The Buddhists of Russia held a dress rehearsal for the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Today, the Buddhist communities of Buryatia, Tyva, Kalmykia, St. Petersburg and Moscow connected with the office of the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. During the joint rehearsal, the technical service of the office of His Holiness checked the operation of the connection and carried out other technical work necessary for the broadcast of the Teaching.

Recall that, due to the unfavorable epidemiological situation in the world, the Teachings of His Holiness will be held online for the first time. The Teachings for Russians were first bestowed in 2009 in India and have since been held annually; since 2014 they have taken place in Riga (Latvia).

At the Central Khurul of Kalmykia, the monks of “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni”, representatives of Buddhist communities and volunteers, under the guidance of Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche, recited the “Heart Sutra” in the Kalmyk language. During the rehearsal, the Head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia explained to everyone gathered the importance of the upcoming Teachings. As the Shajin Lama emphasized, the spiritual connection that exists between Russian Buddhists and His Holiness the Dalai Lama spans many centuries and many generations. In the 20th century it was severed, and the teaching of the Buddha in Russia fell into a certain decline, but thanks to the blessing of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, thanks to his wise instructions, this connection was restored. “I believe it is incredible good fortune that Russian Buddhists have the amazing opportunity to receive the teaching, to hear the teaching from the lips of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; since His Holiness is the root teacher for Russian Buddhists, we must make every effort to meet with him, to hear his teachings and his instructions, and to devote all our efforts in this direction, for the instructions that the Dalai Lama bestows bring enormous benefit to our minds,” the Rinpoche noted.

Also, during the joint rehearsal, Telo Tulku Rinpoche met and spoke with the Head of the Buddhists of Tyva for the first time. The Shajin Lama congratulated the Kamby Lama on his election to such a high post, wished him good health and success, and expressed the hope that the pure teaching of the Buddha would continue to spread in the Tuvan land. “I offer my prayers that we may meet in person as soon as possible,” the Head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia added.

The Teachings for the Buddhists of Russia will be held from November 5 to 7 online. The broadcast will be available on the official website of His Holiness the Dalai Lama https://ru.dalailama.com/, as well as on the “Save Tibet” website http://www.savetibet.ru/.

The program of the Teachings includes the Dalai Lama’s commentary on Arya Nagarjuna’s work “Bodhichitta-vivarana” (Commentary on Bodhichitta) and a question-and-answer session.

The broadcast begins at 6.30 a.m. Moscow time.