Russian leadership supports Buddhism
Dear Friends,
I want to summarize somewhat how I feel about this article by a comment left by Mr. Nicholas Yu. I find it apt:
“Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area. Russia is also the world’s ninth most populous country with nearly 144 million people in 2014.
Historically, Buddhism was incorporated into Russian lands in the early 17th century. Buddhism is considered as one of Russia’s traditional religions, legally a part of Russian historical heritage. Besides the historical monastic traditions of Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva. Buddhism is now widespread all over Russia, with many ethnic Russian converts.
The main form of Buddhism in Russia is the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, with other Tibetan schools as minorities.
It’s great to know that this big country has such a great respect towards Buddhism. The leader recognized the value of Buddhism and saying giving 100 percent support. The recognition is based on the action from the past that have bring benefit to the people of Russia’s.
It’s really a heart warming to see this post.”
Russia’s salute to Buddhism shows they embrace every factor that has contributed to their great culture. No denials by them. Wonderful.
Tsem Rinpoche
Putin in Siberia to salute Buddhism and the religion’s important role in Russian history
By The Siberian Times reporter
12 April 2013
President Vladimir Putin opened his visit to Buryatia by visiting Ivilga Datsan, the main monastery of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha in Russia.
President Putin opened his trip to Buryatia by visiting Ivolga Datsan, the main monastery of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha in Russia. Picture: kremlin.ru
He highlighted the long and important history of Budhism in Siberia, and spoke of how he valued his relationship with the head of Russian Buddhists, Pandito Khambo-lama Damba Ayusheyev.
‘Russia is probably the only country in Europe where Buddhism is an official religion’, he said.
‘It began with Empress Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, who was the first Russian head of state to recognise Buddhism. Since then Buddhism has played a very important role in the lives of the peoples of Russia, helping people in the times of trouble and sharing their joys. It has been like that at all times.
‘It is well known that Buddhists behaved heroically in the years of hardship during World War I and the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, despite the fact that they suffered greatly in the 1930s, along with representatives of all other faiths in Russia.
‘Today you have a very noble mission: you always support the people.
‘I just saw your most important, most revered shrines, which you treat with great care, preserving them for the people.
‘Most importantly, you are promoting a very kind humanistic teaching that is based on people’s love for each other and for their country. You carry on the traditions of interethnic and interfaith harmony, which is vitally important, and for that I want to express my gratitude to you once again.
‘I have enjoyed a very close relationship with Pandito Khambo-lama for many years. I want to thank him for this relationship and for his friendship. I want to stress that the Russian Government, the regional authorities and I are always at your disposal, always ready to give you our support.’
Village of Bada, Buryatia, Vladimir Putin with local businessman Sergey Kukhtin. Pictures: kremlin.ru
The Budhist leader called on the president to change the system under which Buddhist universities do not have state accreditation, which means their students can be called up for conscription in the armed forces.
In mainstream universities, full-time students are exempt from military service during their studies. The president suggested that they could be drafted in the summer months only, so as not to interrupt their studies. The Lama said this would be ‘more acceptable’.
There are up to 1.5 million Buddhists in Russia, mainly in the Siberian republics of Buryatia and Tyva, and also in Kalmykia.
During his visit to Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, Putin held a State Council aimed at boosting the efficiency of Russia’s timber industry.
He was also touring two timber plants. Forests account for 69% of Russia’s territory, with about 60,000 large, medium-sized, and small-scale enterprises operating in the sector.
Source: http://siberiantimes.com/business/investment/news/putin-in-siberia-to-salute-buddhism-and-the-religions-important-role-in-russian-history/
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Buddhism is considered to be one of Russia’s traditional religions and is legally a part of Russian historical heritage. Buddhism appeared in the Russian empire early in the 17th century, entered Russia from Mongolia. Like all other religions, Buddhism suffered greatly at one time where many monasteries were closed. There has been a downside to religious freedom, at that time. Later it was reopened as the government recognized the value and has brought benefits to the people. Buddhism has played a very important role in the lives of the peoples of Russia, helping people in the times of trouble. Glad to know that President Vladimir Putin has such a great respect for Buddhism as he has highlighted the long and important history of Buddhism . He even visited Ivilga Datsan, the main monastery of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha in Russia reported by The Siberian Times reporter in 2013. Looking at those pictures tells all. On the traditions of interethnic and interfaith harmony, is indeed vitally important .
