On 24 August, in Dharamsala, FIDE President met with the spiritual leader of Buddhists, the Nobel Peace Prize winner His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, during a meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama, asked His Holiness to consecrate the Central Buddhist Khurul (temple) in the capital of Kalmykia. This Ilyumzhinov said in his tweet:
"I asked His Holiness and conveyed to him a request from the Buddhists of Kalmykia to consecrate the Central Buddhist Khurul in Elista called "The Golden Abode of the Buddha Shakyamuni", which was built on his blessing in 2005. The ritual of the consecration of the temple will be an outstanding event in the spiritual life of our people!", Ilyumzhinov stressed.
Also, FIDE president presented the Dalai Lama with a colourful booklet with a synopsis of the Russian-Indian film "Buddha". His Holiness approved and blessed the idea and plan of work on the film about the great Teacher - the founder of one of the world's leading religions.
The Dalai Lama said he was praying for his visit to Kalmykia, but so far it has not been planned. At the same time, he conveyed his wish: His Holiness wants the Elista Central Buddhist Khurul "the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni" become a place of Buddhist pilgrimage.
On the same day, 24 August, during the visit to Dharamsala, FIDE President met with the state oracle of Tibet Thubten Ngodup, who is the oracle of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Recall that Thubten Ngodup visited Kalmykia three times in 1997, in 1999 and in 2011. The first two visits were organized by the first President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
It should be noted that when asked by the residents of Kalmykia about the possibility of the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia, Thubten Ngodup replied: "I am absolutely sure that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will come to Russia."
The State Oracle of Tibet repeatedly paid his pastoral visits to Kalmykia and keeps the warmest impressions of this republic. He conveyed warm wishes to its residents during the conversation.
Incidentally, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will tell you about the details of the meeting with His Holiness live on Instagram today. The broadcast starts at 14.00 Moscow time.
25.08.2018
FIDE President invites the Dalai Lama to consecrate the Central Buddhist Temple of Elista
On 23 August, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov flew to Dharamsala, India. On the same day, the head of FIDE and Shadzhin-Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche met with the head of the Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay. Lobsang Sangay is a very respected and well-known person - he is a lawyer, scientist, public and political figure.
On 8 May, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the head of the Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay signed a cooperation agreement providing for joint activities to implement the FIDE Chess in Schools programme, as well as organizing various chess competitions in Dharamsala.