WHY TOGETHER?
SINCE THE TIME OF THE BUDDHA, THE MONASTIC SANGHA AND LAYPEOPLE HAVE SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER.
ACCORDING TO THE VINAYA, MONKS AND NUNS DO NOT HANDLE MONEY OR MANAGE MATERIAL AFFAIRS.
THAT IS WHY A MONASTERY CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT LAYPEOPLE WHO CARE FOR IT. IN TURN, LAYPEOPLE NEED MONASTERIES AS PLACES OF PRACTICE AND LIVING TRANSMISSION OF THE TEACHINGS.
The division of responsibilities between the two organisations follows this principle:
PEBS, as a future religious union, creates space for monastic life and religious practice.
The foundation, as a secular organisation, takes care of activities that extend beyond the religious community: translations, publications, education and initiatives open to everyone, regardless of their worldview.
Separately, each organisation would only be able to do part of this work. Together, we create the conditions needed for the Dhamma to be practised, understood and passed on in Poland.
Theravada Foundation
The Theravada Foundation was established in 2013. At the time, there were relatively few people in Poland interested in Theravāda, and there was no organisation to help them explore and practise the Buddha’s teachings based on the Pāli Canon.
We deliberately chose to establish a secular foundation. We are not affiliated with any single teacher or Buddhist school. Rather than religious activities, our focus is on social and educational work.
Translations are at the heart of what we do:
Sasana.pl — online since 2007, it is Poland’s largest source of information about Theravāda Buddhism.
Translations of the Buddha’s discourses from the Pāli Canon, published on SuttaCentral.
Free books published as part of the Gift of Dhamma project (Dhamma.pl).
SasanaPL on YouTube, featuring Dhamma talks, audiobooks and documentaries.
We also support meditation groups in cities across Poland and organise meditation retreats.
Our planned meditation centre is intended to be more than a place for practice. It will also be a centre for rigorous research. We plan to establish a research institute where the practice described in the Pāli Canon can meet contemporary science.
Everything we do is offered free of charge, because the value of spiritual teachings cannot be measured in money.
Polish Early Buddhism Society
PEBS supports the practice of the Dhamma based on the earliest Buddhist texts. It operates under the spiritual guidance of Bodhinyana monasteries in Australia, under the care of Ajahn Brahm, and Santi Forest Monastery.
Our first priority is to establish a lasting foundation for monastic life in Poland by creating a monastery for monks and a monastery for nuns, ensuring equal access to practice for women and men.
Our second pillar is a thriving lay community. PEBS organises online Sangha gatherings, meditation retreats, Dhamma talks, annual workshops and a women’s group. It is also co-organising the 13th Global Conference on Buddhism in Kraków.
PEBS is working towards establishing a religious union that will provide monastic communities with a stable legal framework.
