Out of Czech farmland, a Buddhist temple grows
| Vyhl铆dky, Czech Republic
鈥� A local, slice-of-life story from a Monitor correspondent.
Since the fall of Communism, Czechs have been discovering the world through travel and the exploration of new ideas, including spiritual ones. One such exploration is taking the form of a budding Buddhist center, arising from an old farm in the Czech Republic鈥檚 southern countryside.
Monks in orange robes, chanting, the smell of incense 鈥� typical signs of a Buddhist center 鈥� can鈥檛 be found at this complex. Here, jeans and sweat shirts, work gloves and safety goggles are the uniform of the day. Volunteers are slowly transforming the farm, bought in 1999 through sponsors and donations, into a center for meditation, courses in Buddhism, and retreats. Currently six people live at the center, and one of them is Julius Grzyb, who has been practicing Buddhism for more than 10 years. Mr. Grzyb believes Czechs were ready to discover new things after 1989.
鈥淧eople realized quite soon capitalism wasn鈥檛 enough and wanted something more lasting,鈥� he says. He likes the approach of this retreat center, which is a Diamond Way Buddhist Center of the Karma Kagyu lineage.
鈥淚 like the style; it鈥檚 a fresh and modern way of Buddhism and a practical way of life,鈥� he says.
This center, explains another resident, Martin Bukovinsk媒, focuses on Buddhist teachings and some traditions such as painting and sculpture. Mr. Bukovinsk媒 estimates that there are about 1,000 active Buddhists in the Czech Republic
The center鈥檚 dharma name is Karma D枚ndrub Ling 鈥� Place of Accomplishment. Buddhism embraces all cultures, Bukovinsk媒 says. The center hosts teachers who travel among different countries and are sensitive to local traditions.
鈥淵ou have to have someplace to get information, learn how to meditate, work with your mind, and meet people who can inspire you,鈥� says Grzyb. 鈥淵ou need to have a human exchange, and that鈥檚 what this [center] is for.鈥�
