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The Buddhist Book Project Poland has three major objectives:
1. Collecting world literature on Buddhism, including original texts
and scholarly works
2. Creation of an information centre, which will present the world's
accomplishments in the area of Buddhist studies
3. Developing activities promoting the project, the book collection,
and the philosophy of Buddhism. This goal is achieved through organisation
of conferences, lectures, exhibitions and publishing activities
The project has been undertaken by the
Pomeranian Library, one of the most modern scholarly libraries
in Poland.
The official inauguration of the project took place in May 2000.
It was attended by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the XIVth Dalai Lama
of Tibet. In his inauguration speech he said:
"I am extremely happy, that the priceless and ancient knowledge
will find its home in this magnificent, modern library". During
the inauguration His Holiness donated two sutras: "The Diamond Cutter
Sutra" and 'The Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand
Verses". We hope that this gave birth to an important Buddhist book
collection in Europe.
In September 2001 His Holiness the Dalai Lama kindly accepted
to be the patron of the Buddhist Book Project Poland.
Advisory Board assists in Project's works. The members of the board
are:
dr Agata Bareja - Starzyńska (Warsaw University)
dr Aleksander Berzin (Harward University)
Małgorzata Gdok- Klafkowska (University of Szczecin)
dr Piotr Klafkowski (University of Szczecin)
dr Krzysztof Kosior (UMCS Lublin)
prof. Marek Mejor (Warsaw University)
Lama Rinchen (president of Polish Buddhist Union)
Due to Project's dynamic development the Department
of Buddhist Studies was created and then transformed into Far East
Cultures Reading Room. This Reading Room collects and makes available
to the public books from the Buddhist collection and also is the
office of the Project. We receive support and gifts from all over
the world. In short time we were able to collec over 10.000 volumes
and it is not unlikely that we will sustain that rate of growth
in the near future also.
The book collection is intended to be used by foreign
readers also. The geographical location of the city of Szczecin
makes it easily accessible for guests from abroad. This unique book
collection creates an opportunity for the city to became a significant
European centre of Buddhist studies and research.
In the context of European integration, initiatives that tend to
increase knowledge of other cultures can be considered a measure
of maturity of a democratic society. The city of Szczecin and the
Pomeranian Library have a chance to play an active role in this
process and contribute to a better understanding of Buddhism, one
of the four great religions of the world.
We will be grateful for any help allowing us to continue The Buddhist
Book Project Poland.
Paweł Kamienowski
Project Manager
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