The Possibility of the Dalai Lama’s Visit Was Raised at Russia’s Public Chamber

The question of organizing a visit by the 14th Dalai Lama to Russia was raised during a meeting of the Commission for the Harmonization of Interethnic and Interreligious Relations of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on July 21. The meeting was also attended by the head of the department of national policy of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy, an adviser of the national policy division of the department of culture, sport, tourism, and national policy of the Government of the Russian Federation, an adviser of the staff of the State Duma Committee on Nationalities Affairs, the chairman of the council of the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia, and the deputy head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs of Russia. As reported by the senior administrator of the main Buddhist temple of Kalmykia, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation Yonten Gelong (Sergey Kirishov in lay life), he appealed on behalf of the Buddhist community of the republic with a request to assist in organizing a pastoral visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to Russia. Yonten Gelong emphasized that this year marks 15 years since the opening of The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, yet the rite of consecrating the temple by the supreme hierarch of Buddhism, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, has still not been performed, which is a mandatory requirement of Buddhist tradition. Recall that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama consecrated the site for the construction of the new temple “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” in Elista during his visit to Kalmykia in 2004. The Central Khurul of Kalmykia has become one of the major spiritual and educational centers for the development of Buddhism in Russia. Hundreds of people turn to the temple daily for spiritual guidance and support, thousands of believers come here on the days of great services. All-Russian and international Buddhist conferences and forums, interreligious councils, lectures for believers, charitable events, free Kalmyk language courses, exhibitions of Kalmyk, Russian, and foreign artists and photographers, and screenings of documentary and feature films about Buddhism are held here. Numerous pilgrims from various regions of Russia and abroad, as well as tourists of various faiths and social statuses, flock here. Other monasteries and temples of Kalmykia are also in acute need of the consecration ceremony. This year Kalmykia marks a milestone date — the 100th anniversary of its autonomy. For all residents of the republic, a visit by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama would be the most long-awaited gift and a genuine blessing. As the chairman of the commission Vladimir Zorin noted, this question requires additional study and thorough consideration. For its part, the “Association of Buddhists of Kalmykia” sent letters to the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and to Russia’s Foreign Ministry with a request to make a positive decision on the pastoral visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the Republic of Kalmykia after the borders open and regular air service is established. Photo by the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation