In this interview Larisa shows her domestic altar and talks about her dreams. Larisa: Yurda Rinpoche gave me this statue. The lama Baatr Kondratevich gave me 21 Spells. When we opened a prayer house in our village, we read long prayers and the 21 Spells. All the Buddhas that I have were given to me by people and lamas alike. This Buddha Shakyamuni is from Nepal. At the back, it has an inscription that reads ‘Om mani padme khum’. Now you see Amitayus, the Buddha of Longevity. This is Maitreya (Buddha of the future) who is on his way to us. Maitreya’s time has not arrived yet, but will soon. The lama Baatr Kondratevich gave us the Green Tara, White Tara and Otch Manla as well. Now you see Manjushri, who is my protector. I also respect this god (i.e. the Buryat lama Itigelov) whom I also accepted (as my protector). My friend brought this image (from Buryatia) where she saw the body of the lama. This picture of him was taken when he was alive. I also want to go there (i.e. Buryatia) one day. This is Tsagan Aav, which I received from my children when I got interested (in religion). He is the Master of Universe. I have three images of Tsagan Aav. One was given to me by my friend at my 70th birthday on 9 November 2009. This is the goddess Okn Tengri, which I received from the lama Baatr Kondratevich. This is Kalachakra, which I received from a French lama. In France, they have a Buddhist temple. When we had the celebration of Kalachakra at our school, people from France, Germany, Hungary and St Petersburg came. This is Makhakala. That one is Ochir Dokya Drugma, and that one is Bayn Namsr. I have these gods. Question: You have 17 gods in total, is that right? Larisa: I don’t know, I don’t count them. I read prayers for the sake of other people. You cannot approach the (images of) these gods in trousers. Before going to the altar, I put on a long skirt, rinse my mouth and wash my hands. I light candles. Only after that I read prayers for the sake of all living beings so that all people in the world, including my children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, live well. I ask nothing for myself. Gods will give me whatever I need. The lama Baatr Kondratevich told us that Satkhana Chinrezi and White Tara are gods of compassion. Whenever I read (the prayer of) Bayn Namsr, I ask for help for people who are in need. I read Manjushri to direct people to the true path. For sick people and livestock of Orgakin, I read Otch Manla. Finally, I pray for my children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law. If people are well, I am well too. Question: Please tell me, what do you see in your dreams? Larisa: In the Soviet times, I had a dream. Some dreams never leave the mind. This particular dream is one of them: ‘The sky divides into two. On both sides there are white buildings, Kalmyk tents, flowers and people in white dresses. Music plays’. When I had this dream, I got afraid and woke up. Afterwards, my aunt Galya said to me: ‘You had a good dream. This is rare. In your dream you saw paradise. Your place is there’. In the beginning, I did not believe her, and went to see another woman who was an astrologist. I became relaxed when she affirmed what my aunt had said to me. Later, I saw another dream: ‘The Dalai Lama descends from the sky with his legs crossed and says to me that in three days’ time a woman will come to see me. He descends on a bakery’. I wake up. It was summer time, and I went to buy bread at the local bakery. A woman approached me: ‘Are you Larisa? Our son Sanan got ill. Could you have a look at him?’ I said: ‘I know nothing.’ She begged me. I agreed. Sanan, who was a former student of mine, was lying in a hall. I looked at him, read prayers and did what was required. By the evening he stood up and walked. The next day he was already drinking vodka. I had another dream about Green Tara after which I went to see my aunt again to talk about it. She lived in Yashkul. In Yashkul, upon hearing about my dream, some old men told me that I had to find an old thangka that belonged to Orgakin. That thangka (of the god Ochir Vani), according to my aunt, was lost when we were in Siberia. So, we (i.e. my family) had to re-accept Ochir Vani who is the protector of the Orgakin land. At that time, some Kalmyk lamas had brought a statue of Ochir Vani from Tibet. We purchased that statue and performed a ritual of accepting gods.