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Vello Väärtnõu. Master VanTao. 万道仁波切

Philosophical and religious interest in Estonia increased in Estonia in the 1970s-80s, when a Buddhist group emerged, who practiced Buddhism as religion and called themselves Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood.

The Foundation of the Buddhist tradition in 1982

The first Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood was established by Vello Väärtnõu in 1982 in Tallinn. He gathered around him a group of people, who already in these soviet times were interested in practical Buddhism. With this Brotherhood the tradition of living and practical Buddhism and the tradition of Nyingma was established in Estonia. Under his guidance the Brotherhood or Taola (meaning something like Tao’s place) had set the beginnings of a practical Buddhist tradition and Nyingma tradition in Estonia.

Vello Väärtnõu

Vello Väärtnõu was born in 1951 in Saaremaa. He studied in Kuressaare gymnasium and was very active in sports. There were a lot of ship captains and Estonian Republic military officers in Vello’s family. Many of them were killed or imprisoned for several years when the soviet occupation began. This family history has set base also for Vello’s political views.

When he was 17, he tried to escape to the west, setting his sights for studying Buddhism there. This attempt ended in 3 years of prison time in Vuktõl prison camp and lifetime of KGB interest in him.

KGB colonel Movtshan later made a statement that it was obvious in his case genes had played greater role than soviet discipline In the 70s Vello got interested in philosophy, languages and history and already then all his readings and activities were directly connected with Buddhism. Parallel to the interest in Buddhist and Taoist philosophy there rose an interest in Chinese art. His special interest was in 16th century literature and art, to which additional interest in Japanese Edo period evolved. Favourite subject in Chinese religious landscape of this period was Taoist mystical school of“White Lotus”.

Taoism as religion and philosophy has always intrigued Väärtnõu and he has claimed that in China the Nyingma school was always greatly influenced by Taoism. After the famous Samye dispute, which lasted 3 years and ended of Nyingma or Red-hats school. Both schools (White Lotus and Nyingma) have influenced each other for years. The reports form Russian missionaries in 18th century also mention the wide range of Taoist monks in Buddhist monasteries. That this point of Väärtnõu’s is valid was shown also by the life of last Chinese empress Tzu Hsi, who was helped by two Taoist monks from Nyingma monasteries living in the backyard of her imperial palace..

Väärtnõu was the only one, who already in the 1970s socialist Estonia publicly called himself a Buddhist. Moving around in Tartu and Tallinn, in cultural circles, he enjoyed having disputes with Christians and philosophy students and interestingly many of his conversation partners from these days are nowadays leaders of different religious institutions in Estonia.

Crowing interest in astrology lead Väärtnõu to establish Estonian Astrology Association in Soviet times, lecturing those with interest in the years 1980-82 about astrology and Buddhism in the studio of artist Jüri Arrak in Tõnismägi.

The creation of Buddhist tradition in Estonia was a wish of his already in 1970s, because the tradition imported by Tõnisson had already lost its continuity. Väärtnõu had always been interested in Nyingma school (as the first and oldest tradition in Tibetan Buddhism) and hence the wish to establish this tradition in Estonia. Since there were no Nyingma monasteries in Soviet Union, his only opportunity to reach Buddhism was through Gelug school and so he made contact with the monastery of Ivolga in Buryatia.

The establishment of the Brotherhood was only on step in far-reaching plans, which included the creation of Nyingma monastery in Estonia, where an opportunity of Buddhist education was to be established for the purpose of creating educated Buddhists in Estonia. Plan included sending people to study in Asia and get educated lamas and Buddhist scholars to return.

Väärtnõu studied from 1978-1986 Buddhist philosophy, psychology and meditation under the guidance of a number of famous teachers in Ivolga monastery which is the main monastery in Russia today, and two of his gurus, Munko Tsybikov lama and Zhimba Erdineev lama, were the Head Lamas (Hambo Lamas) of Russia.

