On June 20, the monastic sangha and Buddhists of Kalmykia celebrate the 30th anniversary of the election of Telo Tulku Rinpoche to the post of Shajin Lama of Kalmykia. This fateful decision was made at the II Extraordinary Conference of Buddhists of Kalmykia and the Astrakhan region.
On the 30th anniversary of his tenure as Shajin Lama the first President of Kalmykia, sixth FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov congratulated the Honorary Representative of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Russia, Mongolia and the CIS countries, Venerable Telo Tulku Rinpoche:
“I sincerely thank you for the ascetic service to your people, the light of faith that you bring to us through the noble truths of Buddhism! Your contribution to strengthening the religious and cultural ties that have existed for centuries between the traditional Buddhist regions of Russia and the Tibetan community is invaluable. I will never forget how we organized the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Kalmykia in 2004.
On this significant day for all followers of the Buddhist teachings, we express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to you for your great mission to revive and strengthen high spiritual values, for the love and compassion that you have been giving us over the years.”
I am grateful to fate for having the honour of many years of acquaintance and friendship with you. I wish you good health, long life, spiritual strength, kindness and prosperity, devoted students and removal of all obstacles on the way to good goals and spiritual realizations! May good luck accompany all your plans!
Editor’s note: The appearance of such a person as Telo Tulku Rinpoche - a Kalmyk, recognized at the age of 6 as a new reincarnation of the great Indian saint Tilopa and introduced to the people of Kalmykia by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - determined the path for the further development of Buddhism in the republic.
