An Update on Chamma Ling Poland

With New Water System Renovation, Center Moves Forward

In a Voice of Clear Light special announcement last November, assistance was asked for problems with Chamma Ling Poland's water system. With the help of many donors from all over the world, the water pipes have now been replaced, a new well dug and a new house for storing the water built. Ton Bisscheroux talked with Ligmincha Poland board members Basia Baczyńska and Jacek Trzebuniak.

Ton: Can you tell us about the problems with the water pipes?

Jacek: We bought the center in 2004, the water supply has been a constant struggle. We have about 30 houses, and people also can sleep in tents during the retreats. We have our own well, and there is a water tank where we collect the water we pump. We need to keep the pressure for all houses and the shower room the same so they have running water. The old pump system was about 50 years old. With small retreats there was no problem, but when we hosted 200 to 300 people in the center, there was almost no water in the tap!

Basia: I have been on the board of Ligmincha Poland for 10 years, and all these years we have been struggling with the water supply. Money was always an issue, and we never thought that we would have enough to pay for it. During the past years we have been saving for repairs, and in 2022 with the help of the international sangha we were able to renovate the whole system, including pipes, pump, water tank and a new building for the bigger water tank. I am very happy for that.

Ton: When did the problem become urgent?

Jacek: In June 2022, just before the retreat with Ponlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche with 120 people, the water pipes stopped working well. Fortunately, we had water, but not a regular supply. The pressure in the pipes was too low, and some pipes were blocked. Five of the 30 houses were without water.

In August we had the retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, with 250 participants. In July we did as much as we could to prepare for the retreat, but we did not have enough time and money to do a big renovation. We made small adjustments and said a lot of prayers. The water supply could have stopped working at any moment, but we were lucky it did not happen during the retreat.

Ton: After Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche's retreat, you began renovating?

Jacek: In September we began a big renovation. We dug a new well and changed all the pipes. The last part was the pump house, which we finished in December. The whole renovation may have cost about 70,000 Euros. Prices in Europe have gone up, and that made buying the materials more expensive. Now that we have finished this project, our pockets are empty. During the winter we don't have much income, because our big retreats are in spring and summer. Somehow, we will survive the next few months. In January, we held an online retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

Pauline Koń at Chamma Ling PolandBasia: While doing the renovation, we managed to save money because Paulina Koń, the center caretaker since March 2022, is very skillful and dealt smoothly with all the workers and suppliers. She also did a lot of the construction work. Without her, this work would have been very hard for us, and more expensive.

Ton: What are you looking forward to for Ligmincha Poland and the retreat center?

Jacek: Wilga has been growing as a center during the years and also is becoming more important for the European sangha. People from many countries attend retreats, and we do our best to make them feel at home and connected. I hope more people from all over Europe, and maybe the US, will visit our beautiful center in Wilga in the future.

Basia: We are very pleased that such a huge and crucial problem as the availability of water at the center has been solved. Chamma Ling has been hosting wonderful teachers, great events and a very large number of practitioners and supporters of Yundrung Bon teachings since its inception. Each year there are more and more events and more visitors from Europe and the world. Our annual biggest event, the retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, which takes place every summer, is extremely international and multicultural. Our goal is for the Chamma Ling center to continually grow and become more beautiful, so that all practitioners feel at home here. You can find a list of the events we are planning for this year on our website.

Ligmincha Poland wishes to thank all the amazing donors from all parts of the world, both for the support given to help the victims of the war in Ukraine and for the repair of the pipes and drains at the Chamma Ling center in Wilga. We plan to hold a one-day event/retreat online and invite everyone completely free of charge. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche wants to join and support this event. We will provide more details shortly.