The Dalai Lama in Tuva, 1992

by Vladimir Kara-Sal, Vladimir Sabinch, Roman Tas-Ool.
Photo-Album of the first Visit of His Holiness Dalai Lama XIV in Tuva in the september of 1992.

God's Visit

Dalai Lama in Tuva In September 1992 Tuva greeted Dalai Lama the 14th. The alive God was on a visit 3 days and a half. He travelled by helicopter but failed to visit al the district centers of the republik. The distances between these district centers and villages can be compared only with the distances between the capital of Western states.

By the way, he who wanted to see and hear the Guaranteer of whishes, saw him, prayed with him and got his blessings. During 2 days His Holiness met with the inhabitants of the republic on the central square of Kyzyl, Tuva's capital. Dalai Lama the 14th consecrated the new flag of Tuva, read the prayer of good whishces and told the people about the Yellow Religion, its history and philosophy. The people listened to the Great Teacher with the reverential attention. It accounted not only for the presence of the alive God. Dalai Lama in Tuva The people heard much for the first time. The Yellow Religion is reviving in Tuva after long years of oblivion. His Holiness has known about it. That is why he was very surprised and glad to see either the Buddha's icon or book if Gandzha in people's hands, who came to see His Holiness. He was sure to come up to a happy owner of the book, to take it, turn over the pagers and sometimes read something at random, aloud.There are neither lamas trained in Tibet nor khure (i.e. praying house of Buddhists). And there are no cloisters as well in Tuva. We are only going to build them. One of them which is being built in Kyzyl, the capital of the republic, was consecrated by the Dalai Lama the 14th. He read the prayer. He also hallowed the white yurta, on the place of which one more khure will be built.

tuvinian girl praying In the village of Khairykan khure was placed in the usual residential house. Dalai Lama also visited this khure. He hallowed the altar. The public prayer near the mountain of Khairykan and talks with the inhabitants of Ulug-Khem district took place here. In the neighbouring Dtsun-Khem district the honoured guest did not respond just at once to the inivitation to enter the yurta because he took an interest in the ruins of the cloister, which had functioned once upon a time. People say, this cloister had been built by the chinese according to the Thibet project. More than 20 such cloisters architectural monuments built by people, had been destroyed by them in the 30es of our century, not by time. Here only 3 walls are left, somewhere - only the foundation, somewhere - only human memory.

Gathering in the steppe Dalai Lama was greatly excited. He sat on the special mattress for the honorary guest, took the Buddha's icon, sacred books and prayed to Buddha. He did the public praying, accompanying people only assisted him.

"I liked this milk and tsampa (some kind of Tibet cheese), it is just the same food Thibet people like", thanked Dalai Lama for bread - and - salt on the day of meeting of Tuva republic's President Sherig-ool Oorzhak,

Meetings with the Government and the people of the republic retained a kind trace in his soul. Before the departure Dalai Lama promised not to forget the way to Tuva. The agreement signed between the Government of the republic and the Government of Dalai Lama confirms it. For the first time the state undertakes obligations to guarantee free development of religion and culture in the republic, it is also going to give financial support for building Buddhist cloisters and training priests for these cloisters. On Dalai Lama's initiative priests will come to the republic and 15 young men will study in religious and secular schools.

So, touching the clothes of His Holiness, meeting with him is not only enlightening of a human soul. It is return to the religion that was lost. It is the return to khure.

Only one year later, in september 1993, I could visit a new temple near Samalgatai and listen to the monk and enjoy his blessing. Buddhist Temple

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