Kalmykia, the only region with a Buddhist majority in the European part of Russia, welcomed delegations from 35 countries around the world. Putin himself sent a message praising its ‘precious spiritual traditions’. Lama Kirishov praised the ‘spirit of sacrifice’ of Buddhist soldiers participating in the special military operation in Ukraine.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The third International Buddhist Forum on the theme of ‘The Buddhist World in the New Millennium’ was held in Elista, capital of the Russian republic of Kalmykia near the Urals, welcoming guests from across the Russian Federation and 35 countries around the world. The Forum opened with a spectacular musical show on ‘Nomadic Peoples’ by director Andrey Boltenko, set against panoramic views of the steppe projected on large screens and performances by the best artists of Kalmykia, the only predominantly Buddhist region in the European part of Russia, following the migration of Asian peoples in the 17th century.

Thanks to innovative multimedia technologies, visitors were able to immerse themselves in the history of Kalmykia and other peoples linked to Tibetan Buddhism in various regions of Russia, as well as in the principles and symbolism of Buddhist philosophy, with the participation of impressive actors and readers, such as director and actor Evgenij Sangadžiev. The less than ideal weather conditions did not spoil the opening ceremony, which was attended by thousands of participants who enthusiastically applauded the artists in their colourful costumes and spectacular choreography on a stage decorated with magical backdrops, where every detail told the exceptional story of Kalmyk and Buddhist culture.

The President of Kalmykia, Batu Khasikov, said, ‘It is a great honour for us to organise this international forum. Our republic is famous for its hospitality, and I hope that everyone will find answers to their deepest questions by engaging with the great Buddhist philosophy that teaches us to live in harmony and peace.’ Khasikov recalled that Kalmykia makes an important contribution to Buddhist education in Russia, and on the occasion of the forum, a Buddhist school similar to the catechism classes of the Orthodox Church was opened, supporting Russia's authority in the international arena.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a message to the participants, describing Kalmykia as ‘one of the most important centres of Buddhism in Europe’, which has managed to preserve its historic and precious spiritual traditions, together with its identity and customs, striving to develop interreligious and interethnic dialogue. According to Putin, this is more necessary than ever today, ‘to strengthen family values and the education of young people, sharing a rich experience of the past and building new realities for our future, facing the great challenges of civilisation, philosophy and humanism of our time’.

The programme offered over 50 events, including the opening of the Buddhist art exhibition “Masterpieces of Kalmyk Buddhism from the Museums of St Petersburg”, with the support of Buddhist institutions throughout the Russian Federation. Official delegations from China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, Myanmar, Korea, Belarus, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Brazil, Bhutan and Spain were present. The president of the Central Administration of Buddhists in Russia, Lama Sergei Kirishov (Gesha Jonten), explained that ‘the goal of all Buddhists in the world is the enlightenment of all living creatures; everyone seeks to become a Buddha, and for this reason, one must work on one's mind and consciousness to eradicate the dark parts and negative feelings.’ According to him, Buddhism is professed today by ‘three of the eight billion inhabitants of the earth’ (although the most authoritative statistics on world religions speak of 500 million), and countries with a predominantly Buddhist presence demonstrate greater economic growth than many others. The majority of Buddhist countries have refused to join the sanctions against Russia, and commercial and economic cooperation between the Buddhist world and Russia is constantly growing. The lama also praised the spirit of sacrifice of the Buddhist soldiers participating in the special military operation in Ukraine, helping to keep up the morale of the entire Russian army in supporting “great traditional moral values”.