All these years found Väärtnõu in constant travels between Buryatia, spending sometimes months at a time, learning from elderly lamas of the monastery. In Ivolga the gurus understood his fanatic interest in Nyingma school, he even got a nickname Guru Rinpoche, as when reading texts, he read Padma instead of Tsongkhapa.

that was learnt was made of use in home land Estonia. Brotherhood`s activity was educative and oriented to propagate eastern culture and the Buddhist way of thinking among Estonians. In socialist time any religious propaganda was officially forbidden, because Soviet Union was the atheistic country, but despite of that, this little community was very effective in its actions.

Since it was forbidden by the law to build cult objects (stupas, temples etc.) and copy Buddhist books, the activities of translating and copying were very risky business. Those who participated risked punishment. The same was true to practical Buddhism, which they were in to. Väärtnõu spread Buddhist teaching to the Brotherhood and conducted the first Buddhist rituals in Estonia, planned and leaded Taola’s life and activities personally during the six years.

Väärtnõu: “Taola members were outlaws in communist lead occupation called Estonia, since officially no one recognized Taola. On the other hand the constant presence of KGB cars in front of the house and other surveillance by the authorities hinted that official system was keenly following every step and word made by Taola. Now the ex communists are saying they did all this to restore independent Estonia”. An example of unmerciful of the authorities for propagating Buddhism was Bidja Dandaron, who died in prison and whose disciples had to spend years in institutions because of Buddhist activities

In these times a developing interest in Denge Dongma cult and practices could be noticed in Väärtnõu`s field of studies, which was followed by interest in the biography and person of the poet and Taoist 6th Dalai Lama. In the centre of his interest during these years was Mahakala, which gave him basis to say that according to traditions, Estonian Buddhism already has personal embodiment of wrathful deity – namely religious hero baron Roman Ungern con Sternberg, a claim that was confirmed by further studies about baron` life in Buryatia.

In that time the lamas from Ivolga monastery started to visit Estonia regularly. Since in the conditions of Soviet times these Buddhist activities were best kept secret, the wider public of Estonia never heard of the activities of Taola. Even inside the community lot of his activities with the monastery remained unknown. If authorities had learned about this, they would also have suffered many repressions. This period of mutual visits lasted until 1988 – the year when KGB deported Väärtnõu from Soviet Union.

First Stupa at Pangarehe

The Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood

Accordingly to the Buddhist tradition activities began with the building of first stupa that was erected in 1983 in the summerhouse of artist Jüri Arrak in Pangarehe. Participants of the building were Jüri Arrak, Urve Arrak, Jaan Arrak and literati Jaanus Tamm. The upper part, which symbolizes the heavens of Brahma, were made by Vigala Sass alias Aleksander Heitalu, who is know in wider public as healer and believer in natural religion.

Estonian first Buddhist Brotherhood started to live and act together in Tallinn, Kadrioru and was known as Taola (meaning something like “Tao’s place”). Its members were called taolane (a member of Tao’s place, in Estonian not the same word as Taoist) and Väärtnõu as the spiritual leader and teacher – Vanemtaolane (the Elder Tao).

The first taolane was Arno Arrak, who had known Väärtnõu already for years. Later Jüri Saard and Tõnis Promet joined them. Each of them had their own living space and specialized area of Buddhism. In different times different members lived in Taola – Boris Saabas, Peep Paasian, Peeter Kaasik and others. With their work they have helped to establish Nyingma tradition, which starts from the Samje monastery, in Estonia. Lot of others gathered around Taola for help – Tiina Hallik, Anu Rootalu, Enn Jaanson,

Eve Pärnaste were engaged with translation works and also Ants Luik and others gave their helping hands in many things. Taola was very popular place during the whole active time with Buddhists, but also with other literates and culture people. Taola was visited by other folk from all over Estonia and often from Russia and Siberia. Many people who went there, helped to obtain materials, book binding, copying and other things.

