FEBRUARY 1987 pRIMARYpoINT 3

in taking part in such events, but we have to More than 12 years has passed since the in Today put some restrictions on the number of par­ first Buddhist group was formed in Poland, ticipants, because our present the group practicing -under Philip Kapleau room isn't big 72 square enough (about ' Roshi. A lot of have Now Do Am Kwan Urn School of Poland , things changed. By Sunim, Abbot, yards]. in Poland it is estimated there are about Continuing on construction topics, the 5000 people practicing in various schools of Translated Darek Zen by Gorzuwski, Abbot, Lublin Center Gdansk Zen Center recently bought a piece Buddhism. (Poland is a very small country of land in the city. Perhaps this year they'll by American standards. It is as big as the same a noticing that Laos is at the time Himalayas When he was young. As a result, start to build a Dharma room and other state of New Mexico, and has a population Communist and Buddhist country-Budd­ he got some strong energies which have buildings for their Zen Center. Everything of about 36 million people.) The three main hism is the official of the state. made it for him to heal of religion possible people depends on money. Buddhist traditions, gathering in the vast The Buddhist movement in Poland is the many complicated and serious diseases, for In Poland there is great interest in the are: majority of Polish Buddhists, Tibetan and most all the cancer. sick was strongest developed' among example, Healing people practice of chanting the ma!1tra (Kido). school of Karma Kagyu ( ); socialist countries in There is some the main of his in Poland. Europe. purpose stay Last year we had four kidos at Warsaw Zen Buddhism (Kapleau Roshi's interest in Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in - Now in his late Yen. Muhen took 70's, part Center. Each one was attended by 35-50 students and the Soto school of Maezumi East in formal and aiso Germany, Czechoslavakia, Hungary, everyday practice gave people of different ages. It is also worth Roshi, represented by Genpo Sensei); and USSR and Different Buddhist several Dharma talks. Yugoslavia. mentioning that many students of other Korean Zen Buddhism (the Kwan Urn Zen centers in Poland often have visitors After one of his very talks, somebody a,sked Buddhist traditions took part in these. School of Poland, founded by interested in from' other socialist countries him if the special practice with ' Andrzej Czarnecki also led several kidos in Seung Sahn). The and of would cause in our lives or fulfil­ practicing. growth development change other places-several Zen groups and a All the Buddhist sang has cooperate very a Buddhist practice in Poland has had big ment of our wishes due to Kanzeon (Kwan psychotherapy center. closely and have from the very beginning. effect on the interest in Buddhism such growing Seum Bosal) energy generated by prac­ The last and biggest event for us in 1986 Every two or three months there are meet­ in other course our European Communist countries. tice. His answer was, that of was Soen Sa Nim's visit in the fall. He led a ings of representatives of all the Buddhist in the Polish wishes because Buddha is full Many things happened get fulfilled, 3-day retreat at Warsaw Zen Center. About schools. These meetings were informally KUZS in the course of last the of love and wants to us. But we year. Despite help usually 140 people from all over Poland came to sit called "Intersangha" in the beginning, but' well-known of are not what we asked because difficulty finding enough getting for, -in our small Dharma room, adjacent after a few months somebody started call­ in Polish Zen we, Buddha his wisdom living space Centers, using all-penetrating robe room and hallway. And we continued, ing them "Mahasangha" -the Great to two re­ wants to us more managed organize long-group offer something much the good Polish retreat custom of control­ . Meeting together and on a regular winter and summer treats-21-day Kyol precious. Hearing this, everybody laughed ling our physiological needs-all these basis helps us do a lot of together action. Ches. We didn't have a teacher to lead the because it was else than one loudly, nothing _ people had to share one bathroom. Nobody year we the Bud­ winter but it was well­ , Every organize together Kyol Che, amazingly more way of encouraging us to practice, died in the course of-the retreat and it ended dha's Birthday Ceremony. Last year over attended. about 60 sat and how valuable is our Altogether people expressing every­ with a good, strong spirit. A Precepts Cere­ 500 people came to celebrate it. Buddhist either the whole retreat or at least one of the and day special practice. mony .followed it, in which almost 50 teachers and monks coming to Poland are In a Dharma heir of 7-day periods. June, Genpo Sensei, people took and' over 20 be­ invited to share their Dharma with different In Poland there are limited Maezumi Roshi and founder of the Euro­ very possibili­ came Dharma teachers (Ten Precepts). We Buddhist groups, not only the group which ties for with Master Dharma teach­ and Polish Kanzeon Seum meeting pean (Kwan