Looks like a Buddhist temple. The main temple of the Buddhist traditional sangha of Russia - Ivolginsky datsan

Buddhism gradually spread throughout the planet over several millennia. Today Buddhist temples can be found in different countries, and the roots of this religion are concentrated in India. In the article we will get acquainted with what a Buddhist temple is and what are the features of their architecture, we will learn about the most famous temples and monasteries.

Ajanta Temple and Monastery Cave Complex

What is the name of the Buddhist temple

The Buddha Temple may have different names: datsan, or, directly, the name of the temple itself, combined with the words ji, dera, tera, garan.

If the temple is named after the locality or in honor of the founders, then the name contains tera or dera. For example, Asuka-dera so called due to the fact that the temple is located on the Asuka Plain. A Tachibana-dera is a temple of the Tachibana family.

If the name of the building uses the honor of a teacher or the name of a revered deity, then dzi is used. For example: YakushijiBhaishajyaguru temple or the healer buddha Yakushi.

The additional name garan is used to designate ancient temples. From Sanskrit "sangharama" - "community dwelling" .

If the building for holding rituals does not have everything that is necessary for such a room, then such a building is called a chapel.


Maharashtra Buddhist Temple

Architecture of Buddhist temples and monasteries

What does it mean to be a Buddhist? If explained from the point of view of this religious teaching, then to be a Buddhist is to take refuge in “ Three Treasures " "Three Treasures" - This Buddha, his doctrine And community, formed around this teaching. The structure is designed to embody all of the Three Treasures. They are all presented in one place, but at the same time divided into parts, each of which carries its own semantic and religious meaning.


A Buddhist temple is a sacred complex structure, representing religious value, a place of pilgrimage, worship and residence of Buddhist monks. It must be protected from external influences that disturb it holy place– extraneous sounds, sights, smells and other influences. The territory is closed on all sides, and at the entrance there are powerful gates.

In the "golden hall"(kondo) any Buddha images are placed ( Buddha Shakyamuni , compassionate Amitabha etc.) – embroidered, drawn, in the form of sculptures. In the same room there can be any images of various revered beings, bodhisattvas.

Pagoda- This building designed to store the remains of the body (earthly) of Buddha Shakyamuni. Almost every Buddhist temple has its own legend about how the remains got into it. Often the pagoda consists of three or five tiers, and the main pillar is placed in the center. Under it or at its very top the remains of Buddha are kept.

In addition to textual versions of Buddhist teachings stored in the form of scrolls, religious information and various sacred traditions are transmitted orally. In addition, readings and interpretations of the teachings are regularly held in the “reading hall” (ko:do).

Since the 8th century, kami have appeared - places for venerating “native gods”. They are placed both on the territory of the temple and outside it. The gods are revered as protectors of the temple.

The temple community includes monks, their students and lay people who temporarily reside in the galleries.


Buddhist temples in India have their own design features. Monumental structures have a large number of arches, vaults, columns, and reliefs dedicated to Buddha. At the same time, all these unique architectural elements are brought to perfection. In India, stupas are most often found in the form of a sphere on a cubic base. Their entrances are usually represented by stone gates with carved images on them. There are also buildings with sharp high domes with bas-reliefs.

Buddhist temples in India

There are many Buddhist temples in India, since this religious movement is especially revered here. Let's pay attention to the most famous ones.

  1. . The third largest state of India is Maharashtra. This region is known primarily for its rock monasteries and temples:
  • Ajanta – a temple and monastery cave complex, represented by a cliff in the shape of a horseshoe. There are 29 caves in total. They are divided into viharas (dormitories of Buddhist monks, with a portico-terrace at the entrance and square halls surrounded by cells on three sides) and chaityas (prayer halls). The walls of the caves are skillfully painted with illustrations of Buddhist myths and legends. Ajanta is a World Heritage Site.
  • Caves of Aurangabad - relatively small three complexes of cave temples located near the city of Aurangabad. There are nine caves in total, divided into eastern and western ones.
  • Pithalkora – a cave temple complex consisting of 13 caves. Equipped in the 2nd century BC. Somewhat later, in the 5th-6th centuries, additions to them occurred.
  • Ellora – a system of 34 caves. Of these, 17 caves are Hindu, 12 caves are Buddhist, 5 are . The most remarkable building with unique architecture is “Kailas”, which has deservedly become one of the precious monuments religious culture India. Numerous castles located in Ellora are classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
  1. - exactly the place where Gautama Sidhartha achieved enlightenment, which resulted in his reincarnation as Buddha. The temple is located in Bodh Gaya, Indian state of Bihar. Here is Bodhi - the sacred tree, sitting under which Gautama found his enlightenment. It is believed that it was grown from a seed that was given by the very original tree under which the enlightened Buddha sat.
  1. Sanchi, which is the World UNESCO heritage, is a village in Madhya Pradesh known for its preserved temples, monasteries and stupas from early Buddhist times. The main attraction is the first known stupa in history. It was intended as a visual symbol of the Wheel of Dharma. It was from the Sanchi stupa that other stupas began to be copied.
  1. It's impossible not to remember about Dhamek stupa, located in Sarnath. According to legend, here Buddha, who achieved enlightenment, gave his first sermon and launched Wheel of Dharma.