Part of the products went to Buryatia, where they were expected and held in high honor, because they did not make those them-selves. All this was given to the monastery for free, because one of Väärtnõus principles has always been not to take money for work done in the name of Teachings. This is something he follows until today.

Buddhist brotherhood was engaged with translating. They translated tens of books, copied them and distributed in hundreds of them. Also noteworthy library was established, where most of the Buddhist texts came from Buryatia.

All the ritual objects in Taola were brought from Ivolga and prayer drums made locally in Estonia. One can say that the lamas in Ivolga monastery have done enormous favour to Buddhism in Estonia an all Soviet Union. While in Ivolga they copied manuscripts, texts and photographed great amount of thangkas and burhans. Unfortunately KGB took all this precious mate-rial of slides and microfilms, so the fate and place of these is unknown until today.

To get the literature from the Western countries, help was received from foreign friends, who bought

Making the Buddha Statue.

suitcases full of books giving their part to establishing basis of Estonian Buddhism. Finnish writer Harri Sirola wrote about Taola and its leader in Finnish newspapers and later published a novel “Two Cities”.

In the years 1984–1985 three more stupas were built in West Estonia, near Haapsalu All these 4 stupas built by Brotherhood, were the first stupas in Northern Europe and the only stupas that were built in the territory of Soviet Union in soviet times.

Since that kind of activity was prohibited during those times,then only guarantee, as said Väärtnõu, was Buddhist rituals and finding astrologically correct timings, to have maximum effect and duration in time for the stupas. All these religious buildings were untouched by Soviet authorities and are still standing.

The main interest was still learning and self-educating. Vello Väärtnõu shared Buddhist knowledge and language studies were helped – developed by famous linguist Pent Nurmekund, who also founded oriental studies in Tartu University. Apart from all the other oriental studies in Tartu, he was tolerant towards Buddhists, taught them Old-Mongolian language and got respective nickname “Professor”.

Väärtnõu about Pent Nurmekund:

About “Pent” I can say so much, that he visited Taola with bus from Tartu and this skinny 2-metre high Pent Taola in Leineri Street

was wearing only thin blue jacket. Since Nurmekund refused to take any fee for his teachings,Taola decided to give him something as a gift. They bought nice warm winter jacket, so that language-Guru would not catch cold while visiting Tallinn. Next time he arrived to the lesson, they presented him with the gift.

At first he refused to take it and if at last after great hirdum-dirdum from the students language-Guru put the jacket on. When he left he took the jacket with him, but next time arrived in his old jacket. When questioned, what had happened, he answered with great dignity that he had taken the jacket to a shop, sold it and brought books with the money received. Here one could add similar event from his past, where students in Tartu University gave him a radio or television set, which came to a similar fate. It travelled to a shop and with the money received Professor bought books again.

Additionally to language courses that took place in Taola, they studied in Tallinn language school, because as Väärtnõu liked to say – self-reliant studies were always “obligatorily popular.” A farmhouse was brought in West Estonia to build a monastery. Architect Leonhard Lapin made project for this future monastery, which was first of its kind in Estonia. The building was halted by later political actions and halted was also the publishing of first Estonian schoolbook on Tibetan language.

The Creation of Estonian National Independent Party

Being forward looking and ahead of time, 5-6 Buddhist opened the door for freedom and independence in Estonia. In 1987, Vello Väärtnõu came up with the idea and program of creating Estonian National Independent Party with the aim of restoring a free and independent Estonia by working as an opposition party to the Communist Party.

On 7th of November in 1987 in a gathering in Pärnu Vello Väärtnõu came out with the idea to establish Estonian National Independence Party. He said openly that it is a necessity to create our own party and take power from communists, because it is pointless to ask from them sausages and bread. These should be made for ourselves.

When first the spontaneous stand-ups started, it was clear to me, political landscape was possible only if an opposition party against the communists was assembled (officially) and openly. There was a gathering in Pärnu, were exited citizens talked about lack of sausages.

