Telo Tulku Rinpoche, About Pilgrimage to Holy Places

Telo Tulku: The Dalai Lama is not able to visit Russia for many reasons and due to many factors. He visited Russia in the past though. Under the current circumstances we are not able to host His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Many people do not understand the reasons, and because of that they tend to be emotional and frustrated without knowing these political matters as to why he is not able to freely visit Russia. We as a Buddhist organisation are listening to people’s emotions, concerns and are also responsible for balancing that situation, balancing that frustration. We have decided to organise teachings for Russian Buddhists in India. This gives them many benefits. They get to see the Dalai Lama, receive his blessings and teachings. Secondly, all the Buddhist holy sites are in India. It gives them an opportunity to go on a pilgrimage while they are in India. I encourage everybody to take this trip and at least once in a lifetime visit these holy sites. Therefore, they should go on a pilgrimage. Thirdly, it is a cultural experience for them: new places, a new country, language and people. We people in Russia think that we live all poorly and that we are materially backward. Those people who go to India see the material and spiritual situation in India. They come back and change for better, for they realise that they are materially comfortable. But one thing is missing – it is spirituality. India may be a third world country, but people are smiling, laughing. Many children do not have proper clothes, there is no running water, no heating, there are so many things that are missing. Nevertheless, they are happy, they are enjoying life. Despite all these difficulties, pilgrims come back as new people, with a completely different outlook on life in general. The Khurul (Central Temple in Elista) has been organising teachings and pilgrimages for the past seven years now. In 2009 when we first organised teachings in India there were about 800 people from Russia that came. Over the years the number grew steadily. The last teaching was in December 2016. There was an attendance of 1,100 people, although we were anticipating about 800 people would take this trip. We provide this service as a charitable, community service. We do everything free of charge. We assist pilgrims in getting their visas and booking air tickets. We assist in all logistics such as transportation, hotels and food arrangements without extra cost. This is our contribution to people.Baasanjav: Who are the pilgrims? Are they from Kalmykia only?TT: Not only from Kalmykia, but also from Tuva, Buryatia. There are a lot of people from Russian regions. Initially we mainly targeted traditional Buddhist republics. That was our main goal. But when teachings started, surprisingly, non-traditional Buddhist regions had a higher attendance than Kalmykia, Tuva and Buryatia combined. That was very interesting for us. That is how it has been. This is a clear sign that interest towards Buddhism is growing in Russia. I do not believe that it is a strictly religious interest. But I think they are interested in Buddhist philosophy or simply the Buddhist way of life, Buddhist science and psychology. I do not consider everyone as Buddhist. B: When you organise these tours, do pilgrims have an opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama?TT: Of course, during the teachings they are all sitting right in front of the Dalai Lama. These teachings are exclusively for people who come from Russia. After the last session the Dalai Lama likes to take group photos. That has been very popular among the pilgrims. So, a lot of pilgrims get to meet the Dalai Lama. B: On average how much does it cost to go to Dharamsala? Does it depend on where you are flying from?TT: Yes, it does depend on where people are flying from. For people from Buryatia the travel distance is much longer. From Tuva it is long too. For people from Kalmykia, Moscow or Saint Petersburg, it is much easier. Sometimes flying from Ulan-Ude (capital of Buryatia) to Moscow can be more expensive that flying Moscow-Deli-Moscow. It all varies. I cannot tell you the average cost. B: As a rule, are you taking your pilgrims to Moscow first and from Moscow you all fly to India?TT: Yes. There are a lot of people who travel independently. We provide assistance to people who need it. There are many people who do not need help. We handle about 400-500 people – that is full service. As for the rest of people, we handle their teachings, hotel arrangements. These are issues we deal with. B: Where are the holy sites? In which parts of India?TT: Dharamsala is the residence of the Dalai Lama. It is where he resides, in northern India. Our teachings took place in Dharamsala in 2009, 2010, 2011 – three consecutive years. After that we shifted teachings to Deli. From 2012 our teachings take place in Deli. In India the pilgrimage sites are in Bodh Gaya, it is in the state of Bihar. In Bodh Gaya, there are many Buddhist sites. They are also in Varanasi: the Ganges River and the Dalai Lama Stupa. There are some other sites in Varanasi. Some people cross into Nepal, where the birthplace of the Buddha – Lumbini is. B: Do Russians need a visa to go to Nepal? TT: Yes, but not necessarily in advance. One can get a visa on arrival, on the border. It is simple.B: In Kalmykia there are places of pilgrimage too, for example Khosheutovskiy Khurul and Bogdo Uul mountain.TT: Surprisingly, in 25 years that I have been in Kalmykia I have not been to Bogdo Uul. I only heard of it. I asked many people. They say it is a sacred mountain. I want to know what makes it sacred. To my question nobody has given me a valid explanation. In my understanding, it is sacred because of its colour: it is reddish in colour and there is no such hill or mountain around that area. That is the only explanation that people have given me. That has not convinced me yet to pay a visit to Bogdo Uul mountain. Khosheutovskiy Khurul was one of the biggest monastic institutions. It once flourished, later it was destroyed, but not completely. It is the only monastery that has its structure remaining. Of course, it is a place of great reverence and a holy place for all of us. It is our heritage, part of our culture, identity and history. That is a place of importance. I have been there few times. B: Are there other holy places in Kalmykia? I know that there is Odinokiy Topol (A Single Poplar Tree) where people go. TT: Yes, people go there. I think that now, anywhere where there is a stupa or a temple, I consider it as a holy place, a place of pilgrimage.Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin