Association of Kalmykia’s Buddhists

Central Buddhist Temple of Kalmykia ‘The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha’

Save Tibet Foundation

Kalmyk Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

B. B. Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University

CALL  FOR  PAPERS

International Online Research-and-Practice Conference

‘Buddhist Education: Problems and Perspectives’

April 28–30, 2021

Elista, Republic of Kalmykia, Russian Federation

This is to announce that the Association of Kalmykia’s Buddhists, Central Buddhist Temple of Kalmykia ‘The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha’, Save Tibet Foundation, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS, B. B. Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University are arranging the International online research-and-practice conference ‘Buddhist Education: Problems and Perspectives’ (to be partly funded by government grant in the form of federal budget subsidy aimed to support scientific research directed by the Leading Scientist — project name ‘From Paleogenetics to Cultural Anthropology: Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Research of Peoples and Traditions of Cross-Border Regions – Migrations, Cross-Cultural Interactions and Worldviews’) celebrating the 15^th Anniversary of Kalmykia’s Central Buddhist Temple and 25^th Anniversary of Geden Sheddup Choikhorling Monastery.

And your kind participation in the Conference is most welcomed.

Buddhism is the most ancient world religion and a deepest philosophical teaching centered around human mind and due work with the latter. Self-education and education in the widest sense constitute a most essential part of Buddhism. Historically, it is Drepung Gomang Monastic College ― a largest Tibetan Buddhist academic center ― that had served the educational platform for Mongols of Russia and Mongolia proper. Later, a number of Buddhist schools and academies were successfully functioning across Mongolia and the three traditionally Buddhist regions of Russia ― Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva.

The 20^th century witnessed dramatic historical conditions faced by Buddhism in Russia which inter alia have resulted in that nowadays only Buryatia (Ivolginsky Datsan) and Transbaikalia (Aginsky Datsan) have working Buddhist training institutions. As before, monks from Russia are studying the essentials of Buddhism at Drepung Gomang (India) and Gandantegchinlen Monastery (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia).

Contemporary Russian society tends to emphasize the issues of education, including that dealing with religion. Actual social conditions and currents are largely determined by the general educational level and the latter’s essential elements. So, religious education and activities of confessional communities are closely related to questions of humanitarian security.

And the efficient functioning of Buddhist institutions strongly depends on the actual system of education ― for both monks and lay believers.

The pending lack of priests, remoteness of Buddhist centers dictate the need for wider discussions over Buddhist education and religious education at large, including standardization and validation of foreign studies and degrees.

The Conference shall discuss issues of humanitarian security and religious education in Russia, with conceptual insights into the topics as follows:

1. Humanitarian security in the modern world
2. System of religious education: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam
3. Buddhist education at Drepung Gomang Monastic College: structure of classes, system of implementation
4. Buddhist education at Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies: structure of classes, system of implementation
5. Buddhist education at Zanabazar Buddhist University (Mong. Өндөр гэгээн Занабазарын нэрэмжит Бурхан шашны Их сургууль) affiliated to Gandantegchinlen Monastery: structure of classes, system of implementation
6. Buddhist education at Zayaev Dashi Choinkhorlin Buddhist University affiliated to Ivolginsky Datsan: structure of classes, system of implementation
7. Buddhist education at Aga Buddhist Academy affiliated to Aginsky Datsan: structure of classes, system of implementation
8. Buddhist education in the Republic of Tuva
9. Buddhist education in the Republic of Kalmykia
10. Buddhist education at Sitagu International Buddhist Academy (Myanmar)
11. Buddhist education at Maha Chulangkorn Rajavidyalaya University (Thailand)
12. Buddhist education at Nalanda University (France): arranging and completing educational programs in European contexts
13. Buddhist education at Lama Tsongkhapa Institute (Italy; Ital. Instituto Lama Tzong Khapa): arranging and completing educational programs in European contexts
14. Buddhist education at Columbia University (United States)
15. Buddhist education at Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies
16. Project by Emory University and Library of Tibetan Works and Archives ‘The Emory-Tibet Science Initiative’ (ETSI): contemporary scientific disciplines in curricula of Tibetan monastic colleges
17. Buddhist education in contemporary Russia: the concept of implementing Bachelor’s and Master’s programs revisited.

Co-organizers of the Conference: Association of Kalmykia’s Buddhists, Central Buddhist Temple of Kalmykia ‘The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha’, Save Tibet Foundation, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, B. B. Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University

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Working Languages of the Conference: Russian, English, Kalmyk, Mongolian, Tibetan

Dates of the Conference: April 28–30, 2021.

Place: In view of the world Covid-19 pandemic, the conference shall be held in the online mode.

Co-Chairmen of the Organizing and Program Committee:

Co-Chairman ― Telo Tulku Rinpoche (Honorary Representative of His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama to Russia, CIS Countries and Mongolia, Shajin Lama of Kalmykia and Spiritual Leader of Save Tibet Foundation).

Co-Chairman ― Victoria V. Kukanova, Ph.D. (Cand. of Philology), Director of Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS.

Members of the Organizing and Program Committee:

Badmaev, Valery N., Ph.D. (Dr. of Philosophy), Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University

Bakaeva, Elza P., ScD, Associate Professor, Deputy Director, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS

Vanchikova, Tsymzhit P., Ph.D. (Dr. of History), Chief Research Associate, Institute for Mongolia, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies (Siberian Branch of the RAS)

Ven. Gelek Natsyk-Dorzhu (Saryglar, Sergek O.), 9^th Kamby Lama of the Tyva Republic

Ven. Lobsang Tsondu (Khartskhaev, Andzha A.), Abbot, Central Buddhist Temple of Kalmykia ‘The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha’

Ven. Geshe Dymbryl (Dashibaldanov, Dymbryl G.), Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy, Principal, Zayaev Dashi Choinkhorlin Buddhist University  

Ven. Jampa Donyed Lama (Badmaev, Buda B.), Abbot, Datsan Gunzechoinei (St. Petersburg)

Zhironkina, Julia S., Director, Save Tibet Foundation, Editor of Nalanda Book Series

Mirzaeva, Saglara V., Research Associate, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS

Mitruev, Bembya L., Research Associate, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS

Muzraeva, Delyash N., Ph.D. (Cand. of History), Leading Research Associate, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS

Sultimov, Chingiz S., Principal, Aga Buddhist Academy

Terentyev, Andrey A., Ph.D. (Cand. of History), Editor-in-Chief, Narthang Publications

Tsybikov, Badma D., 21^st Abbot of Aginsky Datsan, Rabjampa, Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy

Elbikov, Khongor B., Assistant to Shajin Lama of Kalmykia Telo Tulku Rinpoche

Yarmarkina, Galina M., Ph.D. (Cand. of Philology), Academic Secretary, Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS

Applications should be submitted before April 15, 2021 online at the following URL: http://kigiran.com/conference/

A Draft Program of the Conference shall posted on the mentioned website.

Contact data:

Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS

8, Ilishkin St., 358000 Elista, Russian Federation

E-mail: publ.kscras@gmail.com