The 30th Kalachakra at Amaravati

Kalachakra empowerment, The Wheel of Time, is one of the most sacred Buddhist empowerment initiations ever known. In recent years His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has been giving Kalachakra initiations in various holy places in India. Despite being a holy event where thousands of devotees attend, events like this often bring a huge environmental vandalism to the venue due to ignorance and apathy of the people. The amount of trash and disturbances created by the pilgrims in that few days have severe implications to the local ecosystems and human health in years to come. The inhabitants of the area have to deal with piles of plastic trash — which remain there forever unless burned to release dioxin — and abundant faecal matters.

In January 2006 His Holiness the Dalai Lama will offer his 30th Kalachakra empowerment in a very special but small place called Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, South India. Amaravati is closely associated with Dhanyakataka, where Buddha first gave the Kalachakra empowerment, and it is also the site of a grand Buddhist stupa dating from the time of Emperor Ashoka. During this upcoming Kalachakra, the organisers are expecting at least 50,000 devotees which is far beyond the carrying capacity of the current infrastructure.

Tesi Environmental Awareness Movement (TEAM) is taking upon the responsibility to start an Earth Steward Workshop for 40 Tibetan students and others during the Kalachakra period from 20th December 2006 to 20th January 2007. TEAM wants to take advantage of schools’ winter holiday as well as Kalachakra event to spread environmental activism, youth empowerment, leadership and service. With the trainings and experiences they receive, we want them to service during the Kalachakra to make this the first ever "Trash Free Kalachakra". TEAM with the help of these young students will work on reviving the ecological consciousness of the pilgrims and infiltrating a sense of responsibility to keep the Kalachakra area clean and environmentally safe, and desist from activities that are harmful to the local ecosystem and way of life in order to maintain the holiness of Amravati which lies in her soil, water and trees. TEAM will furthermore support these students to start environmental clubs to maintain and nurture their knowledge, activism and leadership upon returning to their respective schools and start a cycle of empowerment in the Tibetan schools.

Kalachakra Report

Press Releases

Public Appeals

What we are doing at Kalachakra in Amaravati?

Workshop to Students

  • 10 students from TCV Suja
  • 8 students from TCV Gopalpur
  • 15 students from SOS Bylakupee
  • 3 students from Tibetan Transit School
  • 1 student from Patlikuhl Art School

A Stall for Distributing our Literatures or Publications

  • Wisdom Series
  • Poster
  • Brochures
  • Banners
  • CITES

Environmental Announcement

Daily Clean-up work at Amaravati

Displaying Banners and Slogans

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