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Wonderful sharing knowing how the Russian leadership supports Buddhism. For the sake of a peaceful and harmonious environment the Russian leaderships accepted Buddhism in away. The Russian leadership even heighted importance of Buddhism history in Siberia. Because of Russian supports there are now millions of Buddhists in Russia and several Tibetan Buddhist university-monasteries. May more and more people benefit from the spreading of dharma in Russia.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Ever since the sad plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners became more public, it is very gladdening to read about leaderships that support all religions; e.g. the Russian leadership. Dorje Shugden practitioners are being discriminated and ostracized by the CTA (leaders of the Tibetans refugees in India) mercilessly for choosing their own faith and belief. Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing. I hope more people will become aware and support religious freedom.
This is a good leader who promotes acceptance, peace and tolerance. He teaches love and harmony, embracing the diversify and richness of his country’s culture and religious. When people generally have more knowledge and exposed to each other, there are less social, religious and cultural conflicts. Everyone is different, but we learn from each other. In today’s world, religious has been frequently used as a political weapons in attacking others. So its importance to to teach our kids to be kind, lives with open minded, understand each other in creating a loving and harmony society
It is truly heartwarming to learn that the powerful great Russian President Vladimir Putin has made an official trip to Buryatia to pay a visit to Ivolga Datsan, the main monastery of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha in Russia. A great many buddhists in this World will also feel so inspired and extremely honoured to hear him remarked that “Russia is probably the only country in Europe where Buddhism is an official religion”. In ackowledging his salutation to Buddhism, he said that the religion plays an important role to Russian’s history. He remarked that Buddhism has a very important noble mission to play in supporting the people, with very kind humanistic teachings and caring. At the end of his very remarkable and inspiring appriasal speech, he stressed that the Russian Governmental authorities and himself are always ever ready to give their support, and urges this vitally important religious traditions to carry on with good interfaith Harmony! What a unique powerful and understanding man this great Russian President is! A great many thanks to Rinpoche for such interesting remarkable information.
“俄罗斯”这个称呼是中国人通过较早接触俄罗斯人的蒙古人 学来的，在蒙古语中很少有以辅音R开头的，而蒙古人在遇到这种情况的时候往往都要加上相应的元音O，因此“罗斯”在蒙古语便译为OROS
明朝 ，中俄联系中断，直到明末中俄才有直接接触，那时候中汉人便直译为“罗刹”。罗刹国 这一称呼直到清初仍旧存在，比如康熙帝 下令编纂的中俄交涉史料就定名为《平定罗刹方略》。但清朝的统治民族是满洲族，受蒙古族影响较深，故采取源于蒙古语的间接音译，在康熙以后统一称为“俄罗斯”并沿用至今，俄罗斯帝国简称沙俄，即沙皇俄国。
俄罗斯是一个宗教信仰多元化的国家.在俄罗斯佛教徒主要分布在三个地区: 布里亚特共和国,图瓦共和国和 卡尔梅克共和国. 据 俄罗斯佛教联合会的信息透露, 俄罗斯信仰佛教的人数在150万到200万之间。
从这篇文章看到俄罗斯把佛教列入他们国家官方宗教，对国家人民实在是一个非常好的一个选择。 那么人民就可以从小就有一个信仰。
这是一篇值得鼓舞的文章。因为俄罗斯可能是目前唯一的欧洲国家，称佛教为官方宗教。
根据这篇博文，现在俄罗斯主要佛教派乘是藏传的格鲁派。这是一个非常好的现象，因为俄罗斯是全世界最大面积的一个国家，它的人口占约有一亿四千万 （144 million），而佛教徒人数是一百五十万 (1.5 million) 。因为有俄罗斯领袖的开明的接纳和100%支持与尊重于佛教，这无形中可以利益和让更多人学习佛法、修持与实践佛法，将佛法融入在日常生活里，推广和平相处，远离互相残害的痛苦。
感谢仁波切的分享。祈愿不久的将来，每个人都应持有自己本身的信仰，互相尊重与谅解彼此，一起同心携手达到世界和平。
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this great news. I think Russia is a very close up country for their leader to accept Buddhism as their main practices is very rare happy to hear such a great news may more and more people will benefits from the holy teaching.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this good piece of information.
Rejoice! Dharma Brothers and sisters from Russia have a wide and safe platform/piece of land to practice Dharma and also receive and provide Dharma teachings.
May Dharma be able to deliver to every corner on earth and bring benefits to more people. May all human be open minded to accept and respect each other regardless of religious and race.
Thank you.
If politics has to “meddle” with religion/spirituality, this would be the perfect example to follow. It is amazing that a political leader of such a big nation openly recognizes and supports Buddhism.
I believe that no matter what path you are on, everyone who has witnessed life and the direction modernization has taken humanity would recognize the need for spirituality to be available to the human race to make it through this kaliyuga age.
I hope more leaders would look beyond instant gratification and invest in the sustainable wealth of its nations: the human resource who feeds on “spiritual food”.
