The Russian President visited Ivolginsky Datsan

The Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Ivolginsky Datsan, had a talk with lamas and promised to support Buddhists.

The President accompanied by Pandito Hambo Lama Damba Ayusheyev, the head of the Russian Buddhists, visited Tsogchen Dugan, the main monastery temple, and talked with the lamas of the Russia’s Traditional Buddhist Sangha.

Pandito Hambo Lama Damba Ayusheyev, the head of the Russia’s Buddhist Traditional Sangha whose residence is located in Datsan territory, gave explanations to the President. According to the source (RIA Novosti), the President gave special attention to the stand demonstrating traditional Buryat kinds of sports, among which there is archery and belt wrestling. The Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Buddhist education issues with the head of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia, underlined the prominent role of Buddhism in the country and promised 100% support to the Russian Buddhists, RIA Novosti reports.

During the conversation with lamas of the Russia’s Buddhist Traditional Sangha the Head of State thanked for invitation to visit Ivolginsky Datsan. "Buddhism plays a prominent role in Russia. You help people both in their sorrow and in joy. So it was at all times. It is well known how the Buddhists helped people during the First and the Second World Wars", - President said.

Mr.Putin stated with regret that in the USSR the Buddhists suffered just like other denominations but in spite of this they were always with people. "Today I visited your main holy sites and saw that you treat them with due care and restore them", - President said. He called Buddhism as "a kind and humanistic teaching” based on love for one to another and love for their own country."

"We have good relationships and I’d like to underline that our Government, the regional authorities and I are always at your disposal and ready to support you", - Mr.Putin said.

In his turn, Lama Damba Ayusheyev, the head of the Russia’s Buddhist Traditional Sangha, expressed thanks to President for his visit calling it non-accidental one. "From the Buddhist point of view, nothing is accidental. You will be always in history for us", - Lama Ayusheyev said.

He told the President how the Buddhists get education and indicated a number of problems in this sphere. Thus, according to Lama Ayusheev’s words, the Buddhist universities do not have state accreditation and students are drafted into the army. "But what about to draft students into the army for several months during their study like some leaders of Moscow universities sugges?"- Mr. Pitin proposed. "This is more acceptable for us", - the head of the Russia’s Buddhist Traditional Sangha said. "We’ll support you in this matter. It is necessary to discuss in details how we can help you, "- the Head of State said.

The President promised 100% support to the Russian Buddhists.

"We have good relationships and I’d like to underline that our Government, the regional authorities and I are always at your disposal and ready to support you", - Mr.Putin said.

He called Buddhism as "a kind and humanistic teaching” based on love for one to another and love for their own country."

After the temple sightseeing Mr. Putin had a tea talk with lamas of the Russia’s Buddhist Traditional Sangha.

Video of Mr. V.V. Putin’s visit to Ivolginsky Datsan is availabe here:
http://5-tv.ru/news/68877/
http://www.1tv.ru/news/social/230554
http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/555357/
http://www.baikal-daily.ru/news/19/65685/

We’d like to remind you that Ivolginsky Datsan was opened in 1945. Here the residence of Pandito Hambo Lama, the head of the Russian Buddhists, is located. At Datsan there is Buddhist University "Dashi Choynhorlin" where about a hundred of students study. Datsan is protected by the state as a monument of religious architecture.

At the request of Buryat Lamas, the decision to open Datsan was made in 1945. In 1946 the first divine worships in Ivolginsky Datsan started and Central Spiritual Administration of the Buddhists of the USSR was established on its base.

The main cathedral church, "Tsogchen Dugan", is a part of Datsan complex. The incorruptible body of Pandito Hambo Lama Dashi Dorzho Itigelov is the main sanctity of Dastan. In 1927 Holy Lama Itigelov at the age of 75 was placed in a sarcophagus in lotus pose and was left buried underground in Ivolginsky district.

75 years later, in September 2002, according to his will of his return, D.Itigelov’s incorruptible body has been found and taken from underground. Hambo Lama Damba Ayusheyev with a group of Ivolginsky Datsan’s lamas and in the presence of laities, scientists and medical experts opened the sarcophagus and carried the incorruptible body to Datsan where it is placed now being unchanged for the past 12 years and open for believers as the sanctity.

According to
RIA Novosti, nakanune.ru