also had an open public meeting in the Zen originally invited them. In Polish circum­ ers or Soen Sa Nim. we have either at-Warsaw Zen Cen­ Usually Bosal) sangha, stayed Center. More than 200 people came to lis­ stances, close cooperation and helping one two or three visits a Of course the ter. He visits Poland year. (and WZC) every year. ten to Soen Sa Nim. Of course, not every­ another, regardless of which Buddhist sect most time for us is when Soen Sa We've had relations with Kanzeon important friendly body could fit into the Dharma room; some we belong to, is necessary. Nim comes. Whenever there is that rare in and op­ Sangha Poland since its inception, of the audience had to stay outside looking All Buddhist groups in Poland contribu­ that a teacher visits it each other a lot. the June visit portunity Poland, help During in through the open windows. What is ted much effort and recently energy generates a lot' of interest among Polish we had a several day retreat with Genpo worth mentioning is, that the only informa­ towards an interfaith organizing peace pil­ people. At those times, of course, people Sensei interviews and Dharma talks. giving tion we gave outside about.this meeting was grimage. For the first time in Poland, we are much more interested in Last we had two visits from Master sitting retreats, year an oral one among sangha members and, had and meditations in prayers together which are then led by teachers. Since Jacob Dharma Teacher Jacob Perl. He led 60 their close friends. which representatives of almost all Perl became a Master Dharma Teacher and a in most religious people in retreat Warsaw, but of Soen Sa Nim also went to a few cities to groups existing in Poland took part. Last of the Polish his time in Poland he formally president KUZS, spent travelling visit Zen Centers and groups. We organized year in February Polish K,UZS Abbot started to Polish Zen cities everything improve. around the country and visiting those public meetings for him in those places. In Andrzej 'Czarnecki was invited to take part students are now A situa­ in which our Zen Centers and are lo­ very happy. good groups Warsaw he took part in the opening of the in the Asian Buddhist Conference in Peace tion appears. We are worrying a bit about cated. Besides meetings and practicing to­ Zen Calligraphy exhibition in the Warsaw which took place in Ventianne, the capital that. we gether with sangha members; organized Art Gallery. Most of the pieces .shown .in of Laos. Representatives from most of the In the a Buddhist with cities. early spring, Japanese public meetings Jacobin bigger this exhibit were done by him. It was the Asian Buddhist countries Com­ (not only monk and Soto Zen teacher Yen. Muhen Some of these meetings drew several hun­ first exhibit of its. kind, in Poland. During munist ones), participated. From Eastern Roshi visited a few of our Zen Centers. dred each. of Polish people Jacob, being the' opening ceremony Soen Sa Nim gave came Buddhists from Europe Hungary Yen. Muhen did long and arduous solo re­ descent, can speak Polish fluently and the and answered questions. and Poland. It's worth (Tibetan tradition) treats in the mountains of and in the knows the customs and mentality of Polish Theexhibit, consisting of about 50 calligra­ well. The and econo­ . people very political phies was prepared by the Polish Kwan Urn mic situation of Poland has been 2000people attend closing meeting recently Zen School Publishing company. very difficult and complicated, so a person Soen Sa Nim also accepted the invitation

, such as Jacob is very precious. He helps the of Polish students of Kapleau Roshi and Polish KUZS Organizes Historic development of Dharma in Poland a lot. visited their Head Zen Center in Warsaw. During the summer, 'Master Dharma For this meeting came many students of Interfaith Peace Teacher Lincoln Rhodes finally came to Kapleau Roshi, Genpo Sensei and of Soen Pilgrimage Poland after two, previously unsuccessful Sa Nim. He answered questions. For most to a Polis visa. The Polish of the Roshi it was the Inspired by Soen Sa Nim's activity for attracted outstanding 'theologians, attempts get Kapleau students, and Catholic scientists who authorities finally agreed to give him a visa, first time were able to meet with a Zen world peace, and especially his letter to philosophers, they and Polish students from Master other than the one with. Pope John Paul 1/, Master Dharma had chosen to live the monastic life. In this enjoyed learning they study him. Line most The 1986 was also the of Teacher Jacob Perl conceived the idea of vibrant and powerful place there were spent year year many meditations and of his time in Warsaw Zen Center, leading changes, troubles and new experiences for organizing an interfaith peace pilgrimage-in prayers, chanting together, and talks Hindus and two weeks of the 21'-day summer Kyol Che the Polish sangha. Dharma teachers Poland. Most of the organizing work was by Buddhists, Many retreat. his Line also took "slowed down" in their some done by Do Am Sunim and the Polish Catholics. Most of the pilgrims stayed in During stay, part practice; in ceremonies