Mongolia

Buddhism spread to West Turkistan (the present-day former Soviet Islamic republics of Central Asia) in the 1st century BCE and was present there, at various times, until the mid-18th century.

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.

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.

The Bon system of astrology was amalgamated with the Chinese astro materials that first came to Tibet in the mid-7th century. In the 11th century, with the introduction of the “Kalachakra Tantra” from India, its astro traditions were added as well to make the unique blend of...

“Newsweek Magazine” interview with Dr. Berzin who toured Mongolia in 1997 to deliver a series of lectures on the country’s traditional Buddhist faith, a journey that he says allowed him to witness the impact of foreign evangelists.

Overview of the three waves of Buddhism reaching Mongolia from Central Asia and then Tibet, the subsequent exploitation of Buddhism by the Manchus, its suppression under the communist regime and the initial efforts at its revival.

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.

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.

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...

Buddhism was practiced by several groups of Turkic people in Central Asia, from the mid-3rd to the 14th century CE. The Tuvinians in Siberia have followed Buddhism from the 18th century until today.