In Moscow 5-Day Lectures And Exhibition On Tibetan Culture Heritage[Monday, 2 May 2011, 3:29 p.m.]
MOSCOW: The
Dzogchen Forum was held at Congress-Exhibition Center in Moscow from 26
to 30 April 2011. It was organised by International Dzogchen Community,
under the spiritual leadership of Choegyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, and
was participated by over 20 cultural and spiritual organisations,
including Moscow-based Save Tibet Foundation, which works for the
preservation and promotion of Tibetan cultural and spiritual heritage.
A series of lectures, seminars, presentations and exhibitions on
Tibetan cultural and religious affairs were held during 5 days festival
in Moscow. On the first opening day, Prof. Namkkai Norbu gave a talk on
the Essence of Nature and Energy, which was attended by over 1000
audience. On 29 April, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s
Representative to Russia & CIS, Nawang Rabgyal, gave a talk on the
importance of the teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to
Buddhists from Russian-speaking world in November 2009 and December
2010 in Dharamsala, and the cultural and spiritual contact and
connection between Tibet and Russia. Representative Rabgyal,
while talking on the subject, further narrated: “According to
historical records, there has had been long cultural and spiritual
contact and connection for several centuries, about 400 years, between
Tibet and Russia.The traditional Buddhists in Buryat, Kalmyk and Tuva
Republics in Russian Federation follow the Tibetan Buddhism and they
regard His Holiness the Dalai Lama as their supreme spiritual leader.
The Buddhism began to spread to three Republics in the 17th century.
Interestingly, the 7th Dalai Lama had sent letter and gift to Tsarina
Catherin the Great, Queen of Russia, in 18th century through Zayab
Pandita, the first Kalmyk scholar, who had studied in Tibet. Moreover,
Russia was the first European country, which had diplomatic contact
with independent Tibet in the beginning of 20th century. The great 13th
Dalai Lama and Russian Tsar Nicolai-II had exchanged several
correspondences and gifts through Avang Dorjiev (Nawang Dorjee), the
great Buryat scholar, who became the 13th Dalai Lama’s Ambassador to
Russian Tsar.The first Buddhist Temple (Datsang Kuntse- Chosling) in
Europe was built in St. Petersburg, capital of Russia, in 1910 with
financial contribution from the 13th Dalai Lama, Mongolian government
and Buddhists in Russian Federation. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
first visited Russia (Soviet Union) in 1979 and it was followed by
several visits during which He gave public teachings and initiations.
Currently there are about 200 Buddhist centers and Datsangs in Russian
Federation, which follow the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.” Representative
Rabgyal’s talk was followed by screening a documentary film in Russian
produced during the 2010 teaching in Dharamsala which is entitled as:
MESSAGE FROM His Holiness the 14th DALAI LAMA TO RUSSIA. The Save Tibet
Foundation distributed 25-paged booklet about teachings of His Holiness
to Russian Buddhists in Dharamsala in 2009 and 2010 and forthcoming
teaching on 19-21 December 2011. Moscow-base Tibet House also joined
the Dzogchen Forum.-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Moscow
