- to create a retreat center in the envivons of St-Petersburg;
- to set up a Buddhist library;
- to develop cooperation with Buddhist centres in Russia and abroad;
- to render help and support to the Tibetan people.
The address for contact:
191014, St-Petersburg, Vosstaniya St. 32-27, O.Borisov; tel. (812)-272-07-27.
4. The 'Mahasangha' community has been organized in Donetsk, representing the Zen-Buddhism of Korea. The community is being guided by the Reverend Vong Meng Sunim, a monk of the Korean Buddhist order 'Chodya' and Director of the international Buddhist center in Seul 'The Lotus Lantern'. A 5-day retreat, with 45 people participating, was organized and help by the community under his and the Reverend Muzhing Sunim's leadership. The address of the community: The Ukraine, Donetsk 00, Postysheva St. 80/23; tel. (0622) 93-49-75. Chairman of the community council, Filonenko S.S.
5. The religions union 'Ak-Burkan' ('The White Burkan', or 'Buddha of the Future') was formed in Gorno- Altaisk in 1991. Its aim is to revive the Altaic Buddhism, which is similar to the early Tibetan one. The address: 659700, the Republic of Altai, Gorno-Altaisk, Bolnichnaya St. 35-6, Sanashkin A.M.
6. The Dzogchen Community (Ganjeel) of the Republic of Byelorus has been organized in Minsk. The community does not confine itself to the Dzogchen tradition exclusively. The address: 2200-18, the Republic of Byelorus, Minsk, Odintsova St. 29-35, tel. (0172) 57-71-58, Malahovsky R.M.
7. The Buddhist community of Chernigov has presently no registered name and is following the traditions of the Northern Buddhism. The address: 250008, the Ukraine, Chernigov-8, Desnyaka St., 61-1, Andrienko O.A.
8. The Buddhist Community of Estonia was registered in 1988. Its main purpose is mastering all the traditions of the Tibetan Buddhism. In this connection Tibetan language is being studied in the community, texts are being translated, collective rituals and meditations are practised. The community is ready for cooperation. It has established links with the Buddhistic centres of the Kagyu School in Sweden. The address: EE0009, Estonia, Tallinn, Pillu St. 114/3, Peeter Vahi (tel. 0142-596-685).
9. On the 8th of May 1992 the Dzogchen community 'Randolgar' was registered in Buryatia. It was formed three years ago by Dzogchen followers, the teaching having penetrated to Buryatia as a result of preaching by Namkhai Norbu Rimpoche, a contemporary master. Community's goals are studying and practising Dzogchen, Tibetan Buddhism, as well as mastering such as art, medicine, and so on. Buddhistic texts are being translated in the community, the Tibetan manner of painting ('tangka') has been mastered. The Dzogchen Community (Gangjeel) 'Randolgar' is ready to cooperate with all the interested persons and organizations, it maintains links with many Buddhist and Dzogchen communities and centres all over the world. The address of the community: 671454, Buryatia, Novokizhinginsk, Tayojnaya St., 25 (Sidorov Serafim Alexandrovitch).
10. The Buddhist center 'Karma Legshei Ling' (St-Petersburg) was registered in February 1991. This was preceded with a few visits of lama Ole Nydahl. Ole Nydahl is the Dane who never thought about Buddhistic path until he turned 28. But his meeting with H.H. the 17th Karmapa - the spiritual head of the Karma-Kagyu school - has transformed his life completely. Spreading the Tibetan Buddhism among the Westerners having settled all over the world became his mission. Ole Nydahl has founded over one hundred Buddhist centres in Europe, America, Australia and other parts of the planet. He is a direct disciple of H.H. the Karmapa.
During last two years Ole Nydahl visited Ukraine, Povolzhye and Siberia. About 20 Buddhistic centres were set up in these regions. Recently he visited Russia again. More details will be contained in the next issue.
The Karma-Kagyu school attaches the most importance to meditative practice and devotion to the Teacher. The main line of succession for this school is: Buddha Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarapa and Karmapa.
The official address of the St-Petersburg Buddhist Center 'Karma Legshei Ling': 191028, St-Petersburg, Mohovaya St. 14.
Telephones: 296-34-68, or 230-68-28
VII. International Information
1. Last October US Congress has accepted the following H.M.'S. amendment to the bill (H.R. 1415):
(1) Tibet, including those areas incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Quinghai, is an occupied country under the established principles of international law;
(2) Tibet's true representatives are the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile as recognized by the Tibetan people;
(3) Tibet has maintained throughout its history a distinctive and sovereign national, cultural, and religious identity separate from that of China and, except during periods of illegal Chinese occupation, has maintained a separate and sovereign political and territorial identity;
(4) historical evidence of this separate identity may be found in Chinese archival documents and traditional dynastic histories, in United States recognition of Tibetan neutrality during World War II, and in the fact that a number of countries including the United States, Mongolia, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, India, Japan, Great Britain, and Russia recognized Tibet as an independent nation or dealt with Tibet independently of any Chinese government;
(5) in 1949-50, China launched an armed invasion of Tibet in contravention of international law.
(6) it is the policy of the United States to oppose aggression and other illegal uses of force by one country against the sovereignty of another as a manner of acquiring territory, and to condemn violations of international law, including the illegal occupation of one country by another; and
(7) numerous United States declarations since the Chinese invasion have recognized Tibet's right self- determination and the illegality of China's occupation of Tibet.
(H.R., Report 102-239, sec. 355-102d Congress 1st session: From 'Tibet Press Watch'. - vol. III, No 5. - p.17).
2. 'The Fund for Preserving the Mahayana Traditions' has declared admission to the 3-month and 12-month courses of preparing translators from literary and spoken Tibetan. Minimal payment for the 3-month course is $ 2.700, and for the 12-month - $ 900 a month. The payment includes cost of lodging, nourishment, instruction, membership to the fund, training literature, administrative services. The studies begin on the 1st of September 1993 for the 3-month course and on the 1st of January 1993 for the 12-month one. Detailed information is available from the NB editorial board. The address of the fund: Jan-Paul Kool, FPMT Tibetan Language Course, Laarstraat 27, 8166 GR Emst Holland; Tel: 05787-2256, Fax: 31-5787-18-51.
VIII. Literature.
1. The Russian branch of 'Narthang Publications' distributes the book 'The Buddhism of Tibet' by H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama (price 15 roubles + mail charges).
2. In September the publishing house is to issue the autobiography of His Holiness 'Freedom in Exile' (approximate wholesale price 40 r. + m.c.).
3. Commercial department of the publishing house distributes the book by A.Berzin 'The Tibetan Buddhism: History and Prospects'. (price 9 r. + m.c.).
4. The first issue of the 'Orient' almanac (sub-title 'Buddhism and Russia') has been published. It is dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the official recognition of Buddhism in Russia. The articles deal with history of the Buddhist architecture in Buryatia, Kalmykia, St-Petersburg, they also depict the tragic fate of the Buddhistic confession in the thirties. Beside other materials, the article 'Buddhist Monasteries' (1926) by B.Baradin is reprinted in the issue, which makes mention of the monastery the name of our publishing house is derived from: 'The Narthang was founded in 1153. This monastery does not belong to any particular sect, as long as lamas of different sects worked here; rather it represents a non-sectarian monastery... Unpublished Archive documents and materials are contained in the issue (Editor-in-chief: Hamaganova E.A.).
