Republic of Kalmykia

Buddhist holiday in Kalmykia. An important Buddhist holiday – First turning of the Wheel of Dharma

On the 23rd of July all the Buddhist of the world celebrate a huge holy day – the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. The ceremonial events take place in the central buddhist temple “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni“.

This day Buddha Shakyamuni taughed his disciples the 1st sermon of the Four Noble Truths in the sacred place Varanasi. The Noble Truths are teachings about suffering, its origin and reasons; the cessation of suffering and its sources, and the fourth – about the true paths to the cessation of suffering.

Buddha suggested a middle or octal way to achieve Enlightment. This way is directly connected with the three virtues: morality, concentration and wisdom (prajna). The spiritual practice of passing these paths leads to the true cessation of suffering.

On the 23rd of June at 9 a.m. everybody is invited to take part in a special ceremony of calling Buddha of the future – Maitreya, which is to take place in the yard of the khurul. The press service of the buddhist temple (khurul) “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” says that this wonderful, but profound event with a procession around the temple brings not only some unforgettable impressions to you, but big merits too.

At 10 a.m. a big prayer service takes place in the praying hall. It is dedicted to a significant Buddhist holiday – the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

At 17 p.m. everybody is invited to the central buddhist temple (khurul) “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” to the meeting with a Supreme Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche.

The Supreme Lama of Kalmykia is to finish a strict spiritual retreat in the threshold of this Buddhist event.

Elista, Kalmykia

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