Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Ivolginsky Datsan Buddhist center in Buryatia, in southern Siberia. He met with leader of the Sangha association of Russian Buddhists Damba Ayusheyev and other lamas, Voice of Russia reports. The Ivolginsky Datsan is a Buddhist monastery and a historical and architectural monument. Its main shrine is the undecaying body of outstanding Buddhist cleric Dashi Dorzho Itigelov.
“Buddhism plays a noticeable role in Russia. You help people both in sorrow and in joy. This has been done at all times. It's well known how Buddhists were helping during World War I and World War II,” the president said. He deplored Soviet-era restrictions on Buddhism and on other religions but said Buddhists had always remained united with the people. “I've seen your main holy sites today, you are trying to protect them very carefully, restoring them,” he said.
He called Buddhism “a kind, humanistic teaching, which is based on love for one another, on love for one's country.” “We have a good relationship, and I want to stress that the government, regional authorities and I are always at your disposal and ready to give you support,” he said.
The leader of Russia's traditional Sangha, lama Damba Ayusheyev, thanked Putin for his visit and said it was not accidental. “From the Buddhist point of view, nothing is accidental. You will always be there in history for us,” Ayusheyev said.
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Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
