Interview with Aldynay Sden-Khuurak
Published 06 September, 2007, 09:36
Aldynay Sden-Khuurak, English language teacher in Russian Republic of Tyva, joined Russia Today to tell how Shamanism and Buddhism co-exist peacefully in this land in the heart of Asia.
Russia Today: Currently, you are an English teacher here and interpreter too. You have been welcoming many people from across the globe to Tyva. What is it in particular that attracts them here?
Aldynay Sden-Khuurak: The Tyvan people have been living here for many centuries. And they have lived in nature, with nature and believe in the supernatural world. They believe that every tree, every mountain, every spring has its own master spirit. We have people who can meditate and communicate with the spiritual around. There are foreigners who come from all over the world to learn from our shamans, because they have kept these beliefs and they know how they work, how to heal different diseases, what to say in every individual’s case. So every summer we have all these people, like psychologists or psychotherapists, who come here to learn from our shamans.
RT: This place is considered to be the heart of Sahamanism, but Shamanism and Buddhism actually sit quite happily side-by-side here in the Tyva Rrepublic. But for the everyday Tyvans – how does it work? Do these beliefs contradict each other?
A.S.: Buddhism came to Tyva from Tibet through Mongolia and then was adopted by the Tyvans and became an official religion here. As you know, we have Shamanism for many centuries and there is no contradiction now between these two religions. They co-exist together peacefully. As for Buddhist temples, we have three or four different ceremonies every day where Tyvan people go to the services. And the same people go to the shamans when they have illnesses, or they want to ask a specific question. They go to a shaman to help their relatives. So, every time it's different and Tyvan people may go to a Buddhist lama and ask for advice and he can say: Ok, you can go to a shaman, he will help you better than I can.
RT: Because of these harmonious relationship, and many sacred sites around Tyva that are actually sacred for both religions, could you tell us little bit more about these sacred sites?
A.S.: If you go further into the countryside of Tyva, you can see many sacred, holy places of the shaman people and the Buddhist people, and actually, in every place there are signs of both religions. For example, one of them is the Holy Mountain of Khairakan, where you can go and see shamanic piles of stones, where people go and put their stone as an offering to nature. And at the same place, they can see ribbons of three, four or five different colours, which is usually a Buddhist thing to do, – when you come and tie ribbons as, once again, an offering to God.
RT: You do see ribbons on a lot of trees? Which particular trees can you use in Shamanism?
A.S.: Of course not every tree can be considered as a shamanic tree. It should be a very abundant tree with many branches, sometimes different kinds of trees growing together in one place.
RT: What have you been doing today to appease the spirits?
A.S.: Every morning before going to work, I get up and make my milk tea. Untouched and fresh, I take it to my yard and with my ritual spoon I sprinkle milk in nine different directions of the world, asking for a blessing, asking for a happy day, for nice work, for good friends and then, again, I burn juniper and ask for the same things. So, you can see this is Shamanism and Buddhism together in one religion.
RT: And the juniper comes from Buddhism?
A.S.: Usually, yes.
RT: What happens when you need to sprinkle tea around the house if you live in a flat?
A.S.: Just go outside.
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