What a surprise to know Buddhism in Russia is not only thriving but officially recognised and accepted as an official religion. Definitely an eye opener. Thank you Rinpoche and the commentors for sharing the rich history of Buddhism in Russia. President Putin should be emulated by leaders of the world in acceptance and recognising Buddhism as playing an important role in promoting love and peace amongst the people.
Wow I did not know that Buddhism started with Empress Elizabeth being the first Russian head of state to recognise Buddhism. It’s really a splendid surprise to see Buddhism being well supported by the President of one of the world’s biggest country. I didn’t realise Buddhism was so strong in Russia. I only knew that there were certain parts of Russia namely Kalmykia which had a strong Buddhist foundation which Rinpoche educated us.
It certainly is wonderful news to see this because it means that Buddhism has the opportunity to flourish even more in Russia since it already has a pretty strong base, and has the President’s which means the government’s support too!
The President not only recognised that ‘Russia is probably the only country in Europe where Buddhism is an official religion’ but he also showed his appreciation towards Buddhism as it can help people in times of trouble and bring peace to the nation as it encourages the traditions of interethnic and interfaith harmony.
He even acknowledges that Buddhism plays an important vital role in maintaining peace and harmony amongst people. (The CTA could learn something from here.) Goes to show the kind of leadership Russia has and that is probably why they are one of the major superpower nation of our world.
I must say this is all very positive news for Russia and I rejoice for them because it’s a sign that Dharma can and will grow even more in Russia…. nice!
This is so interesting to know that there’s a strong following of Tibetan Buddhism in Russia. Apparently Buddhism in Buryatia is primarily the Gelug tradition although there are signs of influence from the Nyingma tradition as well. Buddhist followers in Buryatia revere the founder of the Gelug school, the great guru Tsongkhapa (called Zonhobo in Buryat). They recognise Tsongkhapa on par with Shakyamuni Buddha.
They celebrate six large ceremonies namely: Sagaalgan (New Year); Duynher (Kalachakra); Gandan-Shunserme (the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha; what we call SAGA DAWA); Maidari-Hural (the anticipated coming of Maitreya, the buddha of the next world epoch); Lhabab-Duysen (Buddha’s descent from the heaven called Tushita); and Zul-Hural (commemoration of Tsongkhapa; Lama Tsongkhapa Day).
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing. Lovely to know our Dharma brothers and sisters in Russia are doing great works to preserve the lineage and to grow the Dharma to benefit so many beings !
It was as early as the year 1741 that Empress Elizabeth issued a decree recognising the Lamaistic belief in Buryatia and authorised establishing of 11 monasteries (datsans) with 150 lamas on the staff. This is considered the date of the official recognition of Buddhism in Russia.
However, In the 1920s and 1930s, the communists destroyed practically all Buddhist monasteries and exiled or executed nearly all representatives of the Buddhist clergy. Luckily, with the beginning of Perestroika in the 1980s, and the lifting of the KGB’s monitoring of Buddhists, Buddhism started to be restored.
In Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Buddhism ranks with Orthodox Christianity, Islam and Judaism as one of the “traditional religions” and wonderful to know that today, there are around 1.5 million Buddhists in Russia.
It is great that a leader like Putin respect the long and important history of Buddhism in Siberia and is aware that Buddhism is “a very kind humanistic teaching that is based on people’s love for each other and for their country”. This is very important in this day and age, so that religion is used to unite and not to separate people.
In today’s world of globalisation, as more people across large distances becoming connected in more and different ways, we need more leaders who accept and respect multi-ethnic and multi-faith and it is heartening to see that President Putin expressed his gratitude towards Buddhists for carrying on the traditions of interethnic and interfaith harmony.
