History of Central Asia

The remainder of the Umayyad period over the ensuing years of the first half of the eighth century saw a bewildering frequent change of alliances as even more powers entered the fray for control of West Turkistan and the Silk Route. Through a review of the main events, it will...

The Establishment of the Jurchen Empire The Jurchen were a Tungusic Manchu people whose homeland was in northern Manchuria and the adjacent region of southeastern Siberia across the Amur River. They were for­est dwellers whom the Khitans conscripted for their ritual hunts....

The Initial Military Drive across Northern India In 1148, Ala-ud-Din of the nomadic Guzz Turks from the mountains of Afghanistan conquered the region of Ghur in eastern Iran, which gave its name to his Ghurid Empire (1148 – 1215). He proceeded to take Bactria from the...

This bibliography, compiled in 1996, contains materials for supplementing "The Historical Interaction between the Buddhist and Islamic Cultures before the Mongol Empire" from the previous Berzin Archives website with further parts on the Mongol and Post-Mongol Periods.]...

Kalachakra texts have molded their description of cycles of history, such as their containing a future Armageddon battle against non-Indic invaders and the dawning of a new golden age, to fit the structure of its meditation practice.

Buddhism spread to West Turkistan (the present-day former Soviet Islamic republics of Central Asia) in the 1st century BCE and was present there, at various times, until the mid-18th century.

For those who have the opportunity to receive the Kalachakra Initiation, it is important to take advantage of the opportunity to gain as much as possible from the experience by having knowledge of the Kalachakra practice and the background of the empowerment.

A comprehensive overview of the history of Buddhism in Afghanistan from shortly after the time of the Buddha up until the end of the Mongol period in the 14th century.

External Kalachakra presents the external cycles the universe goes through and includes the teachings on world systems, astronomy, astrology, the motion of the planets, the calendar and history.

Some people have misunderstood the intent of a Kalachakra initiation and tantra practice in general, thinking it propagates Buddhist domination. To avoid interfaith suspicion and mistrust, it is important to examine the issues in light of the historical and cultural contexts...