlightenment).

_______. gSang-sngags-kyi rim-pa chen-mo (A Grand Presentation of the Stages of Secret Mantra).

_______. gSang-sngags-kyi tshul-khrims-kyi rnam-bshad dngos-grub-kyi snye-ma (An Explanation of Secret Mantra Ethical Discipline: A Cluster of Fruit of Actual Attainments).

Selected Literature in Western Languages

Abegg, M. Emil. Der Messiasglaube in Indien und Iran auf Grund der Quellen dargestellt. Berlin and Leipzig: Walter de Gruyter & Co., 1928.

Ali, Syed Muzafer. The Geography of the Puranas. New Delhi: People's Publishing House, 1966.

Bernbaum, Edwin. The Mythic Journey and Its Symbolism: A Study of the Development of Buddhist Guidebooks to Shambhala in Relation to Their Antecedents in Hindu Mythology. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley, 1985.

_______. The Way to Shambhala. New York: Anchor Books, 1980.

Berzin, Alexander. "Buddhista Tantra" in Dharma-füzetek 5. Budapest: Buddhista Föiskola, 1996, 1-46.

_______. Guidelines for Receiving the Kalacakra Empowerment. Seattle: Dharma Friendship Foundation, 1989.

_______. Einführung in das Kalachakra-Tantra. Jägerndorf, Germany: Aryatara Institut, 1985.

_______. Einführung in Tantra. Munich: Aryatara Institut, 1993.

_______. "Enseñanza sobre Tantra" in Nagaryuna, no. 30, Valencia, Spain, July – Sept. 1995, 15-22.

_______. "Introduccion a los Compromisos y su Significado" in Nagaryuna, no. 3, Valencia, Spain, Oct – Nov 1988, 24-27.

_______. Introduction à l'Initiation de Kalatchakra. Lavaur, France: Institut Vajrayogini, 1986.

_______. "An Introduction to Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology" in Tibet Journal, vol. 12, no.1, Dharamsala, Spring 1987.

_______. "Kalachakra Initiatie" in Maitreya Magazine, vol.7, no.2, Emst, Holland, 1985.

_______. "Tibetan Astro Studies" in Chö-Yang, Year of Tibet Edition, Dharamsala, 1991, 181-192.

_______. "Tibetan Astrology and Astronomy" in Maitreya Magazine, vol 11, no. 4, Emst, Holland, 1989.

_______. "Tibetaanse Sternenkunde en Astrologie" in Maitreya Magazine, vol. 7, no. 3, Emst, Holland, 1985.

_______. "Tibetische Astro-Wissenschaften: Dem Karma auf der Spur" in Tibet und Buddhismus, vol. 40, Hamburg Germany, January-March, 1997.

_______. "Uvod u tibetsku astronomiju i astrologiju" in Kulture Istoka, vol. 10, Beograd, October- December, 1986.

_______. "Visualisatie" in Maitreya Magazine, vol. 9, no. 2, Emst, Holland, 1987.

Brauen, Martin. Das Mandala: Der heilige Kreis im tantrischen Buddhismus. Koln: DuMont, 1992.

Bryant, Barry. The Wheel of Time Sand Mandala: Visual Scripture of Tibetan Buddhism. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1995.

Bryant, Barry and Yignyen, Tenzin. Process of Initiation: The Indo-Tibetan Rite of Passage into Shambala: The Kalachakra Initiation. New York: Samaya Foundation and Namgyel Monastery, 1990.

Del Vico, Enrico (ed.). Kalachakra. Rome: Editalia Edizioni d'Italia, 1996.

Dhargyey, Geshe Ngawang, "Introduction à l'Initiation de Kalachakra" in Le Tibet Journal. Anduze, France: Editions Dharma, 1985.

_______. "Introduction to the Kalacakra Initiation" in Tibet Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, Dharamsala, July-September 1975; reprinted in Kalachakra Initiation, Madison, 1981. Madison, Wisconsin: Deer Park Books, 1985.

_______. Kalachakra Tantra. Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1985.

Dikshit, K. N. "Buddhist Centres in Afghanistan" in India's Contribution to World Thought and Culture, Lokesh Chandra, et al. (eds.). Madras: Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, 1970, 229-238.

Dudjom Rinpoche. Perfect Conduct: Ascertainng the Three Vows, with root text by Ngari Panchen. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1996.

Grönbold, Günter. "Materialien zur Geschichte des Sadanga Yoga II: Die Offenbarung des Sadanga-yoga im Kalachakra-System," Central Asiatic Journal, vol. 28, nos. 1-2 (1984), 43-56.

_______. "Materialien zur Geschichte des Sadanga Yoga III: Der sechsgliederige Yoga des Kalacakra Tantras," Asiatische Studien, vol. 37, no. 1 (1983), 25-45.

Grünwedel, Albert. Der Weg nach Shambhala. (Abhandlung der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, vol. 29, no. 3). Munich: 1915.

Hodgson, Marshall G. S. The Venture of Islam: Conscience and History in a World Civilization, 3 vols. (vol. 1: The Classical Age of Islam). Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1974.