I gave a speech about the necessity of organized opposition. I also offered preliminary pro- gram to be published. My talk in this mass- meeting in Pärnu was held incomprehensible

and provocative, because no one dared even to think about takingpower from communists. I composed a project for the creation of party and offered participation for many people. There was much hesita-tion and denials. This was the first time in the history of Soviet Union, when the leaders in Moscowwere faced with the proposal of the crea-tion of opposition party.

Brotherhood’s house was the only place that printed, copied and spread leaflets. Due to the collapse of the communist system, they were under constant control by the KGB–the Buddhist library was “cleaned” on several occasions and large amounts of Tibetan texts, thankgas, slides and reels of manuscripts were taken fromVäärtnõu.

At the time of creating ENIP Väärtnõu was helped by Tiina Hallik, Anu Rootalu and Eve Pärnaste who was Buddhist at the time and acted as secretary in Taola.

On 21st of January in 1988 a proposal to create Estonian National Independence Party was signed by 14 Estonian Citizens under the leadership of Vello Väärtnõu. Thepropsal was signed by Vello Väärtnõu, Eke-Pärt Nõmm, Ärvi Orula, Eve Pärnaste, Heiki Ahonen, Erik Udam, Urmas Inno, Karin Inno, Endel Ratas, Mati Kiirend, Kalju Mätlik, Rein Arjukese, Mati Vilu, ArvoPesti.

A sensational press conference in Moscow followed. Western countries learned that the castle of communism – Soviet Union is falling and behind this process is a small company of EstonianBuddhists.

On 30th of January in 1988 Väärtnõu organized press conference for accredited western journalists in Moscow. New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and many other newspapers were present, as well as US TV company ABC. Väärtnõu announced to the international media the proposal of creating opposition party – Estonian National Independence Party.

That was sensational event in the world at that time, but not a word was said in local press, although news spread around Estonia very fast. Apart from the press in Estonia at the time, this idea found a lot of responses throughout west and that the idea to save the communist-trampled-on Estonia, in this around Estonia very fast.

Apart from the press in Estonia at the time, this idea found a lot of responses throughout west and east, finding mentioning in foreign media. For example in the front page of New York times Philip Taubman writes about the handwritten document signed by 14 citizens that calls people to form the first independent political party in Soviet Union. Not much of these news was released in Estonia. Since Väärtnõu had no access to the local mass communication – radio, TV, newspapers, he used skilfully western media to deliver the message of freedom and independence to people.

Due to the demolishing of communist system, Taola was under constant surveillance by KGB. Buddhist library was “cleaned” repeatedly, number of Tibetan texts, slides of thangkas and films of manuscripts were confiscated from Väärtnõu. Militia was used in repressions against Taola.

The limit of KGB tolerance cup was filled with the press conference and events evolved very fast after that. Väärtnõu had organized the printing and distribution of leaflets before the 71st anniversary of Estonian Republic and also printing of anniversary cards. On the 6th of February KGB searched Väärtnõus home and on 13th of February he was deported from Soviet Union to Sweden.

Väärtnõu:

I flew to Sweden with the flight from Moscow to Stockholm. Few dozen foreign Estonians were in Arlanda airport to greet me. They waived the blue-black-white flags happily and felt pity for me – see a repressed man and they have shaved his head as well. I had to disappoint them – I am hairless for a long time and because of Buddhism, not because of being the enemy of the state.

KGB did not tire of spreading rumors about me being an agent of CIA who went through a subtle training. Recent writings about Buddhists (Taola) in the late era of Soviet Estonia, talk about them hiding behind Buddhism from atrocities of Soviet life. At that time Taola was the only society in Estonia who followed their program and demolished the foundation

of red communist powers – they printed, copied and distributed leaflets, pamphlets, posters and conducted other activities that destroyed soviet power. It should be mentioned that many commoners helped with the distribution and suffered for that at the hands of KGB. Somehow nowadays these names are not even mentioned in Estonia, even though they could very well be the new personal pensioners of our times.

