We are continuing our column “The Khurul in Faces,” and today we invited as our guest one of the oldest monks of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia, Geshe Ngodup, who for 17 years has served here for the benefit of the Teaching of the Buddha and all sentient beings.

Everyone who comes to the temple for a prayer service has surely seen our venerable Geshe Ngodup seated in the place of honor to the right of the throne of the Shajin Lama. He holds one of the high degrees in the monastic hierarchy — Geshe Dorampa.

Ngodup Puntsog was born in a small village in Zanskar, in India, into a large family. He had thought about becoming a monk as far back as his childhood. Two of his brothers were already clergymen. At the age of 19, Ngodup, having finally become firm in his choice, set off for the Drepung Gomang monastery. Having studied and served there for more than 30 years, he received an invitation to go to Russia, to Kalmykia. At that time, the newly reopened temple “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” had begun its work.

“I can hardly believe that so many years have already passed since I arrived in Kalmykia. The development of Buddhism in the republic took place before my eyes. It is gratifying to see today's young generation, which is increasingly interested not just in religion, but in its history, its Teachers and followers. It is gratifying that the Kalmyks, reviving their religious traditions, are preserving and developing them. I am very happy that I was invited here in 2006, having found a second homeland in Kalmykia,” the Geshe shares with us.

In our brief conversation, Geshe Ngodup especially emphasized the thought that wherever you live, whatever work you do, the main thing is to live in harmony with yourself, to do good, to honor your traditions, and not to harm sentient beings — in short, everything in the Buddhist way.

Continuing the column “The Khurul in Faces”