Dear friends,
We are very pleased to share with you the highlights of our performance at the First All-Russian Guru Padmasambhava Monlam, “Lotus of Peace.”
Link to the folder with video recordings of the performance (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UunTp6Hd-xdfEYXRhIvgvGN4rx3Eqwi7?usp=sharing)
The Monlam, led by the Ripa lineage holder Dungse Gyetru Jigme Norbu Rinpoche, took place in Moscow from August 21 to 23, 2026.
The event was organized by the Ripa Community, which invited Russian Buddhist sanghas to collaborate. The Dzogchen Community was also among the partners and helped spread the word about the event; of course, we were happy to make the dance offering, as is customary during large-scale Buddhist prayer gatherings.
Monlam (literally meaning “the path of prayers” or “prayer-aspiration”) is a way to care not only for oneself but also for all sentient beings. The practice of Monlam helps dispel external obstacles (illnesses, dangers, adverse circumstances) and internal ones (mental obscurations, barriers on the spiritual path).
For the performance, we prepared the Khaita dance “Gesar La” (performed by the group of practitioners of Khaita Joyful Dances under the guidance of Khaita teacher Vita Adamenko) and the Gorshey dance “Grace Has Come” (performed by Khaita teacher Anastasia Sedler).
Nastya’s dance was so mesmerizing that at the end, the audience couldn’t help but shout “bravo.” Our dance “Gesar La,” like any of the Khaita Joyful Dances, created a light atmosphere of happiness, freedom, and harmony in the hall. Everyone—Everyone—both the dancers and the audience—was smiling, laughing, and sharing their impressions. Jigme Rinpoche thanked us and said that there is life in these dances, and then joked (or perhaps not) that at the next Monlam there would be more songs and dances and fewer prayers.
We, in turn, extend our heartfelt thanks to the Teachers and mentors of the Ripa lineage, our friends — the Ripa Buddhist Center and other Buddhist sanghas — for the opportunity to spend these wonderful days together and to present the Khaita Joyful Dances to the Monlam participants—a practice of presence and mindfulness bestowed upon us by the Precious Teacher Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.
We invite you to join us in studying and practicing the Khaita Joyful Dances.
We meet at the gompa of the Moscow Dzogchen Community Rinchenling every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
These sessions are our practice: we develop the ability to feel space, learn to understand one another, interact, and remain in a state of joy and harmony. Perhaps this friendly atmosphere of mutual respect and love is what matters most.
In October, we’ll be performing at the circle dance festival!
See you at the Rinchenling Gompa!
Contact number (WhatsApp, Max) – 89168446895
With love,
The Khaita Joyful Dances practice group and the Gakyil of Rinchenling
Video footage provided by the “Ripa” Buddhist Center
