On January 30, 2022, the White Clouds Cultural Centre hosted the grand opening of the Days of Tibetan Culture, held by the Moscow Drepung Gomang Centre Foundation and the official delegation of the Drepung Gomang Monastery (India).

On the first day of the programme, the honorary representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia, Mongolia and the CIS countries, the head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, said that the monks would erect a sand mandala of Green Tara, and introduce Buddhist culture and philosophy to the residents of the Russian capital.

The representative of the Dalai Lama recalled the need to take precautions both of physical and mental health: “The pandemic encourages us to cultivate compassion, love and kindness, to take care of others.”

According to Telo Tulku Rinpoche, the erection of the Green Tara mandala will help to accumulate merit and contribute to the speedy end of the pandemic:

“Two years ago, His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged everyone to practice Green Tara as often as possible and to recite its mantra. However, despite the appeal of His Holiness, we unfortunately do not do these practices sufficiently.

During the two years of the pandemic, many of my friends have been ill, some of them have died. Last year, in August, I myself contracted the coronavirus. This disease is still killing people, the erection of the Green Tara mandala dedicated to a speedy end to the pandemic.”

Regarding forecasts for 2022, the head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia said that the future is in our hands, and we ourselves can influence the course of events: “I am an optimist. Many people ask me what the coming year will bring us, and I always answer that it will be good.