Early fall in the republic was marked by visits by high-ranking spiritual personages. in early September, Patriarch of Moscow and Whole Russia Kirill visited Tuva. last week, the Supreme lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche  took part in rituals  performed in Kyzyl by monks of Tibetan monastery Gyudmed. I had the good fortune to meet with Telo Tulku Rinpoche, talk with him, and ask him several questions.

-  At the age of four years, you announced to your parents your wish to become a monk, and when you turned six, you met with the Dalai-Lama , who advised to send you to study at Tibetan Drepung Gomang monastery in India. how did this happen? Tell us your memories of this period.

-  Of course, I don't remember what exactly happened then, it is difficult to explain now, but I understand that it is my karma, that brought me  to this path. of course, it is difficult to explain why a 4-year old boy had such an interest, I was very attracted to Buddhist statues, rituals, monks, and my parents saw it and understood. Even though my own memories of this time are weak.

-  In accord with the teaching about the Three bodies of Buddha (trikaya), nirmanakaya (sanskr.), "Tulku (Tib.) or khuvilgaan (Mong.) - is the "phenomenal body" - one of the Buddha's three bodies, the form of manifestation of the Buddha in ordinary world  is an authoritative spiritual leader of Buddhism, who, according to traditional ideas is always reincarnating with the aim of continuing his spiritual work. tulku can be considered an incarnation of one of the personages of Buddhist pantheon. at the end of the Eighties, during the years of your studies at the monastery, you were recognized as a new reincarnation of the great Indian saint Tilopa, who reincarnated twice in  Inner Mongolia and three times in Mongolia.

-  Whether I like it or not, I am a reincarnation of Tilopa, but I don't ascribe it such significance.

On the whole I believe in reincarnation, that we are always getting reborn. I carry a big name a high rank, and if there is something that worries me  it is that I have to carry this great inheritance left by my precursor. and that is the main goal of reincarnation - to preserve and transmit the traditions of the precursors.

-  And is it possible for a reincarnation of a great personage in Tuva?

-  Of course, there is such a possibility, it is quite probable that such lamas have already been born, but so far we are unable to recognize them. why should they not be in Tuva? it is necessary to review the history of Buddhism in Tuva, and maybe you will find lamas or spiritual teachers who had an effect on spiritual changes of the people. I think that there were great teachers in Tuva, a list has to be made and several names picked. Then ask His Holiness - and if it is good, if some of the lamas will be recognized a reincarnations, and if the Dalai-Lama approves it, the whole procedure of confirmation can be started. this has been going on in Mongolia for the past several years. I believe that there is a great probability that it is also possible in Tuva.

-  More than 30 Buddhist temples and shrines have been raised under your leadership over the past several years, which were destroyed in Kalmykia during the Soviet regime. Tuva is also undergoing the process of  re-establishment of temples and building of new ones. It is evidence of the process of spiritual rebirth of the republics.  What is your opinion of these processes?  And what would you want to wish us?

-  Yes, much has been done today both in Kalmykia and in Tuva. It is possible to judge the changes even by the reaction of peole now and four years ago, when people did not know who I was, where Kalmykia was, etc.  Today I see people taking part in ceremonies and rituals, and understand what is going on. People need as many sources of  information as possible about these matters.  Personnel have to be trained, and that is a lengthy process, but if we compare what there is today to what there was 15-20 years ago - those are steps towards improving the situation, even though there are pluses and minuses.

I think that if we take Russia as a whole, we and Tuva are related people; even though we are separated geographically, we have common roots genetically, we have the same problems in front of us, and therefore for us the main thing is not to lose hope. We have many problems - financial, quality of education, quality of life, but whatever hardships we are experiencing, we should not forget about the other side of life - the spiritual side. The main thing is correct motivation; do not pay too much attention to external things - the main thing is what is inside. Money has a lot of significance in the world, but it can't solve all the problems. My wish to the people of Tuva is to remember the difficulties that we had at one time, which we survived, and to not give up, not lose hope, we have all the possibilities for bright spiritual life.