Telo Tulku Rinpoche is the head lama (Shadjin Lama) of Kalmykia and Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia, Mongolia and CIS countries. He received his early training in Buddhist philosophy at the Drepung Gomang in India. He was recognized as the reincarnation of Tilopa, a great Indian saint, there. His major efforts are aimed at spiritual restoration of one of the three Buddhist regions in post-Soviet Russia. As the President of the Buddhist Union of Kalmykia, he oversaw the revival of Buddhist structures in Russia. Telo Rinpoche has been actively involved in forging intercultural and interfaith dialogues. He has worked to strengthen religious and cultural ties between traditional Buddhists in Russia and Mongolia with the Tibetan community led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and organizing the latter’s maiden visit to Russia. Telo Rinpoche has been engaging people in Buddhist philosophy through his talks and publications across Kalmykia, Moscow, Mongolia, India, United States and has been serving as the Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia, Mongolia and CIS countries since 2015.