Mongolia

Before the 1937 purges, Buddhism flourished in Mongolia. Learn about all the features of its monasteries and their customs.

A survey of how the revival of Buddhism was carried out in Mongolia after 1990, its main steps and the circumstances and issues surrounding its reestablishment and the reopening of its temples and monasteries.

As of 1995, there were no books on Buddhism in the colloquial Mongolian language, hardly anyone who could make such translations and no money to print such books, even if they were made. Thus, young people and intellectuals were being drawn to Christianity, which they now...

Kalmykia faces a very special challenge because Buddhist culture was repressed for many years and now is experiencing the pressures of globalization.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia tried to gain influence in Tibet by claiming Russia was Shambhala. Japan also tried to win over Tibetan and Mongolian support by claiming that Japan was Shambhala.

Rather than being detrimental to Mongolia’s progress, the revival of Buddhism is the key for progress. For Mongolia to advance and compete in the world market economy, it is essential that the Mongolian people have a deep sense of self-worth and cultural identity.

Tibetan language and culture spread and interacted with many other civilizations. The Tibetan traditions have evolved over the centuries, and this process of evolution and growth must continue.

During the first millennium CE, Muslims were interested to learn of the beliefs of the peoples they had conquered and now ruled, including Buddhism, while Buddhists were interested in other beliefs only when they were vying with them in debate for royal patronage and that...

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Eighth Dalai Lama sent Gyelse Dorjechang from his own Namgyal Monastery to establish the main Kalachakra Monastery of Mongolia, Dechen Kalawa. Kalachakra practice was spread throughout Mongolia by the Fourth and Fifth Bogdo Gegens.

Many foreign myths have grown around the legend of Shambhala found in the Kalachakra literature. Some were spread to win military or political support, others appeared within occult movements and mixed Buddhist ideas with concepts from other systems of belief.