This Place Makes It Possible to Reconnect
Sitting Zen in midst of the wilderness near Wisła, Poland
An interview with Igor Pininski JDPSN conducted by Martin Regener via Zoom on September 5, 2023.
Every year, the meditation site close to Wisła in southern Poland offers retreats in the mountain range. I had been pondering the idea and was wishing to go until, at last, I made the decision. Right upon arrival, I was so glad that I did—these mountains are a natural wonderland that attracted both my nature enthusiasm and my wish to meditate with like-minded people. I had chosen to walk up the hill and had a good impression of the landscape. Later, when I pitched my tent and was shown my meditation spot, I was in awe of the beauty of nature.
Practice started early with a wake-up at 4:30 in the morning, and we spent long hours on our cushions. During changing weather conditions, we were protected by a tarp, wearing clothes ranging between warm jackets and t-shirts. Putting down my awe for the beauty and returning to my practice was something I had to focus on. Igor JDPSN led the retreat and seemed at first very serious. Later on he turned out to be a very kind and loving person. Chon Mun Sunim JDPS did most of the cooking and prepared great-tasting meals, so I was struggling not to eat too much.
After one week of bowing, chanting, sitting, interviews, and the daily walk through the hills, I was ready for another week. Unfortunately, my time was over for the moment. There was one highlight at the end: Zen Master Dae Kwang gave a dharma speech, and I very much enjoyed his originality and humor. On the way home, I felt I was sure to come back next year. Also, I wondered about the specifics of the place, and I asked Igor if he would be willing to answer a few questions for Primary Point.
It all started with just a trailer…
Primary Point: Igor, what is the story behind this place?
Igor Pininski JDPSN: Twenty-eight years ago, a practitioner from our school who owned a piece of land in the mountains near Wisła offered it to the KUSZ monastic community to build a monastery. Hyon Mun Sunim showed a 3D map of this place to Zen Master Seung Sahn, who was a specialist in feng shui, and approved it as a great place for a meditation site. Not much happened after that for a long time, until Chon Mun Sunim got involved. In 2015, together with two other Polish monks and some Polish students, they founded the UNSU Foundation to run and develop this place. At the beginning, Chon Mun Sunim decided that instead of asking for donations, they should start with intensive Zen practice. Since then, there has been a full three-month winter Kyol Che there every year. For the first few years, there was a three-month summer Kyol Che as well. At the moment, the place is used to offer forest intensive retreats in the summer, which are part of the European summer retreat program. It all started with just a trailer, and developed into what it is now step by step.
PP: Was everything here built by students, for example, during working meditation?
Pininski JDPSN: During meditation retreats the work period lasts only one hour, so not much can be done. Most of the work was done by Chon Mun Sunim with the help of some students between the retreats. His project is still to create an environment where monks can live year-round. Right now, there is a Kyol Che every year, and sometimes people do solo retreats—another of the great possibilities of this place.
Fireflies everywhere
PP: Is there any adventure you had while out here in the wilderness? Did a tiger ever come?
Pininski JDPSN: No, not that. But sleeping in a hammock in the forest is wonderful and never cold if you have the proper gear. Once, when I came here early in spring, it was minus 11° C (12° F) at night and it was not a problem. Sometimes, when the sky is clear, I remove the tarp at night, so I can see the stars. One night there was a meteor shower—so impressive! Stars are much more visible out here compared to the cities, and I didn't sleep all night. This year, I had a different kind of show: there were fireflies everywhere around me, keeping me in the light.
PP: Do you have a vision for the future of this place?
Pininski JDPSN: Chon Mun Sunim has a vision to finally build a proper monastery here, and I wish it will happen. My vision has already been realized: The place gives you the opportunity to become part of nature instead of just talking about it. Talking about climate change is one thing, but becoming one with the living creatures that inhabit this planet is another thing. We lost connection to our roots during our development in the last millennium, and this place makes it possible to reconnect. The Original Buddha Temple Project started for this purpose, right before the pandemic.
Original Buddha Temple Project
Pininski JDPSN: After the last Whole World Is a Single Flower conference in the United States, which was focused on Green Dharma, after burning a lot of fuel getting there and spending time talking about it, I decided to really do something. At my home, I planted a forest on my land thirty years ago, and since then it takes back more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than I and my family will ever produce. I have solar panels and give to the grid more electricity than I take from it. So, this is just me, but the Original Buddha Temple Project was created to include everybody. Everybody who cares for the planet and does not have land for planting trees can send money to us, and we will buy land and plant a forest, which will become a living temple. It will belong to the Kwan Um School of Zen, or to organizations associated with us like the UNSU Foundation, and we hope that this forest will grow forever.
PP: So, this is a good end for the article: We ask students to donate?
Pininski JDPSN: Yes, everyone can donate, just visit www.originalbuddhatemple.org and click on the “Support” button in the top right corner.
PP: Thank you so much for all these insights, I hope many people will support planting trees!
Pininski JDPSN: Many thanks for your interest! Oh, and one more thing about the future: soon there will be a stupa installed for Wu Bong Sunim [Zen Master Wu Bong] on the site—check it out!