Hoffmann, Helmut. "Buddha's Preaching of the Kalacakra Tantra at the Stupa of Dhanyakataka" in German Scholars on India, vol. 1. Varanasi: Chowkhambha Sanskrit Series Office, 1973, 136-140.

_______. "Das Kalacakra, die letzte Phase des Buddhismus in Indien," Saeculum, vol. 15 (1964), 125-131.

_______. "Kalacakra Studies I: Manichaeism, Christianity and Islam in the Kalacakra Tantra," Central Asiatic Journal, vol. 13, no. 1 (1969), 52-73. "Kalacakra Studies I: Addenda et Corrigenda," Central Asiatic Journal, vol. 15, no. 4 (1972), 298-301.

_______. "Literaturhistorische Bemerkungen zur Sekoddeshatika des Nadapada" in Beiträge zur indischen Philologie und Altertumskunde, zum 70. Geburtstag dargebracht von der deutschen Indologie, Walther Schubring (ed.). Hamburg: Cram, De Gruyter, 1951, 140-147.

_______. "Manichaeism and Islam in the Buddhist Kalacakra System," in Proceedings of the IXth International Congress of the History of Religions 1958. Tokyo: 1960, 96-99.

Kalachakra Initiation, Madison, 1981. Madison, Wisconsin: Deer Park Books, 1985.

Kalu Rinpoche. The Kalachakra Empowerment: Taught by the Venerable Kalu Rinpoche. Vancouver: Kagyu Kunkhyab Choling, 1986.

Kamtrul, Garjang, "Geographie et Histoire de Shambhala" in Le Tibet Journal. Anduze, France: Editions Dharma, 1985.

_______. "The History and Geography of Shambhala" in Tibet Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, Dharamsala, July-September 1975.

Kollmar, Paulenz. "Utopian Thought in Tibetan Buddhism: A Survey of the Shambhala Concept and Its Sources," Studies in Central and East Asian Religions, vol. 5/6 (1992/3), 78-96.

Kuwayama, Shoshin. "The Turki Shahis and Relevant Brahmanical Sculptures in Afghanistan," East and West, vol. 26, nos. 3-4 (September – December 1976), 375-408.

Mullin, Glenn H. The Practice of Kalachakra. Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1991.

Nadapada. Iniziazione: Kalachakra/Naropa: a cura di Raniero Gnoli e Giacomella Orofino. (Bibioteca Orientale, no. 1). Milan: Adelphi, 1994.

Newman, John. "Buddhist Sanskrit in the Kalacakra Tantra," Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 11, no. 1 (1988), 123-140.

_______. The Outer Wheel of Time: Vajrayana Buddhist Cosmology in the Kalacakra Tantra. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Wisconsin, 1987.

_______. "The Paramadibuddha (the Kalacakra Mulatantra) and Its Relation to the Early Kalacakra Literature," Indo-Iranian Journal, vol. 30 (1987), 93-102.

Nihom, N. "Notes on the Origin of Some Quotations in the Sekoddeshatika of Nadapada," Indo-Iranian Journal, vol. 27 (1984), 17-26.

Orofino, Giacomella. Sekoddesha: A Critical Edition of the Tibetan Translations. (Serie Orientale Roma, no. 72). Roma: Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, 1994.

Polichetti, Massimiliano A. "Il Sitema di Kalachakra e le caratteristiche del Buddismo Tibetano" in L'immagine Tibetana del Tempo, Il Mandala di Sabbie Colorate di Kalachakra (Eugenio La Rocca, ed.). (Comune di Roma Ripartizione, no. 10). Rome: Acquario Romano, 1993, 19-28.

Reigle, David. Kalacakra Sadhana and Social Responsibility. Santa Fe: Spirit of the Sun Publications, 1996.

_______. The Lost Kalacakra Mula Tantra on the Kings of Shambhala. (Kalacakra Research Publications, no. 1). Talent, Oregon: Eastern School, 1986.

Rivière, Jean N. Kalachakra: initiation tantrique du Dalaï Lama. Paris: Éditions Robert Laffont, 1985.

Roerich, Nicholas. Shambhala: The Heart of Asia. New York: Roerich Museum Press, 1930.

Schuh, Dieter. Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der tibetischen Kalenderrechnung. (Verzeichnis der Orientalischen Handschriften in Deutschlands. Supplementband 16). Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1973.

Scott, David Alan. "The Iranian Face of Buddhism," East and West, vol. 41, nos. 1-4 (December 1991), 43-78.

Sopa, Geshe Lhundub; Jackson, Roger; and Newman, John. The Wheel of Time, The Kalachakra in Context. Madison, Wisconsin: Deer Park Books, 1985.

Sparham, Gareth. An Explanation of Ethical Standards in Secret Mantra Called "Fruit Cluster of Accomplishments." Unpublished manuscript.

Tatz, Mark (transl.). Asanga's Chapter of Morality with the Commentary of Tsong-kha-pa. Lewiston: Mellen Press, 1986.

Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama and Hopkins, Jeffrey. The Kalachakra Tantra: Rite of Initiation for the Stage of Generation. London: Wisdom Publications, 1985.

Wilson, Horace Hayman (transl.). The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition. London: Trübner & Co., 1864; reprinted, New York: Garland Publishing, 1981

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