The first Vassa in Poland is underway!

The Vassa that Ajahn Kondañño is spending in Poland has been going on for several days. We have prepared long and carefully for this event, realizing its momentousness. During the Rain Retreat (Vassa), monks and nuns commit to staying in one place, often using the occasion to study the principles of monastic training. Vassa traditionally begins the day after Ashala Puja, the festival commemorating Buddha’s delivery of his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which set the Dhamma wheel in motion. The celebration of this festival in Woźniki had an added dimension – the ordination of Angarika took place during the festivities.

Joyful preparations

Preparations for this special day were intense, but full of calm, commitment, focus and joy, stemming from the awareness that we had the opportunity to learn about Buddhist traditions and cultivate intentions of morality, generosity and wisdom.
Preparations included Ajahn Kondañño’s guided practice of reciting the 8 precepts together. In addition, we prepared food together, arranged the space – preparing a place for the Buddha statue, setting up tables and benches, and mowing the lawn. This joint work had a very unifying effect on the entire community gathered that day.

The course of the celebration

The group of residents and organizers was joined on this day by several guests who brought additional food. The ceremony began with the formal donation of food to the monk. Before Ajahn placed the food in his bowl, a symbolic piṇḍapāta took place – everyone was able to share the rice by placing it directly in his bowl. Out of respect for the monk, everyone stood like him, barefoot.

Ajahn Kondañño and Patryk (the future Angarika) ate the meal in seclusion, while the lay participants helped themselves to food and ate together. After the refreshments were cleaned up, the ceremony of taking the Three Refuges and the Eight Precepts began. Ajahn Kondañño gave a speech referring to the occasion of Ashala Puja and the Vassa that followed. He introduced the audience to the details of the ceremony and festivities, and explained the meaning of the eight presets, which both for that day and for the other Uposatha Days (falling approximately every two weeks) during the Vassa, could be accepted by all participants. Patryk, who led those taking the presets, simultaneously undertook his training as an Anagarika, aspiring to continue it after Vassa in Woźniki as well. Patryk is (in all likelihood) the first Pole to undertake Anagarika training in a ceremony held in Poland. Thus, we are all the more pleased that we could participate in this inspiring ceremony.

Atmosphere and significance of the event

The ceremony was intimate, but at the same time historic and momentous. There was an extraordinary atmosphere, full of peace and depth. Ajahn Kondañño led the ceremony with a focus, calmness and gentleness that was shared by the participants. All of Ajahn’s speeches and conversations with him were full of deep meaning, wisdom and inspiration that will remain in our hearts.

We are happy that events like this are beginning to make their presence felt in our space, giving those interested in the Buddhist path the opportunity to expand aspects of the practice that have not been so obviously available until now. We would like to thank the Theravada Foundation very much for its financial support, which made organizing this Vassa a reality. In order to be able to take further steps toward creating a hermitage and organizing events cultivating the Forest Buddhist Tradition, we need funding – so we heartily ask for support from all those who feel inspired to do so.