The first Buddhist temple in Moscow

Until 1991, the Orthodox churches were mostly active in Moscow, but with the entry into force of the law of the Constitution on religion, which in Soviet times operated only on paper, everything radically changed.

Now in the capital of the Russian Federation, services are held not only for Orthodox Christians, synagogues and mosques are working, and soon the first Buddhist temple in Moscow will be built. This is truly a multiethnic city, where different religions peacefully coexist.

Buddhist community

The republics that make up the Russian Federation and have professed Buddhism are many. These include Kalmykia, Tyva, Buryatia, Altai and Zabaikalsky Krai, the Irkutsk Region, which in the total number is about 1 million people. In addition to these territories, this religion is widespread in cities such as St. Petersburg, Samara and Moscow, where its adherents form communities that unite hundreds of people.

The repeated development of Buddhism in Russia began in the 1990s, when believers began to return the surviving temples and build new ones. To date, many schools are represented in the country: from Japanese Zen and Korean sleep to traditional Tibetan, as well as Mahayana and Theravada directions.

Although few adherents of Buddhism, in comparison with other faiths, it is included in the four official religions of Russia. In 2009, for the first time, a forum was organized and held in Moscow, within the framework of which there was a talk between representatives of various schools about the future development of religion in the country. At present, more and more people of different nationalities are showing interest in Buddhism, which led to the construction of a Buddhist temple in Moscow, which will unite all schools under one roof.

Value of the construction of the complex

Apparently, the concepts of Buddhism are becoming close to many Russians, as the number of people who adopted this religion is growing. The need for a real sanctuary, which can accommodate several hundred people at once, arose long ago.

The construction of a Buddhist temple in Moscow is a symbol of the fact that the representatives of different directions of this religion have no contradictions with each other, they can conduct rituals under the roof of a single for all building. This complex will be open to anyone who wants to learn more about this religion. It is planned to hold seminars, lectures, exhibitions and training in the main practices.

The main purpose of the temple complex will be to strengthen the spiritual ties between people within the framework of cooperation among themselves various Buddhist schools.

Property location

Temples of the main religions of Russia have been erected in Otradnoye district. There is an Orthodox church, a Muslim mosque, a synagogue, and now it is planned to erect the first Buddhist temple in Moscow. In fact, this will be a real complex, against which, unfortunately, some representatives of Orthodox communities spoke. The idea of uniting all four official religions in one area of the church in Russia is an indicator that regardless of denominations people must respect each other's religions and coexist in a single space.

The first Buddhist temple in Moscow (address: Novovladykinsky travel, owner 15) will become a symbol of the unification of believers from all parts of the country, even where there are only small communities. For them, the presence of a temple complex, in which you can make a pilgrimage to conduct spiritual practices with representatives of different schools, is a confirmation of the recognition of this religion at the all-Russian level.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the construction, appreciating the appearance of the temple in a region where there is no Buddhism. He gave the future complex the name "Tubden Shedubling", noting that he should become the center that spread the teachings of the Buddha.

Temple complex: The main temple

Designed as an educational and cultural center, the Buddhist temple in Moscow (the photo below shows it) represents several buildings, united in a single composition.

The total construction area is 2875 m ² , of which 1186 m ² will be occupied by the complex itself, which will include:

• The cult room, the area of which will be 600 m ² ;
• Conference hall - about 300 m ² ;
• Medical building - 334 m ² ;
• The library will take 222 m ² ;
• Charitable canteen - more than 470 m ² .

The center of the complex will be the main temple - a three-story building, which will house:

• On the first floor - a hall for prayers, a charitable dining room and premises for monks;
• The 2nd floor will be a place for meditations, conferences and lectures, these rooms are waiting for guests here;
• The third floor is the library and administration offices.

On the ground floor in the building there are offices of the center of oriental medicine, a dressing room and a waiting room.

The territory of the complex and the Small Temple

The Buddhist temple in Moscow is built exclusively on the donations of believers and will have a territory decorated in a traditional for this religion style.

All free space is subject to gardening with the subsequent installation of religious symbols, and along the perimeter a fence with traditional southern gates will be built. Among the religious sculptures will be presented those that are important objects for believers in the countries where they live.

A small temple is rather an auxiliary building, consisting of a single-storey building with a basement.

Room for relics

The Stupa of the Enlightenment is traditionally on the same line with the sacred gates and doors of the main temple, located on its north side. Each Buddhist temple has a similar structure. The description of this cult building in different countries has common features.

Stupa Enlightenment consists of 3 floors, where only the lower is a place for rituals. The second and third floors consist of cells completely isolated from the outside world, in which relics are stored. On the upper tier of the Stupa of the Enlightenment an open-ended niche is constructed, where a Buddha statue is erected, it crowns all the decorative pommel. On the ground level there will also be isolated cells with relics.

This is how the first Buddhist temple in Moscow will be seen, not only by believers, but by all residents and guests of the capital who are interested in this religion.