Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project (MBRP)
Cooperating in the
Renaissance of Mongolia’s
Ancient Buddhist Culture
Introduction
The vibrant Buddhist culture of Mongolia thrived for more than 2000 years in various forms of empire across the vast steppes. The imposition of Soviet-style Communism in the 1920’s, however, caused a violent interruption. Under Stalin’s influence, struggle evolved into wholesale slaughter and destruction. By the end of the 1930’s, only three of Mongolia’s more than 700 monastic and temple complexes stood intact. Nearly all of the high lamas were executed or imprisoned in the Soviet Gulag with the rest forced to disrobe. Religious practice was forbidden for the next three generations.
But who truly has the power to extinguish the spiritual yearning of a people? Throughout their land, brave Mongols hid sacred texts and objects, and kept the inner spark of Buddhism alive, secretly passing it along. With the restoration of religious freedom following Mongolia’s peaceful democratic revolution in 1990, the Mongolian people immediately began the process of reviving their Buddhist traditions.
Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, KPC’s Spiritual Director, felt deeply moved upon hearing from visiting Mongolian Buddhists (including Mongolia’s Ambassador to the United States and his wife) about their efforts. She directed her students to initiate activity aimed at cooperation in the revival of Mongolian Buddhism. She asked them to focus particularly on the re-invigoration of Padmasambhava’s lineages there.
Through KPC’s Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project (MBRP), energy and funds are being directed toward sponsoring young Mongolians’ religious study at HH Penor Rinpoche’s Namdroling Monastery in south India ; rebuilding Mongolia’s Buddhist infrastructure; organizing tours in Mongolia by Nyingma lineage masters; and encouraging economic self-sufficiency among Mongolia’s less privileged.
Make sure you explore KPC’s sister community in Mongolia’s eastern Gobi Desert, Khamriin Khiid; get on-the-scene news from the MBRP’s in-country director, Konchog Norbu, on his blog Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa!
Your online contribution directly supports all of these efforts.
To make a contribution, tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law,
to the KPC Mongolia Fund,
click
here to make a secure online donation, or send your check
to KPC, P.O. Box 1142, Sedona, AZ 86339. (Please put "Mongolia
Fund" in the comments area of the online donation form
or in the memo area of your check.)
