Chamma Ling Poland 20th Anniversary
Celebrating a Milestone During Summer Retreat
Rob Patzig, president of Ligmincha International and chair of the Ligmincha International Board of Directors, attended the recent retreat at Chamma Ling Poland, a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s first teaching in Poland. Rob shares his experience with some beautiful pictures, too!
2015 marked the 20th anniversary of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s teachings in Poland. In the past two decades, the Bon community has grown and the teachings spread. There are several sanghas in Poland. Chamma Ling, the retreat center located in Wilga, which is about an hour south and east of Warsaw, has hosted as many as 400 people at a single retreat. This year, about 200 people from many different countries came to attend Part Three of Rinpoche’s teachings on the 21 Nails. And, more than 40 people stayed for the first year of Trul Khor (Tibetan Yoga) training with Alejandro Chaoul-Reich. It was wonderful to have many young people at the center, including children. One young woman, Laura, is 16 and has spent her whole life as a sangha member!
Most people arrived on Monday, and many quickly got involved in helping prepare for Rinpoche’s arrival Tuesday morning and the beginning of the teachings later that day. It seemed that almost everyone was lending a hand: cleaning, laying out cushions, setting up the store, etc. Preparations went late into the night, but in the morning the gompa and whole center were beautiful and ready to receive Rinpoche.
Rinpoche, supported by Chamma Ling Poland’s resident lama Geshe Yungdrung Gyatso, umdze Ryszard Adamiak and translator Jarek Kotas, gave the explanation of the final “Nails” of the teaching and led practices that included the Nine Breathings, Tsa Lung, Inner Refuge and the Invocation of Tapihritsa.
With warm days, blue skies and cool evenings, practitioners found many occasions to practice, socialize and eat outdoors.
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Sangha sharing in Poland is a very lively event. It began with a large bonfire after dark. Many songs and skits were performed in many different languages: Polish, English, Czech, French and Ukrainian. It was an early evening this year, however, wrapping up a bit before 1 a.m. Last year, the sharing is rumored to have gone on until around 4 a.m.!
Ligmincha Poland Board President Justyna Przondo
The Polish sangha’s fundraiser also took place during the summer retreat, with many beautiful items being sold to raise money first to support the retreat center, but also to support Jacek Trzebuniak, who is among the first class of students attending Lishu Institute’s three-year program. And finally there was a catered lunch of vegetarian momos. The mayor of Wilga and his wife both came to Chamma Ling for the first time that day, had a tour, were received by Rinpoche and stayed on for lunch.
Following Rinpoche’s retreat, Alejandro Chaoul-Reich introduced the A Tri Trul Khor to new and experienced students. Bartek Jacyna served as his translator, and Darek Orwat, Anna-Kaisa Hirvanen and Rob Patzig assisted Ale, leading the morning practices.
Everyone looks forward to both Rinpoche’s and Ale’s return to Poland next year!
View short clip from Chamma Ling Poland Summer Retreat
Ligmincha Poland website
Ligmincha's Annual Fall Retreat at Serenity Ridge
Still Time to Register for October 21–25 Retreat!
Ligmincha's Annual Fall Retreat at Serenity Ridge on "The Five Elements: Connecting with the Living Universe" with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will be held October 21–25, 2015. The early-bird registration will go until September 22.
According to the ancient Tibetan spiritual traditions, the five natural elements of earth, water, fire, air and space are fundamental aspects of a living universe. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will guide practices through which we can deeply connect with the elemental essences, and nourish and restore health and vitality.
