Alienation from the cultural heritage

This article presents two religious sites and their role in two different trends in human societies: traditional and commercial. When the traditional trend prevails, the focus is on individual qualities and their development as a factor in the social equilibrium. When the commercial trend prevails, the weaknesses of the individual and their needs are stimulated, and the social equilibrium is a consequence of the development of technologies and finances. In the article, we discuss an ancient sanctuary in Tatul, Bulgaria and a Buddhist monastery in Buryatia, Russia, and their destiny with respect to those two trends. The sacred places have been solving existential mission in traditional societies. In commercial societies, the same products arise to facilitate and simplify life. We argue that the efforts for preservation of the cultural heritage are greater than ever today, but it is less involved in the lives of people.