Verses to Begin Kalachakra Study or Practice

[It was the custom of my root teacher, Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche, the late Master Debate Partner and Kalachakra teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to begin each teaching and practice session of Kalachakra with the following verses from The Abridged Kalachakra Tantra (Dus-khor bsdus-rgyud):]

There is the suffering of (being conceived) in a womb
   and staying in a womb.
The time of birth and the plight of being a baby are also sufferings.
Youth and adulthood are filled with great problems of being disturbed
   about losing one's life-partner, money, and wealth.
There are the sufferings of old age and death;
   and then the fearsome situations of (being reborn) once more
   in one of the six wandering states such as in a howling joyless realm.
Countless wandering beings bewildered by these illusions
   are bound with problems, nothing but problems.

Those reborn in these uncontrollably recurring situations
   and who are humans are few, while those with a mind
   to take the preventive measures of Dharma are even fewer.
To step up to the first vehicle of Mahayana through which
   one can become a Clear Evolved Buddha,
   through the power of affection and being constructive,
   and then to have the sense to build up the habits
   of the glorious diamond-strong vajra vehicle
   occurs only once in a very rare time.
But beyond that, to enter (the study and practice of Kalachakra,
   Cycles of Time) which will bring the supreme desirable state
   of the bliss of a Buddha is, oh my, even more rare.