Buddhist monasteries in India

There are also a considerable number of Buddhist monasteries in India. It is not possible to list them all, so let’s get acquainted with some of them:

  1. Temples of Ladakh. The land of Ladakh is located in the extreme western part of the Tibetan plateau. The highest mountains in the world rise along the southern and northern parts. Here are concentrated all the beauties for which travelers come here with pleasure - snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers, strange animals and birds, incredible mountain abodes. True, all this has become available foreign tourists only since 1974. The population of Ladakh is mainly represented by the descendants of settled nomads who arrived from Kham (eastern Tibet). In the 7th century they mixed with Indo-Aryan tribes. There are many temples in this region: Alchi Gompa, Vanla, Lamayuru, Mulbek Gompa, Seni Gompa, She Gompa and others.
  1. Tiksi is a Buddhist monastery located off the banks of the Indus on a hilltop. Its location is amazing: it rises 3600 meters above sea level and consists of 12 floors. There are also statues, frescoes, weapons, thangkas (images of a religious nature in Tibetan art), buildings with chortens. The Maitreya Temple, which later became the Buddha, is also amazing. It is famous for the 15-meter statue of Maitreya, erected in 1970 before the visit of the Dalai Lama.
  1. , located on a hill outside the city of Tawang. It is located at an altitude of 3300 meters. Designed for 700 monks, currently approximately 450 lamas live in it. There is a Parkhang library here, famous for that it contains many historically valuable manuscripts.

Buddhist monasteries in Russia

In Russia, Buddhism is practiced in different regions of the country - Transbaikal Territory, Tyva, Buryatia, Altai Republic, Kalmykia, Irkutsk Region. Buddhist monasteries in Russia exist in a large number of cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.

  1. Ivolginsky datsan (Gandan Dashi Choynkhorlin - Tibet) is located in the Republic of Buryatia, in the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga. This is a real complex consisting of many buildings, including:
  • a temple-palace in which the incorruptible body of the great Teacher Khambo Lama Itigelov is kept;
  • tantric temple (Jan-dugan);
  • main cathedral temple (Tsogchen-dugan);
  • greenhouse created for the sacred Bodhi tree, etc.

Also on the territory of the complex there is a library, a summer hotel, sacred stupas-suburgans and even an enclosure for roe deer.

  1. Another Buddhist monastery in Russia, or rather a temple-monastery, is the Khoymorsky datsan “Bodhidharma”, located in Buryatia (Arshan village, Tunkinsky district). This is the central temple of the Buddhist organization "Maidar".
  2. Tsugolsky datsan is the oldest monastery, built in the Transbaikal region in 1801. Monastic schools were founded here Buddhist philosophy classical direction and Tibetan medicine. The monastery has a very rich history.

There are other, no less remarkable Buddhist temples in Russia: Aninsky(Buryatia) and Aginsky(Trans-Baikal Territory) datsans, , Temple of the Great Victory(Kalmykia), Egituisky datsan(Buryatia).

BOROBUDUR (8th-9th centuries) - the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

Borobudur was built around 800 AD. e. Sailendra Dynasty. After 200 years, the complex was abandoned. At that time, the Merapi volcano erupted here, and the entire temple was covered with volcanic ash, and Buddhism in Java gradually lost its influence and was replaced by Hinduism. Much later, when the British expeditionary forces entered Java during the Napoleonic War, an English officer rediscovered Borobudur. The plants that had grown during this time were destroyed, and in 1907 Dutch archaeologists began restoration. Later, between 1970 and 1980, further restoration work was carried out with the support of UNESCO.

The builders of this Buddhist sanctuary tried to reproduce on the soil of the island of Java the legendary Mount Meru from ancient Indian mythology, its huge golden peak on which the entire universe rests.

When viewed from above, Borobudur (the name means: many Buddhas) appears in the form of a huge geometric sign and sacred symbol of the mandala, that is, a diagram of the universe in which Heaven (the three round upper terraces of the complex) and Earth (the four lower terraces) are combined.

