RELIGION
BUDDHISM
The professed religions on the territory of Buryatia
Buddhism came to Zabaikalie in the form of lamaism from Mongolia and Tibet in
the middle of the 17th century when 100 Mongolian and 50 Tibetan monks settled
here. Their active campaign to introduce the new religion to the shamanists was
supported by the Buryat aristocracy and Tsar Administration. In 1741 Buddhism
was recognized as one of the national religions of Russia. The Gelukpa school
was the most common, its founder being Tsonkhava, the reformer of Tibetan
Buddhism.
By the end of the 19th century several of the world’s ancient sacred objects
delivered from Tibet and India were kept in Buryatia. Among them there was a
huge metal statue of Buddha Maidari, Sandal Buddha statue, canonic book
“Ganzhur” of 113 volumes and Danzhur of 300 volumes. They contained encyclopedic
manuscript of medieval Buddhist teachings in philosophy, medicine, logics,
linguistics, astrology and other fields of knowledge. There were also unique
medical «Chzhud Schi” and «Vaidurya-onbo», and the only full copy of “Atlas of
Tibetan Medicine” of the two preserved in the world. Today the copy of the Atlas
is restored and translated into Russian language and stored in the Museum of
History of Buryatia.
Buddhists temples became universities where Tibetan, Mongolian languages,
Sanskrit, “Five Big Sciences”(religious philosophy, Grammar, Tibetan and
Mongolian medicine, technology of arts and craft) and “Five Small Sciences”
(poetry, stylistics, metrics, dances and music, astrology) were studied.
Buddhist temples used secret rituals, Tsam mystery being one of them.
There were highly educated people among Buddhist clergy. Agvan Dorzhiev, the
teacher of Dalai Lama XIII was one of them. With his initiative in 1915, the
first Buddhist temple in Europe was built in Saint Petersburg. Brothers
Badmaev’s successful medical practice of Tibetan medicine was highly appraised
by Russian emperor Alexander the Third. Thanks to their activity and to Agvan
Dorzhiev, Tibetan medicine spread in Russia. In 40’s-80’s years of the last
century a graduate of Buddhist medical school of Atsagat Buddhist temple Galdan
Lenkhoboev contributed greatly to the preservation and development of Tibetan
medicine. Today, Tibetan medicine is developing with the government support.
Buddhist clergy is actively working towards Buddhism revival. Old Buddhist
temples are being restored, the new ones are being built, Buddhist stupas,
symbolic models of the Universe, are being set up in many places all over the
region. The Buddhist traditional Sangkha of Russia is a member of the World
Brotherhood of Buddhists with the centre of Russian Buddhists located in
Buryatia. There is one of Sangkha’s institutions of higher education – Buddhist
Institute “Dashi-Choinkhorlin” where young people from many regions of Russia
come to study. In 1979, the Head of Buddhists of the world – His Holiness Dalai
Lama XIV visited Buryatia. Buddhism is one of the most interesting pages in the
history of Buryatia that attracts growing attention. Tourists can visit Buddhist
temples, go on tours, consult Tibetan emchi lamas (monks practicing oriental
medicine), monks astrologists, buy medicine and religious things and order
prayers.
Lama Itygelov
The name of Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itygelov is known to every Buddhist in the
world. There hasn’t been a scientific explanation found to explain his
phenomenon yet.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Lama Itygelov was a Khambo Lama, head
of Buddhists of Russia. In 1927, being a high rank jogine, he reached the state
of Nirvana. Then he was placed into a wooden sarcophagus and buried seating in
meditation. The burial place was kept secret by lamas. In 2002, he was taken out
of the ground, in accordance with his will, and placed in the Ivolginsky
Buddhist temple.
The event caused sensation in the world. Many studies made for the last
several years by famous scientists and research institutes of Russia have shown
that the physical characteristics of the body and the brain of lama Itygelov are
similar to that of a living body. The Lama is still sitting in mediation
posture, his body being warm and soft. He perspires but doesn’t lose weight. He
doesn’t need any support and it seems that he gets charged from some energy
sources. Scientists believe that the body is in the state unknown to science.
Buddhists believe that in the Itygelov’s body there is Buddha’s spirit and
the lama is alive. Buddhists have several versions of Itygelov’s phenomenon.
Dalai Lama the XIV expressed his opinion that Itygelov had gone into a deep
meditation but his finest form of consciousness “namshi” is still present in his
body. Bogdo Gegen Khalkha Dzhetsun Damba Rimpoche thinks that Itygelov managed
to reach the state of imperishable body, as a result of tantric practice, and
having left it stopped the reincarnation circle and his consciousness left for
the highest spheres. Ganzhur lama Radnaev, vice principle of the Buddhist
Institute “Dashi-Cjoinkhorlin”, said that Itygelov’s consciousness might be in
the constant movement and keeps contact with his body.
Great number of people from different countries makes pilgrimage to the body
and spirit of Lama. People believe that touching his hand or clothes makes
wonders and may change life for the better and protect from troubles. A temple
designed by Itygelov himself was built to have better access to the body.
In 2005 a manuscript written by Itygelov was found where he forecasted his
arrival and revival of Buddhism. His last foretelling has come true.
In the burial place, Khukhe-Zurkhen, a Buddhist stupa has been constructed.
In Ulan-Ude there is the Institute of Khambo Lama Itygelov, whose activity is
aimed at studying the phenomenon of imperishable body and determining the
importance of the event for the world’s history and Buddhist teaching.
Official site of the national Agency for tourism
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Tour to Buryatia
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