如果不是不小心停住在 “苏联领导层支持佛教(Russian leadership supports Buddhism)”这篇帖文，像我这样一个井底之蛙，肯定不会知道原来在这个世界占地最大的国家，其佛教徒人口竟然也多得吓人。看完仁波切的帖文，竟觉得意犹未尽便上网搜查，希望找出更多的资料。果然皇天不负有心人也！
显然，佛教在俄罗斯的发展经历了400年充满了曲折的历史。苏联时期佛教曾遭到压迫和文化毁灭，许多佛教徒被抓进集中营，接受强制治疗，对他们的迫害直到上世纪80年代才停止。
佛教最早在17世纪出现在俄罗斯，当时一支西蒙古游牧部落卫拉特人迁移到伏尔加河下游，后来被称为卡尔梅克人。此外，沙皇俄国还在17世纪中叶征服了外贝加尔地区，那里居住着东蒙古部落的布里亚特人。在向伏尔加河迁徙的途中，卫拉特人约在1616年建设了属于自己的第一间永久寺院达尔汗‧多尔任‧基特（意为”七间大房”，Sem palat），这也是现哈萨克斯坦塞米巴拉金斯克市名的由来。
在俄罗斯的主要佛教派乘是藏传佛教，信众主要分布在布里亚特、卡尔梅克和图瓦三个地区。250年前，女皇叶卡捷琳娜二世允许佛教徒选举自己的宗教首领班智达堪布喇嘛（Pandido Khambo Lama）。在此之前，俄国境内的佛教徒都接受蒙古或西藏高僧的管辖。为表感激之情，佛教徒在1766年宣布女皇是白度母神（即西藏佛教之女神玛噶波）的化身。
佛教徒不仅在叶卡捷琳娜时期，而且在整个沙俄时期都过得很好，并沒有受到任何不公平待遇。
目前，俄罗斯的佛教领袖是第24世班智达堪布喇嘛。
另外，据传说，第13世达赖喇嘛曾为圣彼得堡佛教寺院（建成于1915年）的修建赐福，于1915年 竣工。圣彼得堡佛教寺院现已被归还佛教界，但它在20世纪还是经历过许多变化。例如冷战时期这里安装过用于干扰西方对苏广播的设备。1962年，寺院被移交给苏联科学院动物学研究所，用于容纳动物官能形态学博物馆和多个实验室。直到1970年，该建筑物才受到国家保护。
第14世达赖喇嘛最终也来过寺庙。那是1987年9月份的一个阴雨天。据目击者称，当天达赖喇嘛下榻的列宁格勒宾馆上空突然出现了彩虹。
很开心看到俄罗斯领袖们的开通和包容，任由佛教在当地开枝散叶，让我对此国的领袖印象加分不少。
It’s good to know that Buddhism is doing well in Russia. During the Marxist era, it suffered religious persecution but managed to survive and continued to thrive to this day. The present regime is more liberal and tolerant of the religious practices of its minority communities.
Given the history of Russia, I am amazed that Buddhism survived in Russia to this day. Thank you for this interesting post, Rinpoche.
Understanding the importance of how Buddhism in Russia has shaped and supported the people of Russia, Russian leadership value the contribution that Buddhism has brought to people of Russia.
Heartwarming to see the Russian leadership appreciate the value that Buddhism has given to Russia.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful article.
Repost.
Dear Rinpoche
Thanks for sharing this article on Russian Buddhism. It is an eye opening to me that Russian have Buddhist and it is mainly in Gelug Traditional. Out of curiosity, I do some searching on History of Buddhism in Russian to know more. Below are the finding.
Buddhism is practiced by 700,000 people in Russia, or 0.5% of the total federal population currently. The highest authority for Soviet Buddhists is the Central Buddhist Board based in the Ivolginski Datsan in the Buryat Republic. (A permanent office in Moscow is concerned with external relations).
The congress of clergy and laity convenes once in four years and elects the members of the Board.
__________________
The spread of Buddhism in the territory of Russia went through five main phases.
The first phase – embraces the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when the Buryats, Kalmyks, and Tuvinians, whose culture, social, and state organization was greatly predetermined by Buddhist ideology, became an integral part of Russia. This was the time when the European part of Russia had its first contact with Buddhism, which stirred the cultural interaction of Christianity and Buddhism.
The second phase – covers the study of Buddhist doctrine, philosophy, and history conducted by Russian, and particularly, Saint Petersburg Orientalists. During the nineteenth to twentieth centuries, fundamental canonic and post-canonic texts were translated from Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese into Russian. These basic texts covered a wide range of issues, namely Buddhist doctrine, philosophy, and Tantras. Spreading over new territories and countries, Buddhism required the translation of the texts of the Indian Buddhist Tripitaka into native languages as a critical condition of its institutionalization. In this context it should be emphasized that Buddhism, as a world religion, could be reproduced only in accordance with its written sacral knowledge. Moreover, one of the basic principles of Buddhist missionary preaching stated that the Dharma should be taught in the language of the congregation. Today, the teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni are available in Russian for scholars, Buddhist converts, and anyone who is interested in this Oriental religious belief, thanks to the work done by Russian Buddhologists who translated and interpreted the texts.
The third phase – takes a look at Buddhism’s consolidation in Saint Petersburg, a Russian megapolis at the beginning of the twentieth century. It also describes how the datsan was built in the city thanks to the joint efforts of the Buddhist adherents and Buddhologists.
