In 2014, the psychologist and therapist Mr. Andrus Kahn became the first Theravada monk in Estonian history. He was ordained as Venerable Ṭhitañāṇa, and the ordination took place at Wat Hatai Naresh Temple in the Kingdom of Thailand. Sri Lankan Asst. Prof. Dr. Ven. Walmoruwe Piyaratana from the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) is his ācariya-teacher and the Abbot of the Wat Hatai Nares Temple in Thailand, Phramaha Kuruthavorndhammapimon, was his upajjhāya-preceptor. Since then, Venerable Ṭhitañāṇa has obtained a Master’s degree from MCU University and today preparing to defend his doctorate on kasiṇa meditation in this winter, 2019. During his doctoral studies Ven. Ṭhitañāṇa worked as a visiting lecturer at the same university. Last year, Mr. Maarek Lind, ordained as Venerable Ṭhitamedha, joined the Estonian Theravada Sangha as a second Buddhist monk, and went also to study at the MCU University.

Tipiṭaka Conferences and Dhamma Books

Alongside studying at the MCU, Ven. Ṭhitañāṇa has written two books: “From Siddhattha to Buddha”, which was the first Estonian-language Buddhist book for children and the whole family, and “The Path of Enlightenment - as the Buddha Taught”, introducing Buddha’s life and teaching. Both books are for free distribution. He is currently writing a five-part “The Buddhist Lexicon” that provides a comprehensive overview of Buddha’s life and teaching. Ven. Ṭhitañāṇa has also organized two International Tipiṭaka Conferences in Estonia in cooperation with University of Tartu, University of Peradeniya and Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

The Four Main Goals

In order to develop the Sangha and Buddha’s teaching in Estonia, the ETS has set Four Noble Goals:
1) to renovate the house in Aegna and establish an International Meditation Center.
2) to built up the first Buddhist temple in Estonia.
3) to built up an International Buddhist Dhamma-Vinaya Institute in Estonia.
4) to translate Pāḷi Tipiṭaka into Estonian language.