Khen Rinpoche greeted and gave brief sermon to the believers gathered in the prayer hall. The rector of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia, “The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha” Anja Gelyung, presented the venerable Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen with the mandala and symbols of the body, speech and mind of Buddha Shakyamuni.

After the prayer, the venerable Khen Rinpoche, along with the monks of the Central Khurul, proceeded to the Khurul’s first level - the Museum of the History of Buddhism. A tour was specially arranged for him so that he could familiarize himself with the exhibitions. The Museum of the History of Buddhism of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia, “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” recently won the annual competition “Best in Russia” in the nomination “Philosophy of Tourism”.

Later, His Grace went with the monks to the library, where he was shown a collection of sacred texts and was requested to leave written well wishes. Then the venerable Khen Rinpoche was taken to the fifth level, where the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV is located.

His Grace was very pleased with the temple "Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni." As you know, this largest Buddhist temple in Europe was built in 2005 with the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV with the help from personal funds of the first President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and donations from Kalmykia residents.

It should be noted that it was not by chance that the visit of His Grace took place on 4 August. On this day, Buddha Shakyamuni made the first turn of the wheel of the Teaching in Sarnath, near Varanasi, in the Deer Park. There he taught the “Four Noble Truths” and the Law of Karma, which explain the cycle of existence and give the possibility of liberation from all suffering.

The first turn of the wheel of the Dharma is to get rid of the obsessive habit of thinking about oneself as an independent and sustainable phenomenon.