The complex was built on and around a hill, so its shape is a step pyramid.



Borobudur is a Buddhist stupa and associated temple complex of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. This is the largest Buddhist monument on Earth. Borobudur is located on the island of Java in Indonesia in the Central Java province, 40 km northwest of the city of Yogyakarta. The name may come from the Sanskrit "vihara Buddha Ur", which translates to "Buddhist temple on the mountain".
Borobudur is built like a huge stupa, which is shaped like a giant mandala. The foundation of the stupa is square with a side of 118 m. The stupa has eight tiers, the lower five are square, and the upper three are round. This mandala expresses the scheme of the universe in accordance with Buddhist ideas. On the upper tier there are 72 small stupas around a large central stupa. Each stupa is in the shape of a bell with a large number decorations Inside the stupas there are 504 statues of Buddha and 1,460 bas-reliefs of religious subjects. The stupa was built from 2 million stone blocks. Scientists still cannot determine exact date and the period of construction of this temple. Archaeologists suggest that the temple was erected in the 8th-9th centuries.
Borobudur is still a place of pilgrimage and prayer. Pilgrims walk around each level seven times in a clockwise direction. Touching each Buddha from the stupas on the upper tier through the recesses in the stupa is believed to bring happiness. According to researchers, the structure can be considered as a huge book for pilgrims. As pilgrims make a ritual walk around each tier, they become acquainted with the life of the Buddha and the elements of his teaching. The three levels symbolize the three spheres of residence - Kamadhatu (sphere of passions), Rupadhatu (sphere of forms) and Arupadhatu (sphere without forms).
For hundreds of years, Borobudur lay covered in volcanic ash and overgrown with jungle. How this unique monument ended up forgotten and abandoned is not yet clear. In the mid-20th century, it was suggested that after the eruption of Mount Merapi, misfortunes forced the inhabitants to leave their land and look for other habitats. The eruption occurred at the beginning of the 1st millennium. Only 800 years later, during the English occupation of the island during the Anglo-Dutch War, the monument was discovered. Then the monument was heavily plundered. At the beginning of the 20th century. The first major restoration of the complex was undertaken.
Prambanan is a complex of early medieval Buddhist and Hindu temples located in the central part of the island of Java, 18 km east of Yogyakarta, on the southern slope of the Merapi volcano, not far from the Borobodur stupa and the royal palace of Ratu Boko. Restored by Dutch scientists in the first half of the 20th century. The most popular among tourists is the grandiose 47-meter temple of Lara Jonggrang - the largest in Indonesia, dedicated to the god Shiva. Translated, its name means “slender maiden” - this is the name given to the statue of the goddess Durga in the main sanctuary. Information about the time and circumstances of the construction of Lar Jonggrang is scarce and contradictory. It is most likely that the temple was built at the beginning of the 10th century by the ruler of the Mataram state named Dhaksa. It consists of four tiers (perhaps according to the number of castes) and is surrounded by four walls with the same number of gates.

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There are two main types of Buddhist structures:

First type- intended to support the life of the monastery: temples, sometimes reaching enormous sizes, rooms for monks, a hall for believers, libraries.

Second type- structures that themselves are an object of worship: stupa, altar. They are the center of the monastery and act as the guardian of sacred relics.

Basic Concepts

Datsan Temple.

In Buddhism, sacred temples are called “datsans”. Datsans include religious buildings (sculptures of deities, stupas, prayer wheels - khurde) and outbuildings, as well as houses in which monks and novices live.

Buddhists go to datsans to pray, worship deities, ask the lama for advice, and get answers to their questions from the astrologer lama. In the peaceful atmosphere of the datsan, a person becomes purified and becomes wiser.

Distinctive Features Buddhist temples feature multi-level roofs, overhanging eaves, gilded pillars and wooden decorations in the form of mythical animals.

Along the walls of Buddhist temples there are long rows of prayer wheels rotating on a vertical axis, inside of which there are sheets of prayers. Repeated spinning of prayer wheels by those praying replaces their reading of the prayer: the number of times the drum is spun, the number of times the Buddhist “reads” the prayer. You can only spin the drum with your right hand, because left hand considered unclean. A ceremonial circumambulation around the temple (stupa) is carried out so that it is located at right hand, i.e. the round is done clockwise.

Inside, the Buddhist temple is a square room with an altar located opposite the entrance. In the center of the altar there is a statue of Buddha on a platform, with smaller saints and bodhisattvas sitting on its sides. On the platform in front of the statues there are oil lamps and various gifts of believers. “Tangkas” - images of deities painted on silk fabrics in colorful colors - are hung on the walls.


