The Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Meets with Representatives of the Republic’s Media

Today the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Geshe Tenzin Choydak, met with representatives of the Republic’s mass media. The main topic of the conversation was the upcoming enrollment of novices (manji) in the Central Khurul.

As the Geshe explained, this is an area of work to which he devotes great attention today. “It is important not to interrupt the institution of Kalmyk monasticism. We already had a bitter experience in the Soviet era. We managed to withstand it, to revive and continue our spiritual values. It is important to understand today that the development of Buddhism in Kalmykia is impossible without the development of Buddhist monasticism, and therefore, if  someone has a strong desire to study Buddhist philosophy deeply in the status of a monk, then we invite everyone,” the Shajin Lama explained.

Here, at the khurul, novices will have the opportunity to receive a primary religious education over the course of 2 years; later they will be able to continue their studies at major Buddhist universities. It is also possible to study Tibetan medicine, astrology, and Buddhist thangka painting, though for this it is not necessary to be a monk.