MOSCOW: Monks of Gungru Khangtsen from Drepung Gomang Monastery based in South India visited Moscow from 7 − 22 November. During the visit, the monks prepared a sand mandala for exhibition, which was strongly attended by residents of Moscow.
The visit also provided people in Moscow opportunity to learn about the ancient traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, attend tantric rituals, get spiritual advice from Gesha Lharamba Thupten Dhondup, and consult the traditional Tibetan doctor who came with the group.
On Sunday, November 22, around two hundred people gathered in the hall to watch the dispersal of mandala ritual. Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia and Mongolia, welcomed everybody and expressed his happiness to see many old friends and new people as well.
He gave a brief introduction of Drepung Gomang Monastery and its close connection with Russia. “Historically, young people from the traditional Buddhist regions of Russia have been going to Drepung Gomang Monastery to study Buddhism and become monks,” he said.
Telo Tulku Rinpoche expressed gratitude to the Tibetan monks for coming to Russia and sharing the history of Tibet, Buddhist wisdom and the beautiful art of building the mandala. He emphasised that the offerings and donations made toward this group of monks will go for a good cause, and added that people, who made their donations, should think that this way they are contributing ‘to monks’ comfort, for their study, the preservation of the rich lineage and tradition of Tibetan Buddhism”.
Telo Tulku Rinpoche also reminded that whether this world is a peaceful world or not isn’t up to the presidents, ministers or governments, it begins with every individual. He said: “Buddha was an individual just like any of us, who gave up his luxurious life to find the truth, the liberation from all forms of suffering. If Buddha achieved that, I believe, that every individual in this room can achieve it as well”. At the conclusion of the ceremony Geshe Thupten Dhondup talked about the benefits of building and contemplating the Kalachakra mandala and dedicated all the accumulated merits to the liberation of all sentient beings.
After the sand from the mandala was distributed among the members of the audience, Telo Tulku Rinpoche reminded that on December 5 Buddhists will observe Je Tsongkhpapa’s parinirvana, and invited everybody to attend various events that will be held on this date. In fact, one of such events was held as early as on November 23. It was a gala concert of the National Dance Theatre of Kalmykia “Oirats”, celebrating the 25thanniversary of the acclaimed group. Dancers from Kalmykia (one of the Buddhist republics of Russia) are well known among the Tibetan community in India, they’ve performed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan community in Dharamsala.
Greeting the “Oirats” and their founder and director Piotr Nadbitov in the Moscow Music Hall yesterday the Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Telo Tulku Rinpoche acknowledged their contribution to the preservation of the traditional Kalmyk culture. He presented Mr. Nadbitov with the set of six books by His Holiness the Dalai Lama published under the umbrella of Nalanda Book Series earlier this. Telo Tulku Rinpoche jokingly remarked that it will be a good reading for the members of the group during their tours around the world.
– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Russia –
