Today is Vesak (in Pali Vésakha), the most important holiday of Theravada Buddhism, which always falls on the first full moon in May. On this day, the birth of the Buddha, his awakening and departure to parinibbana are simultaneously commemorated.

Míša Laušmanová from Buddha Mangala asked the venerable Ashin Ottama for a few words about the current “coronavirus” crisis. Below you will find his talk about veils, insight and the necessary bit of mud for lotuses, and finally about eventual liberation from the fear (not only) of death.

Audio. Ajahn was born in 1975 in Czech Republic. His interest in Buddhism started at the age of 15 by discovering some old books in the local library, mainly translations of the Buddha’s discourses in Czech and German language. While studying philosophy in Prague, he translated a number of Buddhist texts from Pali and English into Czech, including 'Buddha-Dhamma for Students' by Buddhadasa.

DUE TO THE CONTINUING STATE OF EMERGENCY AND NATIONAL QUARANTINE, THE EVENT IS CANCELED! In the Shanta Vana spiritual center, from 9.4. to 13. 4. 2020 is holding an Easter meditation meeting (4 nights – arrival on the first day from 4:00 p.m., departure on the last day after 12:00 p.m.). This is a self-study, that is, a stay without a teacher.

Theravada Buddhism terminated its lease of the Buddhist meditation center in Jablonné nad Orlicí as of October 31, 2019, as we did not agree with the owner of the property (Mediate s.r.o.) on the terms of the continuation of the lease agreement.

Ashin Ottama is a Buddhist monk of Czech origin. He began practicing the teachings of the Buddha in exile in Switzerland in 1972, and was ordained a monk in Rangoon, Burma. He practiced insight meditation (vipassana) under the guidance of various teachers. He has been leading meditation courses in the Czech Republic since 1996.

Venerable Ashin Ottama visited the Czech Republic again in the first half of 2019 after several years. During his visit, he also gave two public lectures organized in Pardubice by the DÓAN Buddhist Association on 05/06/2019 and by Buddha Mangala in Prague on 05/13/2019 at the Lotus Buddhist Center (www.centrumlotus.cz). Below you can view photos from the Pardubice lecture.