Mongolia

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.

Buddhism flourished along the Silk Route in East Turkistan (present-day Xinjiang in the People’s Republic of China) from the 1st century BCE until the 14th century CE and is present even today among the Kalmyk Mongols in the north of the province.

Long before translators began to render Tibetan Buddhist texts into Western languages, the Mongols had successfully undertaken this task.

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.

Dr. Berzin’s advice to Kalmyks on dealing with the massive changes in their lives resulting from the move from their traditional kibitkas (large ox carts with tents on them) to cities in standard flats.

Interview with Dr. Berzin, following his 1990 visit to the Mongolian People’s Republic, for “Buddhists for Peace”: “Lessons To Be Learned from the Adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia.”

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...