People from the other regions could hardly believe it. However, many Lamas criticize the "consumer society" and capitalism as a whole, pointing out that technological progress alone, without ethical and moral guidelines, kills our planet, reducing everything to a thoughtless waste of resources.

In Karma Kagyu they try not to get attached to ideological labels and say: "This is not Marxism, but common sense." Moreover, communication with the regional and city authorities was always easy for them.
When in the 90s the delegation of the Russian Association of Buddhists Karma Kagyu first arrived in Kalmykia to meet with the head of the republic Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, he asked: "How much money do you need?" And he was very surprised when they answered him: “Money is not necessary, we just need organizational help in our activities.”
“It’s very rare that people come to me and don’t ask for money!” Ilyumzhinov laughed.
His Volgograd Buddhists recall that Ilyumzhinov invested hundreds of millions of his personal funds in restoring the “Buddhist infrastructure” not only of Kalmykia, but also of neighbouring regions. During the Soviet years, Khuruls, stupas were destroyed.
Editors’ note. A new stage in the development of Buddhism in Kalmykia began with perestroika, after the election of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov as the first President of the Republic of Kalmykia. After many years of prohibitions and persecution, Buddhist teachers finally began to come to Kalmykia, including the Lamas of the Karma Kagyu School. Here are the main milestones of the latest Kagyu history in Kalmykia.
In 1993, the first visit of Lama Ole Nydahl.
In 1994, visit of Tobgi Rinpoche with his seminar Namshe Yeshe (relative and absolute wisdom) and a course of Phowa Corse conducted by Lama Ole Nydahl.
1995 was marked by the arrival of three great Kagyu teachers: His Holiness Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl. The branch of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute was opened and the land was consecrated for the construction of the Enlightenment Stupa.
In 1998, the beginning of the construction of the first and currently the highest stupa not only in Kalmykia, but also in Russia. Many residents of Kalmykia and guests from other cities made donations for the construction.
In 1999, the grand opening of the Stupa of Enlightenment took place. In the same year, near the Stupa of Enlightenment in Elista, the house of Mahakala was built, the embodiment of the protective power of all Buddhas. The house consecrated and erected a statue of Mahakala Lama Ole Nydahl.
In recent years, much has been done to revive and develop Buddhism in Kalmykia. Many khuruls and stupas were built. The largest Buddhist temple (Khurul) in Europe “Golden Shakyamuni Buddha Monastery” was erected in Elista, built in 2005 with the blessing of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with personal funds of the first President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and donations from local residents.
The head of the republic, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, always dreamed of making Kalmykia the centre of European Buddhism. This requires openness, tolerance, a willingness to cooperate and an equal attitude to all Buddhist schools. The visit of Lama Ole Nydahl in the summer of 2008 confirmed that this is possible in Kalmykia.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov then invited Lama to give a lecture in the central Khurul. He personally conducted a tour round the central Khurul for Ole Nydahl and guests. And finally, he came to the lecture of Lama Ole, listened to it from beginning to end and promised to be a diligent student.
When in the 90s the delegation of the Russian Association of Buddhists Karma Kagyu first arrived in Kalmykia to meet with the head of the republic Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, he immediately asked: "How much money do you need?" And he was very surprised when they answered him: “Money is not necessary, we just need organizational help in our events.”
“It’s very rare that people come to me and don’t ask for money!” Ilyumzhinov laughed.
His Volgograd Buddhists call their friend and recall that Ilyumzhinov invested hundreds of millions of his personal funds in restoring the “Buddhist infrastructure” not only of Kalmykia, but also of neighboring regions. Hurulas, stupas - during the Soviet years, almost everything was destroyed, there were not even ruins left.
A source