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Key Mongolian Buddhist Figures
The following information has been extracted from the
Mongolian Buddhists Protecting Nature Handbook which can be downloaded in English and in Mongolian.
Historical figures
• Zanabazar – Undur Gegeen Zanabazar (1635-1723) was the first Javzandamba or Bogd Gegeen, the supreme spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia, second only to the Dalai and Panchen lamas. He was famous for his sculpture, painting, poetry, medical skills and as a publisher.
• Bogd Gegeen - The lineage of reincarnations that started with Zanabazar. By Manchu rule determined to be Tibetan, to prevent active political participation. The 8th Bogd Gegeen nevertheless became ruler of Mongolia during a short
period in the 20th century. The 9th Bogd Gegeen lives in Dharmasala.
• Bakula Rinpoche: Born into the royal family of Ladakh in northern India, Bakula Rinpoche was recognised, at the age of five as a reincarnation of one of the Sixteen Arhats, or direct disciples of the historical Buddha. He studied in
Tibet from 1927 to 1941 and later became a Government Minister in the Lok Sabha. He retained a keen interest in Mongolia and in 1990 was appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Ulaanbaatar. Among many other achievements
during his decade as the country’s most popular foreign diplomats, he established several monasteries including Pethub monastery in Ulaanbaatar, which is one of the key areas for environmental initiatives. He retired in 2000
and died in 2003 at the age of 86.
Present-day Figures
• Ikh Khamba Lama Choijamts – the
Head of Mongolian Buddhists and
Abbot of Gandantegchenling (Gandan)
Monastery.
• Vice Khamba Lama Amgalan – the
second most important monk at
Gandan Monastery.
• Da Lama Byambajav – the third
ranking lama of Gandan Monastery;
a liaison person for environmental
projects with outside organisations.
• Venerable Purevbat – renowned Buddhist artist and activist, director of the
Mongolian Institute for Buddhist Art of Gandan Monastery.
• Venerable Dambajav, Khamba Lama of Dashichoilin Monastery.
• Venerable Natsagdorj, Khamba Lama of Mamba Dratsang.
• Guru Deva Rinpoche: Born in the Inner Mongolia, Guru Deva Rinpoche
studied Buddhism in Tibet and later fled to India with the Dalai Lama in
1959. In 1991, Guru Deva Rinpoche visited Amarbayasgalant for the first
time for many decades, and since then has helped with the restoration of the
monastery.
• Panchen Otrul Rinpoche: the Panchen Otrul Rinpoche (meaning the Panchen
Lama candidate) is an important teacher of the Gelukpa tradition of Tibetan
Buddhism. Although based in Ireland, he also leads a religious centre and NGO
in Mongolia – see section TWO. His first Dharma teacher was Mongolian; it
has always been his wish to repay the kindness of his teacher by helping with
the re-establishment of Buddhism in Mongolia.
• The Dalai Lama: the title “Dalai Lama” originated in Mongolia, where “dalai”
means a vast area of water, and the title is often translated as “Great Ocean
Lama”. The current Dalai Lama – the fourteenth – has visited Mongolia seven
times since 1979, his two most recent visits being in 2002 and 2006.
• Lama Zopa: Born in Nepal, Lama Zopa is the spiritual head of the Foundation
for the Preservation of Mahayana Buddhism established in the 1970s. Lama
Zopa has worked extensively with Westerners and has centers and projects all
over the world. His involvement with Mongolia began in 1999.
Pages about Mongolian Environmental Wisdom, taken from the Handbook.
The Mongolian Lord of Nature.
Sacred texts, places and ovoos.
Sacred sites
in Mongolia.
Traditional Environmental Law in Mongolia.
The work that the monks, in conjunction with ARC and the World Bank and others, are carrying out to rediscover the sutras about sacred land in Mongolia.
Do you want to support this?
For full contact and address details of Mongolian Buddhist Monasteries, please see page 57 of the
Handbook. And for details of local Development, Environmental and Educational NGOs, please visit pages 58-59 of the
Handbook.
Other links to Mongolian Buddhism and the Environment
Link here to access the news story about the launch of the Mongolian Buddhist Handbook.
Link
here to download the Mongolian Buddhist Handbook in English. (Please note this file is 1.15MB)
Link
here to download the Mongolian version of the Handbook.(A 2MB file.)
Link here to download the guide to the Mongolian Buddhists’ Eight Year Plan (this file is 4.13MB).
Link to Mongolian Case Studies.
And
here on how to make contact with the Sangha.
To download the A3 poster of a new thangka about Buddhists protecting Nature, link
here (5.61MB).
Brief History of Mongolian Buddhism.
Buddhism and the Environment.
Women in Buddhism in Mongolia.
Key Figures in Mongolian Buddhism.
Key Meetings in Mongolia.
Mongolian Buddhists and Development.
Mongolian Buddhists and Ecology.
Mongolian Buddhist Hunting Ban.
The Lost Sutras.
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Vision and Strategy
ARC's vision is of people, through their beliefs, treading more gently upon the earth. Link here to find out how we achieve this.
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Restoring a key temple of Mongolia
The oldest monastery in Mongolia’s capital is being restored as a centre for arts and teaching… |
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Last updated: September 24, 2009 :
Latest news on the Long Term Commitments
A sample of some of the faith groups around the world that are creating Five, Seven, Eight and Nine Year Plans to protect the natural environment, through the UNDP-ARC framework. |
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