Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — October 20, 2010

From Ven. Roger:

President of Mongolia presents the "Order of the Polar Star" Mongolia's highest award for foreigners for distinguished service to Mongolia.

Several months earlier, Khatanbaatar Choidogsuren, the director of our center here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on behalf of many of Rinpoche’s Mongolian students, requested the Mongolian Government to consider Rinpoche for this prestigious award (the highest that can be bestowed on a foreigner.) Yesterday, we suddenly received word that the President of Mongolia would bestow this honor on Rinpoche at 3 pm in the President’s office.

Rinpoche met the President and first offered a large thangka of the 35 Buddhas to the President as well as special blessed pills. They had a discussion together and one of the things Rinpoche mentioned to the President was the importance of the Golden Light Sutra (Rinpoche offered a copy of our translation in Mongolian). Rinpoche also mentioned his promise to

Rinpoche was congratulated outside Parliament House after the ceremony, Mongolian students were very excited!

Chenrezig to spread this sutra all over Mongolia and the world. Rinpoche explained that he was presently giving the lung at Idgaa Choizinling College (the monastery that FPMT built) where a 1,000 people were attending. Rinpoche said he wanted to give the lung in different cities and towns all over Mongolia.

The President is a strong supporter of Buddhism and also mentioned to Rinpoche that his family had adopted 24 orphans! Then the President thanked Rinpoche for all his efforts for spreading and preserving Mahayana Buddhism in Mongolia.

Rinpoche thanked the President for all his support.

The President recently offered Mongolian citizenship to the 9th Bogd Lama (Jetsün Kalka Dampa). He has just arrived to live in Mongolia and has promised to be reborn as the 10th Bogd Lama of Mongolia.

THE CERTIFICATE READS:

The certificate and medal presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“To Award Tuvden Zopa Rinpoche with Order ‘Altan Gadas’ (the Order of the Polar Star)

According to the Law on President of Mongolia, Article 15, point 1, THIS DECREE IS ISSUED TO AWARD:

Lama Tuvden Zopa Rinpoche, citizen of the United States of America, with Order ‘Altan Gadas’ (the Order of the Polar Star) in recognition of his contribution to preserving great cultural heritage of Buddhism in Mongolia, and spreading religious tradition of the Mahayana denomination in forms of preaching and meditation through establishing the Preservation Center of the Mahayana Tradition of Buddhism in Mongolia.

Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia”