Charity Drive for the “Veterans” of the Buddhist Movement
On July 5, on the eve of the 85th birthday of the spiritual leader of Buddhists worldwide, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Central Khurul “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” held a charity drive of targeted aid to the elderly, during which volunteers delivered food packages to the homes of members of the older generation — mainly the “veterans” of the Buddhist movement, a stable community among lay Buddhists — those who can be met daily in the khuruls at morning services, the very grandmothers who passed on to us the experience of the spiritual practice of previous generations, thanks to whom the tradition, and therefore the culture of our people, is preserved. Indeed, they are bearers of traditional spiritual values, living witnesses to the history of Buddhism in Kalmykia — having begun together with the revival of spirituality in our republic in the 1990s, and their gatherings for the exchange of knowledge, conversations about the Dharma, and the development of their spiritual experience — they managed to preserve national and religious customs despite various kinds of historical trials.
At present their community numbers more than 30 people. Among them are grandmothers — the so-called “matsgta emgchud,” a community of lay Buddhists whose history goes back roughly to the beginning of the 20th century. The tradition of the “matsg” community, which formed among our ancestors, was connected with the holding of home religious services — rites on the days of Buddhist fasting and holidays. According to custom, believers would gather at someone’s home, chant prayers from morning until midday, offer food to the deities and also to the ancestors, pronounce blessings, purify the home — the place of the rite — and take the fasts. “Matsg” prayer services were held not only on fasting days (the 8th, 15th, 30th lunar days), but also on the days of the Kalmyks’ great holidays — Zul, Tsagan Sar, Urs Sar, the Holiday of the First Turning of the Wheel of the Teaching, and the Day of Buddha Shakyamuni’s Descent to Earth from the Heaven of the Thirty-Three Deities.
Among today’s “matsgta emgchud” are S.D. Batyreva, N.D. Burukchinova, R.O. Zambaeva, V.M. Prantsuzova, K.S. Getsilova, R.O. Babicheva. They and all the others expressed words of gratitude to the Central Khurul, the Buddhist center “Tilopa,” and everyone who took part in the drive, with wishes of health, well-being, and prosperity, as well as with the wish to continue showing love and compassion for all living beings.
With the remaining part of the funds raised for the occasion of the upcoming celebration of the birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the throne of our root teacher was decorated with fresh flowers, and on the grounds of the khurul a floral inscription was laid out wishing long life to the Buddha of Compassion embodied in a human being!