The fourth phase – of Buddhism’s spread coincides with the integration of Russian Buddhist converts into the ranks of lay Buddhists and the boom of religious communities and centers established by those Russian Buddhist converts. It must be kept in mind that many of these converts were raised in the Russian-language milieu, and that their socialization took place in the Soviet atheistic environment. Thus, the fact that the first European Buddhist communities emerged in Saint Petersburg is of a paramount importance. At present, Saint Petersburg counts about ten Buddhist convert communities that differ from one another with regard to their religious activities, history, and organizational structure. The following Buddhist convert communities have attracted the largest numbers of followers and have propagated the autonomous religious life of Buddhist adherents: the Zen Kwan Um Saint Petersburg school, the Saint Petersburg Dzogchen community, and the Karma-Kagyü Buddhist Association. The rest of the communities, namely the Fo Guang community, the Tibet Friends Community, Svetoch Dharma, and so forth, are part of the Saint Petersburg Buddhist Union and view their core task as that of propagation. They hold seminars, arrange visits of religious masters from China, Nepal, India, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka, and translate and publish Buddhist texts.
On the whole, the Buddhist revival in Saint Petersburg in the 1990s resulted in its reestablishment, and the enrichment of it social and cultural forms within the context of the metropolis, as well as its involvement into the global network of lay Buddhist communities.
The fifth phase – of Buddhism’s institutionalization in Russia took place in the late twentieth century. It is a complex process that can be analyzed through its two characteristic features. The first feature is determined by the fact that traditionally, Buddhist territories viewed this religion as a potential state ideology. Contemporary Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva have witnessed the revival of monastic culture, religious education, and the construction of new temples. The essence of the second feature lies in the fact that the Buddhism that has settled in the Russian capitals — Moscow and Saint Petersburg — greatly differs from the Buddhism practiced in Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva. Buddhism in the capital is being propagated by Nepalese, Indian (from the Tibetan diaspora), Sri Lankan, and Taiwanese monks, as well as western convert leaders who are much more popular with their Russian adherents.
_________________________
Gelug in Russian
The ethnic groups mentioned above, the Buryats, Tuvinians, and Kalmyks, submerged under Russian culture, all propagated Buddhism in its Tibeto-Mongolian form. The Dalai Lama, was recognized as the religious Head. In this context it should be emphasized that further Buddhist spread and intensive propagation among the Buryats, Tuvinians, and Kalmyks was taking place in the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, at the time when the Gelugpa school achieved its acknowledged and unchallenged supremacy in Tibet.
Having come to political power in Tibet in the seventeenth century, the Gelugpa ideologists ousted the rest of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions into the remote areas of the country in an attempt to control their opponents and minimize the rivals’ missionary activities both throughout Tibet and in other countries, in every possible way. It was the Gelugpa masters who introduced Buddhism into Mongolia. The Mongols then adopted the theocratic method of state administration. The Buryats, Tuvinians and Kalmyks came to Buddhism through Mongolian and Tibetan religious teachers. The canonic texts in Tibetan and Mongolian were translated into the Buryat, Tuvinian, and Kalmyk languages. The religious masters of Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva, have always been educated in the Gelugpa monasteries of Tibet, supervised by the Dalai Lama’s people
The thirteenth Dalai Lama Thubden Gyatso (1876-1933) and Agvan Lobsan Dorzhiev (1854-1938), a Russian subject and the Dalai Lama’s representative in Russia, demonstrated their direct and immediate initiative to establish a Buddhist monastery in Saint Petersburg. Dorzhiev managed to get imperial approval to build the datsan and succeeded in raising the funds to employ the best architects and craftsmen. Hence, it is no wonder that even today in the twenty-first century, the Saint-Petersburg shrine is famous worldwide for its beauty and originality.
______________
The Persecution & Restoration
Buddhism was subject to severe persecution in Marxist Russia. The primary reason was that unlike other belief-systems that Marxism encountered, Buddhism was the only religion, which offered a rational, logically coherent philosophy. This was seen as a real ideological threat to the Marxist materialist worldview.
Buddhists suffered a lot under Stalin’s rule. Thousands of Buddhist monks were among the millions of people killed during this time. In Buryatia republic alone, 46 monasteries and 150 temples were desecrated. In spite of these calamities the Buryats managed to preserve their Buddhist traditions and values.
It was only in 1948 that a new monastery was built in Ivolga, near Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, and one of the buildings of Aginsk Datsan near Chita was re-opened.
With the beginning of perestroika, a great number of Buddhist communities was officially registered under the aegis of the Central Religious Committee of the Buddhists of the USSR.
Restoration of destroyed monasteries started in the Baikal region, Kalmykia, and Tuva, along with building new temples. St. Petersburg Datsan was returned to the Buddhist community and renovated. A Buddhist Institute was opened at Ivolga Datsan.
In Kalmykia 22 temples now. In Tuve about 16. In Buryatia more than 30 temples.
__________________
Latest Buddhist’s new in Russia
On November 2014, The Moscow’s first Buddhist temple to feature five-meter Buddha will be built by year 2017. The 3,000-square meters facility will also host cultural and medical centers, a conference room and a soup kitchen.