Upon entering the datsan, the worshiper must mentally politely greet the deities who are there. After this, put your palms together. This resembles a lotus flower - a symbol of wisdom and mercy (Buddhists imagine that Buddha sits inside the palms at the tips of the thumbs, like on a throne). After this, the worshiper greets all the deities and Buddha, walking in a circle from left to right (along the sun).

Prostrations are made on the 3rd, 7th, 21st, etc. once. There are half-bows and full bows (prostrations). When bowing, a Buddhist must wish all living beings relief from suffering.

Important Concepts

Stupa - (translated from Sanskrit - a pile of earth, stones), Buddhist religious building, inside which sacred relics are kept.

“Khurde” (translated as “prayer drum”) - such drums contain prayers written on paper.

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Buddhist temple You will find out About the Buddhist temple, its purpose and characteristic features ABOUT interior decoration and rules of behavior in a Buddhist temple Basic Concepts Datsan Temple In Buddhism, sacred temples are called “datsans”. Datsans include religious buildings (sculptures of deities, stupas, prayer wheels - khurde) and outbuildings, as well as houses in which monks and novices live. Buddhists go to datsans to pray, worship deities, ask the lama for advice, and get answers to their questions from the astrologer lama. In the peaceful atmosphere of the datsan, a person becomes purified and becomes wiser. Distinctive features of Buddhist temples include tiered roofs, overhanging eaves, gilded pillars and wooden decorations in the form of mythical animals. Along the walls of Buddhist temples there are long rows of prayer wheels rotating on a vertical axis, inside of which there are sheets of prayers. Repeated spinning of prayer wheels by those praying replaces their reading of the prayer: the number of times the drum is spun, the number of times the Buddhist “reads” the prayer. You can only spin the drum with your right hand, since the left hand is considered unclean. The ceremonial circumambulation around the temple (stupa) is performed so that it is on the right hand, i.e. the round is done clockwise. Inside, the Buddhist temple is a square room with an altar located opposite the entrance. In the center of the altar there is a statue of Buddha on a platform, with smaller saints and bodhisattvas sitting on its sides. On the platform in front of the statues there are oil lamps and various gifts of believers. “Thangkas” – images of deities painted on silk fabrics in colorful colors – are hung on the walls. Rules of conduct for Buddhists in the temple. When entering the territory of the datsan, a Buddhist must remove his headdress. He should behave quietly and modestly in the temple, turn off cell phones. You cannot talk loudly, laugh, point fingers in the direction of deities, get irritated, angry, or keep your hands in your pockets. You must try to think only about good things, to wish good things to all living beings. Upon entering the datsan, the worshiper must mentally politely greet the deities who are there. After this, put your palms together. This resembles a lotus flower - a symbol of wisdom and mercy (Buddhists imagine that Buddha sits inside the palms at the tips of the thumbs, like on a throne). After this, the worshiper greets all the deities and Buddha, walking in a circle from left to right (along the sun). Approaching a statue or image, he folds his palms and first brings them to his forehead, as if asking for the blessing of his mind and wishes that his thoughts should always be pure. After this, he brings his folded palms to his mouth, asking for the blessing of speech and wishing that his words will always be truthful. After this, he brings his folded palms to his chest, asking for blessings on the body and wishing that the heart will always be filled with love for all living beings. These three gestures mean that a person is asking for the protection of the Buddha, his Teachings and the Sangha (the Community of the Buddha's disciples). Prostrations are made on the 3rd, 7th, 21st, etc. once. There are half-bows and full bows (prostrations). When bowing, a Buddhist must definitely wish all living beings relief from suffering. Important Concepts Stupa - (translated from Sanskrit - a pile of earth, stones), a Buddhist religious building, inside which sacred relics are stored. “Khurde” (translated as “prayer drum”) - such drums contain prayers written on paper. This is interesting Erdene-Zuu Monastery is one of the most ancient monasteries that have survived to this day, located in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. The temples of the Erdene-Zuu monastery are built in one row and their facades are oriented to the east. In 1734, a wall with stupas began to be erected around the entire complex of temples. There are a total of 108 stupas in the wall. The number 108 is a sacred number in all countries of the Buddhist world (108 volumes contain “Ganjur”, 108 grains are contained in the most common version of Buddhist rosary). Each stupa has an inscription on whose funds it was built and what it is dedicated to. Questions and tasks Who is "Lama"? Why do Buddhists go to datsans? How should they behave in a Buddhist temple? How should one behave in sacred buildings? Lesson 26 Rituals and ceremonies You will find out About what a ritual is in Buddhism What is a mantra What is an offering Basic Concepts Ritual Rite Mantra Rituals. In Buddhism, there are many rituals that are used as various practices to purify the mind and differ depending on which school the Buddhist belongs to and in which area he lives. It is believed that performing rituals eliminates many obstacles in life and leads to the accumulation of good karma both for the Buddhist performing the ritual and for everyone who lives in the area. Previously, when Buddhism came to a new territory, people there believed in nature spirits, such as the spirits of mountains, rivers, and trees. Buddhism has always been tolerant of other religions; it did not fight local beliefs, but included them. Thus, rituals of offerings to spirits appeared in Buddhism, which were transformed into Buddhist practices of purifying the mind. Rituals common to all Buddhists. Reading mantras. A mantra is a sacred phrase that can be said out loud, silently, or