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N. Enkhbayar has been the President of Mongolia since 2005. Mongolia’s strong Buddhist tradition has implied rich cultural and historical ties with India.
What does Spirituality mean to you?
I spent my student years in Moscow, where finding the meaning of life is the most common topic of conversation. Russians love asking metaphysical questions. As I was trying to find answers too, I felt I should go back and look at my roots, explore Mongolian culture and identity. This is how I really discovered the beautiful world of Buddhism, and through it, developed my understanding of spirituality. Rather than escaping the world to find peace and quiet in other realms, it is for me very much about dealing with this reality, and trying to transform it, helping others, fuelled by a fundamental feeling of guilt for not doing enough. So spirituality is about finding my own identity, understanding who I am and where I come from, finding the right place for me here and now, embracing the challenges of the present while forming a vision for what tomorrow ought to be.
Do you believe you are guided and protected by a superior force?
I would not talk of a mysterious external force, but I have definitely experienced some kind of guidance. It mostly came from Buddhism and my understanding of it. At times, people in Mongolia, especially politicians, say that my involvement with Buddhism --- erecting monuments or bringing Buddhist relics etc. --- has helped my career, bringing blessings to it. But I do not think it works that way. Buddhism helped me understand who I am and why I am here, what is good and what is wrong, the law of causality and karma, and therefore it acted as a guiding force in building my life. It helped me focus on fulfilling my duties, and understand that beyond my duty, things will be taken care of by God, in the way they are meant to be.