———————
Source:
1 ) Research Article -Buddhism in Saint
2) A History of Buddhism in Russia
3) Buddhism in Russia – Igor Troyanovsky
4) Moscow’s first Buddhist temple to feature five-meter Buddha
5) Moscow’s first Buddhist Temple to open its doors
It is great and quite surprise to know that Buddhism was incorporated into the world largest country – Russia in the early 17th century and has since become the official religion, probably the only country in Europe.
Buddhism has played an important roles in the lives of Russian people in times of difficulties and joy, even Russian President Putin value and enjoyed a very closed relationship with the head of Russian Buddhist Pandito Kambo-lama Damba Ayusheyev.
May Buddhism will spread to the ten direction from here with the support of Russian Government and the regional authorities. Thank you for sharing this heartwarming post.
Wow! This is incredible! I read a little about Buddhism in Russia but I didn’t know it has lasted to this day. It’s heartwarming to see a Russian leader talking about the positive impact Buddhism has had in Russian history. It’s beautiful and I think we can all relate to it because we are from the same tradition and when practiced correctly and with the right intentions, can manifest in such powerful impact on a social level, historic level and national level as well.
Didn’t know Russia has such a long history in Buddhism , thank you Rinpoche for this valuable piece of information
Dear Rinpoche
Thanks for sharing this article on Russian Buddhism. It is an eye opening to me that Russian have Buddhist and it is mainly in Gelug Traditional. Out of curiosity, I do some searching on History of Buddhism in Russian to know more. Below are the finding.
Buddhism is practiced by 700,000 people in Russia, or 0.5% of the total federal population currently. The highest authority for Soviet Buddhists is the Central Buddhist Board based in the Ivolginski Datsan in the Buryat Republic. (A permanent office in Moscow is concerned with external relations).
The congress of clergy and laity convenes once in four years and elects the members of the Board.
__________________
The spread of Buddhism in the territory of Russia went through five main phases.
The first phase – embraces the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when the Buryats, Kalmyks, and Tuvinians, whose culture, social, and state organization was greatly predetermined by Buddhist ideology, became an integral part of Russia. This was the time when the European part of Russia had its first contact with Buddhism, which stirred the cultural interaction of Christianity and Buddhism.
The second phase – covers the study of Buddhist doctrine, philosophy, and history conducted by Russian, and particularly, Saint Petersburg Orientalists. During the nineteenth to twentieth centuries, fundamental canonic and post-canonic texts were translated from Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese into Russian. These basic texts covered a wide range of issues, namely Buddhist doctrine, philosophy, and Tantras. Spreading over new territories and countries, Buddhism required the translation of the texts of the Indian Buddhist Tripitaka into native languages as a critical condition of its institutionalization. In this context it should be emphasized that Buddhism, as a world religion, could be reproduced only in accordance with its written sacral knowledge. Moreover, one of the basic principles of Buddhist missionary preaching stated that the Dharma should be taught in the language of the congregation. Today, the teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni are available in Russian for scholars, Buddhist converts, and anyone who is interested in this Oriental religious belief, thanks to the work done by Russian Buddhologists who translated and interpreted the texts.
The third phase – takes a look at Buddhism’s consolidation in Saint Petersburg, a Russian megapolis at the beginning of the twentieth century. It also describes how the datsan was built in the city thanks to the joint efforts of the Buddhist adherents and Buddhologists.
The fourth phase – of Buddhism’s spread coincides with the integration of Russian Buddhist converts into the ranks of lay Buddhists and the boom of religious communities and centers established by those Russian Buddhist converts. It must be kept in mind that many of these converts were raised in the Russian-language milieu, and that their socialization took place in the Soviet atheistic environment. Thus, the fact that the first European Buddhist communities emerged in Saint Petersburg is of a paramount importance. At present, Saint Petersburg counts about ten Buddhist convert communities that differ from one another with regard to their religious activities, history, and organizational structure. The following Buddhist convert communities have attracted the largest numbers of followers and have propagated the autonomous religious life of Buddhist adherents: the Zen Kwan Um Saint Petersburg school, the Saint Petersburg Dzogchen community, and the Karma-Kagyü Buddhist Association. The rest of the communities, namely the Fo Guang community, the Tibet Friends Community, Svetoch Dharma, and so forth, are part of the Saint Petersburg Buddhist Union and view their core task as that of propagation. They hold seminars, arrange visits of religious masters from China, Nepal, India, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka, and translate and publish Buddhist texts.
On the whole, the Buddhist revival in Saint Petersburg in the 1990s resulted in its reestablishment, and the enrichment of it social and cultural forms within the context of the metropolis, as well as its involvement into the global network of lay Buddhist communities.