whispered. Mantras are used to cleanse the mind and concentrate it on any good wish. Different mantras have different effects, the strength of which depends on the number of repetitions and correct understanding what she carries. The most famous and shortest mantra: OM. Making an offering is an act of giving that develops generosity and joyful effort in the Teaching. Buddhists offer images of the Teacher, all the good that is in them (Buddha aspects), the Three Jewels (Buddha, Teaching, Community). Offerings can be expressed materially, in speech, or in the mind. Some Buddhists have a special shelf at home on which there is a drawing or photograph of their teacher. Food is placed next to the image as an offering. To count mantras and performed rituals, each Buddhist has a special item - Buddhist rosary - a necklace with grains strung on it. The most commonly found Buddhist rosary has 108 grains. This is interesting In Buddhist monasteries, rituals are performed that develop various good qualities of a person. Anyone can take part in some of them. One such ritual is to develop compassion for all living beings. It consists of a three-day stay in one room from which you cannot leave. On the first day a person stops eating meat. On the second day he stops eating any food. On the third day he stops drinking water. At the end of three days, the person leaves the room and begins to drink and eat again. The result is an understanding of how other living beings can suffer. Important Concepts Ritual is the symbolic expression of thoughts and feelings through an action common to many and expressing common aspirations, the basis of which lies in common values. Questions and tasks Why do people follow rituals? What rituals of Buddhism do you know? What rituals of other religions do you know? Lesson 27 Buddhist calendar You will find out What calendar do Buddhists use? About the features of the Buddhist calendar Basic Concepts Solar calendar Lunar calendar To measure time, people rely on astronomical phenomena: the revolution of the Earth around the Sun, the Moon around the Earth and the Earth around its axis. For example, the time when the Earth circles the Sun one circle is usually called a solar year. Already in ancient times there was a need to measure time. In order to count large periods of time (days, months and years), people came up with entire number systems - calendars. Calendars are different. There are solar calendars, which are based on the revolutions of the Earth around the Sun, and there are lunar calendars, which are based on the revolutions of the Moon around the Earth. The Buddhist religious calendar is based on the positions of the moon in the sky, which is why it is called lunar. The Buddhist calendar has a 12-year annual period. Each year is under the patronage of one of twelve animals - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The beginning of the Buddhist chronology is 544 years ahead of the Gregorian chronology. Thus, the 2010th year of the Tiger corresponds to the 2554th year according to the Buddhist calendar. The Buddhist calendar, like the Gregorian calendar, has 12 months. A month consists of 29 or 30 days. The months are named after the seasons. The first month of the year is also called the first month of spring, the fourth - the first month of summer, the seventh - the first month of autumn, the tenth - the first month of winter. According to the Buddhist calendar, the 15th day (full moon) of each day is considered a holiday. lunar month, Besides, good days The 5th, 8th, 10th, 25th and 30th of each month are also considered. On these days, it is customary to visit monasteries and temples, make offerings to the Buddhas, the Teacher and the Community, listen to sermons, and take part in prayer services. If desired, on these days one can take a vow not to eat meat and fish, to abstain from all entertainment and not to harm all living beings with body, speech and thoughts. This is interesting: In countries of the Buddhist tradition, the calendar has a special meaning. It is widely used not only to calculate the dates of traditional Buddhist holidays, but also to explain the most important astronomical and meteorological events of the year, determine the time of agricultural work, predict calm or unrest in society, and compile individual horoscopes. A practicing Buddhist will never make responsible decisions, will not begin important matters and will not go on a long journey without first looking at the calendar and consulting with an astrologer monk. This is interesting The calendar, which is generally accepted in the Russian Federation, is solar and is called the Gregorian calendar after its inventor Gregory XIII. IN Gregorian calendar The length of the year is assumed to be 365 and 366 days. Questions and tasks What calendar do you live by? What are your favorite holidays? Are they secular or religious? Lesson 28 Holidays You will find out About the meaning of holidays in Buddhist culture About the main Buddhist holidays About the celebration of the Buddhist New Year Basic Concepts Holiday Khural Prayer Service The meaning of holidays in Buddhism. To understand the meaning of Buddhist holidays, one should move away from the usual - “today is a holiday, which means we need to rejoice and relax.” The holiday for Buddhists is about cleaning temples, homes, souls and bodies. This is achieved by performing rituals, reading mantras and using religious objects. All major Buddhist holidays are associated with the veneration of the “Three Jewels” (Buddha Shakyamuni, his Teachings (Dharma) and the community of his followers - the Sangha). IN holidays Strict restrictions are placed on people's behavior. A person should monitor himself even more carefully, since it is believed that on these days the power of all actions, physical and mental, increases 1000 times. The consequences of committed negative actions increase 1000 times and the merits of performing good deeds increase the same number of times. Major Buddhist holidays. The Buddhist ritual tradition uses a lunar calendar. Due to the fact that the lunar calendar is almost a month shorter than the solar one, the dates of holidays, as a rule, shift within one and a half to two months, and are calculated in advance using astrological tables. Most holidays fall on full moons. Main religious holidays Buddhists are:

