On the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this difficult time of the pandemic, clergy of all traditions strive to provide spiritual help and support to people affected by the coronavirus, and to everyone who, because of the pandemic, fears for their own health and the health of their family members. At the same time, the clergy themselves, on a par with medical workers, find themselves on the front line of the fight against COVID. “Doctors heal the body, and clergy heal the soul.” The spiritual leaders of all religious traditions call on people to exercise caution, vigilance, and responsibility, and to care for those around them. The Shajin Lama of Kalmykia once again called on Buddhists, along with prayer, to take maximum precautions: wear masks, sanitize their hands, and observe social distancing. “This is necessary not only for your safety, but also for the safety of the people around you,” noted Telo Tulku Rinpoche