The fifth phase – of Buddhism’s institutionalization in Russia took place in the late twentieth century. It is a complex process that can be analyzed through its two characteristic features. The first feature is determined by the fact that traditionally, Buddhist territories viewed this religion as a potential state ideology. Contemporary Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva have witnessed the revival of monastic culture, religious education, and the construction of new temples. The essence of the second feature lies in the fact that the Buddhism that has settled in the Russian capitals — Moscow and Saint Petersburg — greatly differs from the Buddhism practiced in Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva. Buddhism in the capital is being propagated by Nepalese, Indian (from the Tibetan diaspora), Sri Lankan, and Taiwanese monks, as well as western convert leaders who are much more popular with their Russian adherents.
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Gelug in Russian
The ethnic groups mentioned above, the Buryats, Tuvinians, and Kalmyks, submerged under Russian culture, all propagated Buddhism in its Tibeto-Mongolian form. The Dalai Lama, was recognized as the religious Head. In this context it should be emphasized that further Buddhist spread and intensive propagation among the Buryats, Tuvinians, and Kalmyks was taking place in the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, at the time when the Gelugpa school achieved its acknowledged and unchallenged supremacy in Tibet.
Having come to political power in Tibet in the seventeenth century, the Gelugpa ideologists ousted the rest of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions into the remote areas of the country in an attempt to control their opponents and minimize the rivals’ missionary activities both throughout Tibet and in other countries, in every possible way. It was the Gelugpa masters who introduced Buddhism into Mongolia. The Mongols then adopted the theocratic method of state administration. The Buryats, Tuvinians and Kalmyks came to Buddhism through Mongolian and Tibetan religious teachers. The canonic texts in Tibetan and Mongolian were translated into the Buryat, Tuvinian, and Kalmyk languages. The religious masters of Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva, have always been educated in the Gelugpa monasteries of Tibet, supervised by the Dalai Lama’s people
The thirteenth Dalai Lama Thubden Gyatso (1876-1933) and Agvan Lobsan Dorzhiev (1854-1938), a Russian subject and the Dalai Lama’s representative in Russia, demonstrated their direct and immediate initiative to establish a Buddhist monastery in Saint Petersburg. Dorzhiev managed to get imperial approval to build the datsan and succeeded in raising the funds to employ the best architects and craftsmen. Hence, it is no wonder that even today in the twenty-first century, the Saint-Petersburg shrine is famous worldwide for its beauty and originality.
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The Persecution & Restoration
Buddhism was subject to severe persecution in Marxist Russia. The primary reason was that unlike other belief-systems that Marxism encountered, Buddhism was the only religion, which offered a rational, logically coherent philosophy. This was seen as a real ideological threat to the Marxist materialist worldview.
Buddhists suffered a lot under Stalin’s rule. Thousands of Buddhist monks were among the millions of people killed during this time. In Buryatia republic alone, 46 monasteries and 150 temples were desecrated. In spite of these calamities the Buryats managed to preserve their Buddhist traditions and values.
It was only in 1948 that a new monastery was built in Ivolga, near Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, and one of the buildings of Aginsk Datsan near Chita was re-opened.
With the beginning of perestroika, a great number of Buddhist communities was officially registered under the aegis of the Central Religious Committee of the Buddhists of the USSR.
Restoration of destroyed monasteries started in the Baikal region, Kalmykia, and Tuva, along with building new temples. St. Petersburg Datsan was returned to the Buddhist community and renovated. A Buddhist Institute was opened at Ivolga Datsan.
In Kalmykia 22 temples now. In Tuve about 16. In Buryatia more than 30 temples.
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Latest Buddhist’s new in Russia
On November 2014, The Moscow’s first Buddhist temple to feature five-meter Buddha will be built by year 2017. The 3,000-square meters facility will also host cultural and medical centers, a conference room and a soup kitchen.
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Source:
1 ) Research Article -Buddhism in Saint Petersburg
http://www.globalbuddhism.org/5/ostrovskaya04.htm
2) A History of Buddhism in Russia
http://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/a-history-of-buddhism-in-russia-the-sangha-and-the-soviets
3) Buddhism in Russia – Igor Troyanovsky
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/world/country/028-russia.htm
4) Moscow’s first Buddhist temple to feature five-meter Buddha
http://rbth.com/society/2014/11/06/moscows_first_buddhist_temple_to_feature_five-meter_buddha_41197.html
5) Moscow’s first Buddhist Temple to open its doors
http://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia/2014_03_19/Moscow-s-first-Buddhist-Temple-to-open-its-doors-1326/
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Photos
1) Ivolginsky datsan (Russian: Иволгинский Дацан) is the Buddhist Temple located in Buryatia, Russia – was opened in 1945 as the only Buddhist spiritual centre of the USSR.