    Donshod Khural (15th of the fourth month) is dedicated to the Birthday, Enlightenment and departure of Buddha Shakyamuni to Nirvana. New Year - Sagaalgan. The rotation of Maitreya (Maidari Khural; 15th of the fifth month). The holiday is dedicated to the coming to earth of Maitreya - the Buddha of the Coming World Period. This is the name in Buddhism for the period of time that will come after the end of the period of Buddha Shakyamuni. Lhabab duichen (or the descent of Buddha from Tushita heaven to earth; 22nd of the ninth month). The Buddha’s decision to take his last earthly birth and open the “path of the Buddha” to everyone - this is main idea of this holiday. Zula Khural (or the festival of a thousand lamps). The holiday is dedicated to the great Teacher Venerable Lama Je Tsongkhapa. Oil lamps lit on this day symbolize the Light of Wisdom, dispelling the darkness of ignorance among living beings.
Buddhist New Year - Sagaalgan. The Buddhist New Year - Sagaalgan - is celebrated between the end of January and mid-March, on the first new moon. lunar calendar. The date of the Buddhist New Year is calculated annually using astrological tables. Solemn services - khurals - are held in the temple throughout the day and night. The prayer service ends at 6 am. The house is covered festive table, which must be attended white food– milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter. Buddhists spend the first day of the year with their families. Visiting and visiting relatives begins on the second day and can continue until the end of the month. The entire month is considered festive and is called White. This is interesting Buddhists believe that after five thousand years after Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha will come to Earth. Therefore, Buddhists expect Maitreya to appear on Earth, achieve complete Enlightenment and teach pure Dharma. Questions and tasks What is the meaning of Buddhist holidays? What Buddhist holidays do you know? Lesson 29 Art in Buddhist culture You will find out About what a Buddhist icon is About the ancient religious ritual “Tsam” About Buddhist musical instruments Basic Concepts“Tangka” Dammaru Shell (dungar) Tsam Buddhist art is based on the teachings of Buddha and constitutes an entire era in the history of world culture and is extremely diverse, bright, filled deep meaning phenomenon. These are thangka painting, cosmological icons, iconography, sculpture, architecture, Buddhist clay sculpture, religious dances and music. Buddhist icons on fabric. Buddhist icons painted on fabric are called “thanka”; they depict Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and illustrate the lives of saints and great teachers. Translated from Tibetan, the word “tan” means flat, and the suffix “ka” means painting. Thus, thangka is a type of painting on a flat surface that can be rolled up when there is no need to display it. It is either painted or embroidered, and usually hangs in monasteries or in the homes of believers. The dimensions of the “tank” vary in size, ranging from several square centimeters to several square meters. Large "tankas" are often performed large groups artists, the work takes many months, and sometimes years. Tsam, also Cham, is a solemn religious service in the form of a theatrical performance, performed outdoors in Buddhist monasteries. Its purpose is to show the presence of the deity on earth and to distance evil spirits from the followers of Buddha. Tsam has varieties that differ in genre - dance-meditation, dance-pantomime, pantomime with dialogue. Buddhist musical instruments are used during traditional Buddhist holidays (prayer services), as well as in ordinary ritual services in the datsan. Damaru is a double-sided hand drum shaped like hourglass. They play it by raising their right hand vertically and holding the drum by the “waist” with a large and index fingers, swinging it clockwise and counterclockwise so that the drummers attached to the “waist” of the damaru hit the sounding surfaces. Damaru is a symbol of wisdom. Shell (dungar) - the sharp end of the curl is cut off from a large sea shell, the resulting hole is placed against the edge of the lips and the sound “e” is made. Sound production occurs by blowing air into the narrow part of the shell while simultaneously covering the wide part with your palm. Buddhist monks call conch shells into the temple, announcing the beginning of the prayer service. The conch shell is one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism. Buddhism introduced very specific ideas of non-commitment of evil and violence into art. For example, since ancient times there has been a traditional sculptural image of the thousand-armed Buddha: the Buddha sits on a lotus flower, with a thousand hands fluttering around his head and shoulders like a halo (the number, of course, is arbitrary), in the open palms of which a thousand eyes are depicted, respectively. The meaning of this religious image is as follows: Buddha has a thousand eyes in order to see all the injustices committed on earth, and a thousand hands in order to extend a helping hand to all those suffering, to take away grief and misfortune from them. Important Concepts“Thangka” (translated from Tibetan literally means “a design on a cloth that can be rolled up and taken with you”) is a work of fine art. “Tsam” is the Mongolian pronunciation of the Tibetan word “cham”, which means “dance” or more precisely “dance of the gods”. A mystery is a secret religious ceremony. Mantras - sacred syllables This is interesting Ritual of hanging "Hii-morin". Hii-morin (air horse, wind horse) is a cosmological icon associated with Buddhist astrology. Hii-morin symbolizes human psychic energy. When a person's energy is in a bad state, a person becomes discouraged and is haunted by failure. To correct this situation, there is a ritual of hanging the ritual flag “hii-morin”. The icon depicts a horse in the middle, and in its four corners there are a tiger, a lion, a dragon and the mythical bird garuda. These animals symbolize possession great strength and energy. This flag has sacred mantras written on it and there is a space where you need to write the person's name. Typically, the ritual of hanging hii-morin is performed by believers after the Buddhist New Year. Questions and tasks What is "tanka"? What is mystery? Have you ever seen the Buddhist mystery "Tsam"? What sound do Buddhist musical instruments have? Lesson 30 Love and respect for the Fatherland You will find out How to properly use the acquired knowledge about morality. What makes us - different people- one people. Basic Concepts Great power of morality Patriotism People. Dear friend! In previous lessons, you became acquainted with the great spiritual heritage, which for many centuries one generation of our compatriots carefully passed on to another. You learned about religion, spiritual ideals, moral standards oh your ancestors, about what they believed in, how they lived, supporting and helping each other. You know now that faith, spirituality, morality, love are enormous strength, which saves a person, his family and even entire nations from evil, disease, and self-destruction. Now you know about the great power of morality. Let's think about how to properly dispose of it. All the great religions of the world claim that faith without works is dead. Moral commandments are given to man so that he fulfills them. Secular ethics speaks about the same thing: if a person knows about moral standards, but does not apply them in his life, he cannot be called moral person. All the great religions of the world are based on two greatest moral commandments: love of God and love of man. Secular ethics also asserts that love for a person, respect, support, protection of another person is the basis public life. A person remains a person as long as he cares about others. Therefore, to the question: “How can one properly use the great power of morality?”, there is only one correct answer: “Turn it into caring for a person near you and a person far away.” For believers, caring for a person opens the way to God. For those who do not share any religion, caring for a person allows them to live with dignity, safety and happiness. It’s easy to see this - your parents take care of you, and this makes their life joyful and happy. Now you help them, when you get older you will be more able to take care of them. Mutual help and support of people who love each other is what a real family is. Family is the basis of a person’s moral social life. A more complex level of social relations that will require you to apply moral standards is your class, your school, village, town, city in which you live. Learn to build moral relationships with your classmates, seniors and juniors, and you will acquire loyal and reliable friends who will always help you. An even more complex level of social relations is the people of which you, your family, and the people living next to you are a part. Love for your people, for the Fatherland and care for it, shown in real affairs called patriotism. What makes us – different people – one people? Firstly, the commonality of the territory. Our country, Russia, is the largest country in the world in terms of territory. Our ancestors lived on this vast land, our parents live on. This is our land and your children will live on it. Secondly, language. The peoples of Russia speak different languages, and we understand each other perfectly thanks to the Russian language. Thirdly, our general history and culture. But the most important thing is what makes us united people– this is our willingness to take care of each other, to be guided by moral standards in our relationships with each other. The spiritual heritage we received from previous generations contains the great strength of our people. Patriotism is inseparable from human spirituality and morality. A person’s morality is manifested in his actions, highest form which is life for the good of the Motherland. Important Concepts Patriotism is a personal and public feeling, the content of which is love for the Fatherland, the willingness to subordinate one’s own interests to its interests, to act for the benefit of one’s family, people, and Russia. A people is a group of people living in the same territory, speaking the same language, having received from past generations a common historical, cultural, religious, spiritual heritage, guiding moral standards in relations with each other. This is important My friend, let’s dedicate our Souls’ beautiful impulses to the Fatherland! (Alexander Pushkin) A patriot is a person serving his homeland, and the homeland is, first of all, the people (Nikolai Chernyshevsky) He who does not belong to his Fatherland does not belong to humanity (Nikolai Chernyshevsky) Don’t ask what your homeland can do for you, - ask what you can do for your homeland (John Kennedy) It is important that you are ready to die for your country; but what is even more important is that you be willing to live life for its sake (Theodore Roosevelt) Questions and tasks What words can you use to describe your homeland? What do you think unites us, the inhabitants of Russia?

