Head of Kalmykia’s Buddhists Telo Tulku Rinpoche Visits Ketchenery District

In the village of Ketchenery, the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, together with the monks of the Central Khurul, performed the land-redemption ritual for the construction of the “Salang” khurul. The ritual was planned to take place last week, but due to bad weather its date was postponed.

In his address to the faithful, Telo Tulku Rinpoche recalled that back in 1992 His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama gave a Teaching at this very place and consecrated the site for the construction of the khurul. “It is very symbolic that we are laying the foundation of a new khurul in Ketchenery this year, because this year His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama turned 85 and this year has been designated by the international Buddhist community as the year of gratitude to His Holiness,” the Rinpoche noted. Before the start of the prayer service, the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia presented the district with a photo album about the Dalai Lama’s visit to Kalmykia, which had been presented at the Central Khurul last week. The album features photographs of the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Kalmykia, including the village of Ketchenery. Telo Tulku Rinpoche also offered a vessel holding soil from all the Buddhist holy places, to be placed in the foundation of the future khurul, as well as special substances gifted by the Dalai Lama, to be placed into statues, into the khurul itself, and for performing other rituals. During the prayer service the monks recited the “Refuge” prayer, then recited the lines for generating bodhichitta, after which they performed the “Salang” ritual. Upon completing the ritual, the Shajin Lama said that he saw good signs and that the khurul would soon be built. “When you build the khurul, you will need monks; it would be good if some of Ketchenery’s young people decided to become monks. So think about your future clergy,” the Rinpoche advised the district’s residents.

That same day the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia also visited the village of Gashun-Burgusta, where he consecrated a statue of Lama Tsongkhapa. The statue of Lama Tsongkhapa was installed in a new rotunda that added to the architectural ensemble of the “Rock Garden.” Earlier, eight types of stupas and a rotunda with a statue of Green Tara had been erected here.

Before the ceremony of consecrating the statue of Lama Tsongkhapa, the Head of Kalmykia’s Buddhists Telo Tulku Rinpoche spoke with the residents of the village of Gashun-Burgusta. The Rinpoche congratulated the residents on this event and noted the positive changes taking place in the village. According to the Shajin Lama, this is largely thanks to the residents themselves, as well as the village’s ahlach Anatoly Zunov and the representative of the Ketchenery district on the Council of the United Buddhists of Kalmykia Mikhail Kakaev. “Today is a spiritual holiday for everyone. Thank you for inviting me. I wish you success and development, so that our children study well, work, and develop the republic,” Telo Tulku Rinpoche thanked the people of Gashun-Burgusta.