Festive prayer service dedicated to the holiday of Zul

A prayer service dedicated to the holiday of Zul was held at the Central Khurul of Kalmykia “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.”

Before the start of the prayer service, the Head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche addressed the faithful with a welcoming word.

According to the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, today the old year comes to an end, and the main event of this year was the coronavirus pandemic. There were also other events, such as drought and other natural disasters; however, despite all these negative events, Telo Tulku Rinpoche called on everyone to rejoice, since there are many reasons for it. “If we look at the events of the outgoing year and analyze what there was more of, good or bad, then I think we will come to the conclusion that there was more good,” he noted.

The Shajin Lama also drew attention to the fact that today’s prayer service is being held online — this is happening because of the coronavirus pandemic, because of the situation with COVID-19 illness in our republic.

“The doors are closed today because we want to prevent the danger of infection among people. Therefore I want to apologize for the fact that today the doors of our khurul are closed to visits by the faithful, and I hope for your understanding,” he said.

Concluding his address, Telo Tulku Rinpoche called on everyone to pray that the Teaching of the Buddha would not decline and for the long life of our root teacher His Holiness the Dalai Lama, that he might remain with us in this world for many years and grant us his spiritual guidance.

On behalf of the elders, the people’s poet of Kalmykia Vladimir Nurov offered congratulations on the holiday. Badma Salaev, rector of the B.B. Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University, and Acharya Bem Mitruev also joined the congratulations.

After the ritual “A Thousand Offerings to Lama Tsongkhapa,” the films “The Golden Abode of Buddha” (dir. Roman Sukhostavsky and Igor Yancheglov) and “Along the Roads of the Buddha” (dir. Roman Sukhostavsky) were shown on the official YouTube channel of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia.

In the afternoon, the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche gave the teaching “Lamrim — the gradual path to awakening,” after which the festive prayer service continued.

The celebratory events concluded with a circumambulation around the khurul with lit lamps and the recitation of the praise to Lama Tsongkhapa “Migtsema.”

This year marks 600 years since the beginning of the celebration of the holiday of Zul. Symbolically, this year the celebration coincided with the 31st anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.