Vows

In addition to taking bodhisattva and tantric vows, we also pledge at an anuttarayoga empowerment to maintain nine auxiliary bonding practices that bond us closely to tantra.

Presentation of bonding practices that create close bonds with the five “Buddha-families” – aspects of clear light mental activity that allow us to attain enlightenment.

To differentiate the common tantric vows from the Kalachakra root tantric vows, we follow here the explanation given in “An Explanation of Secret Mantra Ethical Discipline: A Cluster of Fruit of Actual Attainments” by Tsongkhapa.

A summary report of the 2007 International Congress on the Women's Role in the Sangha: Bhikshuni Vinaya and Ordination Lineages, University of Hamburg, 18-20 July 2007.

The “Kalachakra Six-Session Yoga” adds to the basic six-session practice recitation of many aspects of the path to enlightenment to meditate upon for building up positive force.

The six-session yoga practice keeps us mindful of the vows and commitments we have taken from receiving an initiation or empowerment in an anuttarayoga tantra system from the Gelugpa tradition.

Taking the Kalachakra empowerment also entails six uncommon practices that create close bonds with six Buddha-family traits.

These root tantric vows give the necessary supporting context to our practice. Without them, we cannot gain attainments or realizations from tantric practice in the yogaand anuttarayoga classes.

With the secondary tantric vows, we promise to refrain from “eight thick actions.” Committing them would hamper meditation practice and progress along the yoga tantra and anuttarayoga tantra paths.

In addition to taking bodhisattva and the Kalachakra root tantric vows, another commitment of the Kalachakra empowerment is to safeguard 25 modes of tamed behavior.