Dates and topic of the next Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Buddhists of Russia announced

As announced today by Telo Tulku Rinpoche, the Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia, Mongolia and the CIS countries, His Holiness has consented to the request of the organizing committee to grant the next “Teachings for the Buddhists of Russia.” The Teachings will take place on November 4 and 5, 2021. Owing to the difficult epidemiological situation, this year the spiritual leader's teachings will again be held online. The main topic of the teachings will be an explanation of Maitreya's fundamental treatise “The Ornament of Mahayana Sutras” (Mahayana-sutra-alamkara). According to Tibetan tradition, this work, which is part of the famous “Five Treatises of Maitreya,” was recorded by Arya Asanga in the Tushita heaven in the 4th century. The content of the treatise is very extensive, and it is important not only for its formulations of the general foundations of the Mahayana, but also for laying the foundations of the philosophy of Vijnanavada-Yogachara-Chittamatra. MORE ABOUT THE BOOK “The Ornament of Mahayana Sutras” was published in July 2021 by the “Save Tibet” Foundation on the recommendation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The translation from Tibetan was carried out by Algirdas Kugevičius under the editorship of Andrey Terentyev — the creative team that opened up for Russian Buddhists “The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment” (“The Great Lamrim”) and “The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Mantra.” The translation was made primarily on the basis of the commentaries of Rongton (1367–1449), Ju Mipham (1846–1912) and Zhenpen Jampai Gocha, also known as Khenpo Zhenga (1871–1927). In the coming days, registration for the upcoming teachings will be announced and their full program published, which, in addition to the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, will include explanatory teachings by leading Buddhist masters, as well as feature and documentary films about the life and beneficial activity of the spiritual leader of the followers of Tibetan Buddhism. The dates of the upcoming teachings — November 4 and 5, 2021 — are days off in the Russian Federation, which will allow all participants to devote all their time to immersing themselves in the philosophy of Buddhism, founded on wisdom and compassion. The Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Buddhists of Russia have been held in India since 2009 at the request of the Buddhist clergy of Russia — the Venerable Elo Rinpoche, who works permanently in Buryatia, and the supreme Lama (Shajin Lama) of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche, with the support of the supreme clergy of Tuva. Over the twelve-year history of the teachings, the Dalai Lama has transmitted to Russian Buddhists instructions on the most important works of Buddhism (Shantideva's “Bodhicharyavatara,” Maitreya's “Uttaratantra,” Je Tsongkhapa's “The Three Principal Aspects of the Path” and “The Fortunate Destiny,” Gyalse Thogme's “37 Practices of a Bodhisattva”), Nagarjuna's “Commentary on Bodhichitta” (Bodhichitta-vivarana), and has bestowed empowerments and blessings of Buddhist deities (Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja, Chakrasamvara, the Medicine Buddha, Buddha Akshobhya, Avalokiteshvara Jinasagara). The teachings are traditionally organized by the Buddhist Center “Rinpoche Bagsha” (Buryatia), the Central Khurul “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” (Kalmykia), the Association of Buddhists of Tuva (Tuva) and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Cultural and Philosophical Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism “Save Tibet” (Moscow).