List of illustrations

“Wheel of Samsara” (“Bhavachakra”) Lumbini Grove Bodhi Tree Lhasa “Six Paramitas” (generosity, morality; patience; masculinity; ability to reflect; wisdom). Schematic drawing Illustrations for the biography of the Buddha Names and titles of the Buddha: Buddha Shakyamuni (Awakened Sage of the Shakya family), Tathagata (Thus Come or Thus Gone), Bhagavan (Blessed, Blessed; literally - “endowed with a good share”), Sugata (Right Walking) , Jina (Winner), Lokajyeshtha (World Honored) Buddha Maitreya Thousand-Armed Buddha Two Hinds and the Wheel of Dharma Yogi Ascetic Monk Kshatriya Sangha Tripitaka. Schematic drawing of Ganjur Danjur Tsugolsky datsan Temple complex Kuto-do Paya Dhammapada Buddhist books in silk fabrics Laymen with sacred books The Law of Karma. Schematic drawing Sculpture Tung-shi (“Four Friends”) Theravadin monk sweeping in front of him so as not to step on living beings Buddhist monk and children Mother holding a child in her arms (in Buddhism it is said: as a mother treats a child, so does we must treat all living beings) Monk in boots with turned up toes Nature. Lama in meditation Child and animal Trees and flowers (or night, moon and silhouette of a Buddhist monk) Images of Buddhist Teachers Offering a hadak (ritual scarf) to an elder family member “The Wheel of Teaching” (fragments) Illustration for the parable about the boy and the butterfly 8 good symbols of Buddhism Interior datsan Prayer wheels Lama-astrologer conducts reception Datsan ( general view: houses for monks, novices, outbuildings, stupas) A child bows to Buddha Khambo Lama Itigelov Erdene-Zuu Monastery Zandan-Zhuu Tsugolsky Datsan St. Petersburg Datsan Atlas of Tibetan Medicine Bodhisattva First Pandito Khambo Lama of Russia Pandito Khambo Lama Dasha-Dorzhi Etigelov Dalai Lama XIV Tenjing Gyatso Je Tsongkhapa (Zula Khural) Maidari - Khural Mystery “Tsam” Buddhist musical instruments Thangka (deity) Cosmological icons Buddhist clay sculpture Monk holding dammaru Hii-morin Altar Eight auspicious symbols: golden fish, shell, precious vessel, lotus flower, wheel, victory banner, endless knot and umbrella. Revered sacred animals of Buddhism (elephant, lion, horse, turtle, gazelles) Stupa. Schematic drawing of a Buddhist stupa on the island of Ogoy (Buryatia) - Stupa of Enlightenment and the Mother of all Buddhas) Altar (three objects representing the body, speech and mind of the Buddha - a statue of Buddha or Bodhisattva, a sacred text wrapped in brown or yellow cloth and the stupa located on the left, symbol of the Buddha's mind. Offerings - seven bowls Vajra (bell, crystal ball and other objects that can be used constantly or during special rituals) Buddhist family Buddhist religious calendar Buddhist holidays (Donshod Khural, Sagaalgan, Maidari Khural, Lhabab Duichen, Zula -khural) Map showing the countries where the Dharma is spreading Map showing the regions of Russia where the Dharma is spreading

Russia is our Motherland Culture and religion. Buddhism Buddha and his Teachings Buddhist sacred books Buddhist picture of the world Good and evil Principle of non-violence Attitude towards man Mercy and compassion Attitude towards nature Teacher in Buddhism Family and its values ​​Buddhism in Russia The path of spiritual improvement Buddhist teaching about virtues Duty and freedom Buddhist symbols Buddhist shrines Buddhist sacred buildings Buddhist temple Rituals and ceremonies Buddhist calendar Holidays Art in Buddhist culture Love and respect for the Fatherland

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