2) The Datsan Gunzechoinei is a large Buddhist temple in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
佛教自古以來倡導人文發展，強調佛法融入日常生活的重要性，提倡和平，人人平等等價值觀念；旨在修心，自我反省，讓人人可以透過實踐佛法而提升自己，進而形成和平的世界。
佛教有兩千五百多年的歷史，目前是世界上迅速發展的宗教，也是世界重要的宗教之一。佛教從尼泊爾遠播全世界，在不同的國家紮根，為當地的人民帶來滅苦之道，讓其文化增添豐富的色彩，影響匪淺。
隨著歷史的演變，許多國家的形成，佛教的痕跡在某些地區也逐漸消失。今天俄羅斯探本溯源，正視佛教對其文化的影響，認可佛教為正式的宗教，深感安慰。有機會一定會去拜訪俄羅斯，一探其佛教聖地昔日的風采。
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for sharing this heart-warming post.
‘Russia is probably the only country in Europe where Buddhism is an official religion’, acknowledged by President Putin. His positive insight and full support towards Buddhism is uplifting.
Wow! I never knew that Buddhism had such a strong presence in Russia! Looks like it’s time to do some research in Buddhist history in Russia. This is very interesting indeed. Thank you for sharing.
‘Most importantly, you are promoting a very kind humanistic teaching that is based on people’s love for each other and for their country. You carry on the traditions of interethnic and interfaith harmony, which is vitally important, and for that I want to express my gratitude to you once again.
The above statement by President Putin hits it on the nail for any head of state who truly wants the best for their country. Without interethnic and interfaith harmony, there will forever be unrest in the country. Who wants to live in a place with constant instability and sufferings?
Financial abundance creates comfort and convenience for the citizens, but without the fundamentals of compassion and kindness, humans will end up more unhappy and unsettled, creating much havoc in their community. Everyone wants to be happy and will do everything to achieve that. Buddhism offers a permanent method of achieving that state that encompasses compassion and harmony.
Any school of thought that promotes positive and wholesome wellbeing that unites and accept diversity is what the world needs.
Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for sharing this post to us. It is amazing, glad to know that such a big and powerful country like Russia support Buddhism and has such great respect for Buddhism.
For Buddhism to grow and take root in the West, especially in Russia, i believes that Buddhism has served the country and people very well, bring loves, peace, harmony creating society stability and hence benefiting the country overall. These in turn will make the country’s leader job much more easier in running the country.
A wise leader should support religion that benefiting their country and people.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for the sharing.
It is so great the a big country such as Russia supports and has respect towards Buddhism. The leaders recognised the value of Buddhism.
With folded hands
Pee Bee Chong
It is definitely heart warming to know that such a big and powerful country like Russia has such great respect for Buddhism. Most importantly the country support and preserved the shrines for the people.
It is just great to know that the Russian is probably the only country in Europe where Buddhism is the official religion.
And the main form of Buddhism in Russia is the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. How amazing.
Extracted from http://www.buddhist.ru – In the early 17th century, Tibetan Buddhism spread north from Mongolia to Buryat communities of the Baikal region. The second wave came directly from Tibet. Aiming for weakening the influence of Mongols and Manchurs in the region, the tsar conferred the title of Bandido Khambo Lama on the priors of Gusinoozersk Datsan to acknowledge them as leaders of Buryat Buddhism. Thus, Buryat tradition became officially independent of the Mongolian Church. In 1741, Empress Elizabeth issued a decree that recognized the Lamaistic belief in Buryatia and authorized establishing of 11 monasteries (datsans) with 150 lamas on the staff. This is considered the date of the official recognition of Buddhism in Russia.
It is amazing that the current Russian government and its President Putin paying so much equal respect towards Buddhism in their country and to all the monasteries and practitioners without any regard of discrimination or segregation. They understood Buddhism brings peace and harmony in their people.
Real great to know the other side of the world .
Russia is thelargest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area. Russia is also the world’s ninth most populous country with nearly 144 million people in 2014.
Historically, Buddhism was incorporated into Russian lands in the early 17th century. Buddhism is considered as one of Russia’s traditional religions, legally a part of Russian historical heritage. Besides the historical monastic traditions of Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva. Buddhism is now widespread all over Russia, with many ethnic Russian converts.
The main form of Buddhism in Russia is the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, with other Tibetan schools as minorities.
It’s great to know that this big country has such a great respect towards Buddhism. The leader recognized the value of Buddhism and saying giving 100 percent support. The recognition is based on the action from the past that have bring benefit to the people of Russia’s.
It’s really a heart warming to see this post.