Archive of Lama Geshe Lharampa Tharchin Gedun: November 2025

The following is my short reflection in response to a question I received. The subject matter is complex.

According to Mantrayana, the human body corresponds to the Abhidharmakosa or Kalachakra Tantra universe on a microcosmic level. Therefore, the movements of the microcosm and macrocosm must correspond.

A central tenet of Tantrism is that the individual human is a miniature reflection of the entire universe. This means that all the forces, structures, and energies of the cosmos are present in the human body.

Everything in the universe is interconnected, and the same divine forces are at play in the cosmos as in individual existence.

Consequently, the body is not merely a vessel, but a sacred field containing the divine. Rituals, practices, and even physical and emotional states are considered to be the same as those experienced in the universe, just on a smaller scale. Practices also include visualising oneself and one's surroundings as a divine mandala and viewing all things as sacred, pure manifestations of the divine.

Tantra-yana challenges the conventional separation between subject and object, the sacred and the profane, and the mind and body. The goal is to experience the unified, blissful nature of reality. The body becomes the primary site for this integration, with all sensations, whether pleasurable or painful, being understood as expressions of divine union. Ritual practices often involve transgressing social and religious norms to break down limiting perceptions and recognise that all of reality is a divine manifestation.

According to Tantric philosophy, the body and the universe are fundamentally interconnected; the human body is a microcosm of the cosmos. Both are animated by the divine feminine power of Emptiness in union with the pure consciousness of Compassion.

This philosophy posits that the body is not separate from the divine, but rather a sacred space and instrument for achieving spiritual enlightenment. Through ritual and meditation, dualities are integrated in order to achieve bliss. The world is not a source of suffering, but a divine playground. It is one's own confusion and misconceptions about the world that cause suffering, not the world itself.

Through constant and profound meditation practices, once your compassionate heart realizes the emptiness, your consciousness can perceive all appearances as emptiness, and all emptiness appears in bliss. The bliss appears in divine forms of wisdom. The presence of such insight enriches your world and your life with a spiritual reality of purity.

This vision is often cultivated in practice through visualisation techniques. For example, individuals may visualise themselves and their environment as pure and sacred, such as a mandala or the palace of a Buddha figure. A common technique is to visualise oneself as a Buddha or an enlightened being to break down ordinary self-concepts, as in the 'creation' stage of Tantric meditation. These practices involve synchronising with the breath to share and receive qualities such as light, warmth, and bliss with each exhale and inhale. This can help to transform the body and mind.

Meditation is a non-dual approach that embraces the full spectrum of life, including negative experiences, viewing them as part of divine expression. The aim is to transform the ordinary self into a being of light and bliss so that positive qualities feel real and solid within one's experience. Due to the complexity of these practices and the potential for misinterpretation, a qualified teacher is often necessary to guide individuals through them and help them distinguish genuine methods.

I am unsure how the idea that morning breathing can improve concentration relates to the concept of the macrocosm.

The Abhidharmakosa and the Kalachakra Tantra both describe the universe, but in different ways. They are both based on Indian cosmology from that period. Certain days, such as the full moon and the start and end of the month, are considered more effective for spiritual practice and meditation due to the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. Lunar or solar eclipses can also influence this. This means that the evolution of the cosmos can be affected in different ways within a 24-hour period.

Most Tantric practices, including sadhana involving deities and mandalas, are based on Master Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosa cosmology. The Kalachakra Tantra is considered an unusual system. It is distinct from the broader Mantrayana system. It can also be innovative within the Mantrayana practice. The Kalachakra Tantra is considered a more recent tantric teaching than all other historically documented tantric teachings.

In the Tibetan tradition of Mantrayana Buddhism, the Manjushri Namasangiti is considered the foundation of all tantric teachings.

The Tibetan astrological system currently relies on the Kalachakra Tantra's description of the world. This system produces an annual calendar of Tibetan Buddhist festivals, which includes a double month every three years. Some months have double days, while others have missing days.

Does this connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm mean that every positive thought can positively affect the health of our planet?

Geshe Gedun Tharchin

Rome

The first version was published on 11 January 2024, and the changes were made on 30 November 2025.