which took the head took leaves of absence. The result was that ,KUZS sangha, with the crucial cooperation the monastery for a few days. Every placein the Buddhist center of Kapleau Roshi's sangha in younger Zen students were of' many Catholic priests. Their efforts morning practices of bowing, mostly partici­ Warsaw. in Che and other retreats.. The succeeded and the pilgrimage took place in meditation and chanting were held in the pating Kyol at the same time that Mass was Thanks to the of Soen Sa which was Poland in late 1986, exactly at the same chapel Holy personal help publishing company; supposed celebrated next door in the Nim, Jacob Perl, and many other- friends, to publish many books, didn't manage to time as the inter-religious prayer meeting being monastery church. we were able to purchase the house next edit any of Soen Sa Nim's books, and is for peace (organized by the Pope and the ' .door with a small of land and financial troub­ Catholic Church) held in Assisi, Italy. A public meeting with the representatives piece for the having organizational the took Warsaw Zen Center. Now the land les. Another and one of the most The pilgrims visited the most famous and of pilgrimage place in Krakow in belong­ interesting - to the Center is twice as as before. is that more and more important Catholic monasteries in Poland. "The Club of Catholic Intelligentsia" a ing large changes middle-aged Last we also to con­ and older come to ourcenters, Among the participants of the pilgrimage club of both laypeople and intellectual year managed finish people Well, the we are older. Three Halina struction of the wooden cottage for , getting were representatives ofall Buddhist groups, priests. people spoke: from the the Jesuit families. Warsaw Zen Center But there IS also something young and Raja Yoga group, Catholic priests and Raja Yoga group, priest Nowadays, consists of two a' new Zen were estab­ monks, and laypeople of other religions. At Father Andrzeji, and Master Dharma dwellings, family cottage new--many groups Teacher Jacob Perl. Several hundred and a Dharma room done in lished around the country. At the end of various points they were joined by completely wood. the Polish KUZS consisted of Zen representatives of the Jewish religion,' people overcrowded the main room of the' 1986, 4, Polish the Warsaw Zen Zen more Islam, the Christian Orthodox Church and club. By standards, Centers and 10 groups. Two is the one. In Poland over the are in the of other Polish Christian churches. The closing meeting' of the peace Center big groups process forming. took in one the Catholic last 40 years we've been having a shortage A nothernew feature of the Polish is Group prayers, meditations, chanting, pilgrimage place of sangha churches in Warsaw. It was a of and houses. If you find its monastic branch. Czarnecki, sermons and Dharma talks took place at huge apartments Andrzej ecumenical - over 2000 to live it's usually very expen­ Abbot of the Polish KUZS, was ordained as two monasteries most famous in Polish gathering people of something in,

, a: monk the December Pre­ Catholicism: Czestochowa in the Bright differenti religions participated in prayers, sive and average people cannot afford to novice during sermons and Dharma rent a whole for themselves, not at Providence Zen Center Mountain, and Tyniec, near Krakow. The chants, meditation, apartment cepts Ceremony talks. There are to make the even to about one. The in the United States. Do Am Sunim Bright Mountain monastery, famous for its plans speak buying (his a in Warsaw Zen Center now has 15 adult resi­ present is the first celibate 'Black Madonna ikon, is a place of pilgrimage yearly event, name) (bhikku) commemoration the dents and 6 children. In the near future, we Zen monk in Poland. particularly great, worship, the "primary of inter-religious at Assisi. plan to build one or two more and The Polish is to point" of Polish Catholics. This was the prayer meeting cottages sangha very grateful start the construction of a new first time in its long history that Buddhists This pilgrimage was a good lesson for big temple Soen Sa Nim, Jacob Perl, all Master - We a room had visited it. We chanted Kwan Seum everyone. It taught us how we by putting (Dharma room). need for Dharma Teachers and all our American

- Dharma talks and other formal for Bosal (the of Compassion) in down our opinion and attachments can try" gatherings friends their tremendous help, support to act and make and which will accommodate about 300-400 and of Dharma in Poland. We the monastery church for over an hour. together peace promotion here and now - often 200 or more that Polish Zen students of Soen Sa For the past 1000 years the Benedictine harmony among us, people. Nowadays, very hope come for cere­ in a need very much in people talks, practice and Nim soon will be able to pay it back, monastery Tyniec has been model of something people ' led Christian contemplative, monastic, and today's world. monies by Soen Sa Nim and other Zen helping the Dharma develop in countries intellectual life in Poland. It has always, teachers. Many more people are interested other than Poland. 0