Ombadykov, Erdni Basanovich

Telo Tulku Rinpoche was born on October 27, 1972 in a family of Kalmyk emigrants in Philadelphia , in the USA . At the age of four, the future supreme lama of Kalmykia announced to his parents his desire to become a monk. When he was six years old, he got the opportunity to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who advised him to send the boy to study at the Drepung Goman Tibetan monastery in India. He spent 13 years there, studying Buddhist philosophy under the guidance of prominent Tibetan teachers.

In the late 80s, during the years of his studies at the monastery, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Mongolian Dilov Hutuhta XI Zhamsranava, who died in emigration in the USA.

In 1991, Telo Tulku Rinpoche first arrived in Kalmykia as part of the Dalai Lama XIV delegation. The first meeting with the historical homeland was followed by an invitation to lead the process of spiritual revival of the steppe republic, which was in dire need of its knowledge and spiritual experience.

In 1992, Telo Tulku Rinpoche was elected the Shajin Lama (Supreme Lama) of Kalmykia. In recent years, over 30 Buddhist temples and houses of worship destroyed during the years of Soviet rule have been erected under his leadership. Since 2005, Telo Tulku Rinpoche’s residence has been located in the main temple of Kalmykia, “ Golden Shakyamuni Buddha Monastery, ” which is recognized as the largest Buddhist temple in Russia and Europe.

While at the post of the Shajin Lama, Telo Tulku Rinpoche makes great efforts to strengthen the religious and cultural ties that have existed for centuries between the traditional Buddhist regions of Russia and the Tibetan community led by the Dalai Lama XIV.

Telo Tulku Rinpoche accompanied the Dalai Lama on his first visits to Kalmykia in the early 90s, which became the starting point for the restoration of Buddhism in the republic. With his active participation, the long-awaited visit of the Dalai Lama to Russia in November 2004 was carried out, which gave a new impetus to the process of reviving traditional Buddhist values ​​in Kalmykia and Russia as a whole.

In November 2007, at the initiative of Telo Tulku Rinpoche, the “Festival of Buddhist Culture of Russia and Mongolia” was held at the residence of His Holiness in Dharamsala , as well as a large prayer service for the longevity of the Dalai Lama (Long Life Puja ), which was attended by clergy, officials, musicians and over 500 pilgrims from the Buddhist regions of Russia and Mongolia. Telo Tulku Rinpoche called the festival a chance to convince the world that the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of not only the Tibetan people, but also the Buddhist peoples of Russia. In his address to the Buddhists of Russia, he noted:

Whatever obstacles may arise in our path, we will never give up our right to openly declare that we need his spiritual guidance, mentoring and help.

An unprecedented event of the festival was the philosophical teachings that His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave to his Russian followers in Dharamsala at the personal request of Telo Tulku Rinpoche.

Based on the instructions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, calling for the strengthening of inter-religious dialogue, the Supreme Lama of Kalmykia pursues a policy of comprehensive support for the peaceful coexistence and cooperation of representatives of faiths traditional for Kalmykia: Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Telo Tulku Rinpoche notes:

Today in our multinational republic people of different nationalities and religions live, they all live in peace and harmony, in friendship and mutual understanding. And we are happy that this is happening in our country.

In 2007, the Buddhist center of Naropa and Tilopa in Mongolia asked the supreme lama of Kalmykia to lead the project for the restoration of the Buddhist monastery Naro-Vanchin-hyid , which belonged to the Dilova-hutuhta Jamsranzhava, the previous incarnation of Telo Tulk Rinpoche.

In 2013, Telo Tulku Rinpoche was awarded the Order of the III degree "For Faith, Don and the Fatherland" for the revival, preservation and development of the Buddhist religion. ^[one]

1. ↑ Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche was awarded the Order of the Great Don Army (neopr.) .