The Kalmykia Delegation’s Visit to Buryatia Continues
The delegation of the Republic of Kalmykia, led by its supreme lama (Shajin Lama) Telo Tulku Rinpoche and currently visiting Buryatia, today continued its working meetings and discussions devoted to questions of Buddhist education and academic research in the field of Buddhology.
The delegation visited Buryat State University, the Buddhist University “Dashi Choinkhorlin,” and also the Center of Oriental Manuscripts and Xylographs of the Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
At Buryat State University (BSU) a meeting was held with Rector Nikolai Moshkin, Vice-Rector for Research Vyacheslav Khakhinov, head of the laboratory “Center for Translations from Oriental Languages of the IMBTS SB RAS” Innokenty Aktamov, and director of the Higher School of Buryat Language and Literature Garma-Khanda Gunzhitova.
According to Alexander Khanaev, head of the sector of inclusive and distance education at Kalmyk State University, who arrived in Buryatia as part of the delegation, “the development of Buddhism is one of the strategic directions of the development of Kalmyk State University.”
“In developing this direction, the university closely cooperates with kindred institutions. One of them is Buryat State University. Today an agreement was reached on holding joint events, including the academic and practical conference ‘Buddhism in the Dialogue of Cultures of East and West: Past, Present, Future,’” said Alexander Khanaev, calling the meeting at BSU “very fruitful.”
As planned the day before, the delegation also met with the rector of the Buddhist University “Dashi Choinkhorlin,” Geshe (doctor of Buddhist philosophy) Dymbryl, to discuss questions of Buddhist education.
As Yonten Gelong, senior administrator of the Central Khurul “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni,” explained, “the rector, Geshe Dymbryl, who received his Buddhist education at the Tibetan monastic university Drepung Gomang, where monks from Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva have studied from time immemorial, spoke about the university’s activities and the training programs for Buddhist clergy, and gave an introductory tour of the academic building and the Ivolginsky Datsan.”
At the conclusion of the discussions at the Buddhist University “Dashi Choinkhorlin,” the heads of the Kalmyk and Buryat clergy, Telo Tulku Rinpoche and Damba Ayusheev, summed up the two days of work and expressed their intention to continue steady cooperation in the field of Buddhist education.
The delegation also visited the Center of Oriental Manuscripts and Xylographs of the Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, known for its richest collection of Tibetan and Mongolian written sources.
The supreme lama of Kalmykia, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, and the members of the delegation were welcomed by the head of the center, Oleg Rinchenov, as well as by the center’s leading research fellow and keeper of the Tibetan fund, Andrei Bazarov.
According to Khongor Elbikov, assistant to the supreme lama (Shajin Lama) of Kalmykia, “the head of the delegation showed particular interest in the funds of Tibetan and Mongolian written sources, which contain amazing rare texts. Many very good questions were asked, and we received comprehensive answers.”
“The IMBTS SB RAS has cooperated closely with the Kalmyk Scientific Center for many years now. The Oirat written monuments are of particular interest to us. In the near future a visit by research fellows of the Kalmyk Scientific Center is expected for their study and digitization,” said Khongor Elbikov.
Tomorrow the delegation departs for the Aginsky District of Zabaykalsky Krai, where it will become acquainted with the activities of the Aginsky Buddhist Academy.