KGB killed some of the members of Taola – Tiina Hallik and Enn Jaanson. Unfortunately the first victims of new independent Estonia were Nyingma Buddhists in the ranks of Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood – of these people the history of our pink republic is silent for some reasons.”

It was common at the time that any kind of opposition movement tried to avoid political form, which would have lead to open conflict with the autocratic communist party and its repressive organ – KGB. Väärtnõu in Nepal. 1992

Many of today’s parliament members refused to sign the application in that time, saying that Estonian people will be murdered, because the party openly declared the making of first opposition party in the Soviet history, which goal was to establish independent Estonia.

Estonian authorities have tried to ignore Väärtnõu’s national actions, since mostly the state power is in the hands of the same communists, who had the power 20 years ago. 2010 in newspaper “Sirp” Jaak Allik is asking questions why Väärntõu is the only one with whom there is no interview in the voluminous book about the history of ENIP, although he

is the establisher of this party and why public is still in the dark about his heroic journey to Moscow in 1988, where he held a press conference for foreign newspapers announcing the creation of first opposition party, the ENIP, and its program. Politican Tunne Kelam has stated in a speach years later that timing of this kind of national political alternative was only possible through good instinct and personal risks.

And so can the Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood and Buddhist way of thinking be considered a part of Estonian fight for independence. They were the first in soviet times to openly attack the foundations of the communist country giving the direction of independ-ence fight in the future.

KGB killed some of the members of Taola –Tiina Hallik and Enn Jaanson. Unfortunately the first victims of new independent Estonia were Nyingma Buddhists in the ranks of Estonian Buddhist. This was the end of active movements of Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood in Estonian soil in 1988. Within 6 years Taola had built touchable, visible body of Buddhism in Estonia.

Under the Väärtnõu’ guidance they built first Buddhist stupas, manufactured thangkas and statues, translated and copied many Buddhist books, which most of us have used in guiding us to Buddha’s teachings.

They translated into Estonian language tens of books and articles, for example:

Tibet in Estonia

Tarmo Teder “Existentia 3” p 38-41, 1985

III .,,,One branch of Buddhism – Lamaism or Tibetan Buddhism was founded on 7th century by Padmasambhava and by his school of Nyingmapa or red hats and magicians (“Old” in Tibetan). This school is followed by those young taolas in Estonia and this writing with it’s prolonged foreword is meant to talk about them.

A man from Saaremaa, with prolonged journeys, with interest in paintings and recognized astrologist – Vello Väärtnõu – has been since 1972 until today a man dedicated to Buddhism. More exactly to Taoism and Lamaism, but enough of –ism’s. For a decade he obtained, researched and systematized relevant articles, books, scripts, albums and catalogues, receiving help from a few sympathizers, hectic and for now withdrawn from religion. Until 1983 he wondered alone in the

knot of numerous problems, when a group of enthusiasts joined him in tighter co-operation, who today have became young taolans – principled Buddhists, followers of Dharma and dedicated in thriving towards monk-hood. Every one of them has an altar or a sacred corner (so called micro temple), which is decorated by tens, if not hundreds, of burhans or statues of gods. Resourcefully they build prayer wheels, where thousands of mantras or prayers circulate.

They are diligent in translating texts about Buddhist and about Buddhism from foreign languages; they are learning Tibetan, gelding Buddha statues and painting thangkas – sacred pictures from the land of Tibet. The dream of these young taolans is to build a temple and home monastery; also they believe in learning abroad. Is the desire for pilgrimage of Barefoot

Tõnisson formed into five, his reincarnation pentapluralized?

For every year some of the Buddhists of the brotherhood take upon themselves to make a long journey into Soviet Buryatia, monastery of Ivolga, where the head lama, Hambo Lama (Erdinejev) of Soviet Buddhists is located. For those interested one thorough official evening of diapositives and comments has taken place, when materials brought from travels had been shown and touched (prayer wheels, burhans etc).

But most important, that has been the reason behind this overview, are the STUPAS under Estonian trees, which seem to