The European Buddhist Union (EBU) is the umbrella organization of Buddhist communities and national Buddhist unions in Europe. The EBU is open to all schools and traditions of

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

in Europe wishing to unite on the basis of Buddhist teachings and work together in spiritual friendship and respect for diversity. According to the 'EBU Statement of Mission and Vision' the aims are to facilitate international exchange and promote spiritual friendship amongst European Buddhists, to support social action and ideas motivated by Buddhist values, and to amplify the voice of Buddhism in Europe and worldwide.

History of the EBU

The EBU was founded in London in 1975, at the initiative of Judge Paul Arnold. The first Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held the same year in Paris. Towards the end of the Cold War meetings were held on both sides of the Iron Curtain. At present there are almost 50 member organisations from 16 European countries. Over the years, the EBU got engaged in various European and international organisations.

Representation of European Buddhists

In 2010, there were around 1.8 million Buddhists across Europe, east and west. The only region on the European continent where Buddhism is the majority religion is the

Republic of Kalmykia Kalmykia, officially the Republic of Kalmykia,; , ''Khalmg Tanghch'' is a republic of Russia, located in the Volga region of European Russia. The republic is part of the Southern Federal District, and borders Dagestan to the south and Stavr ...

in the European part of the Russian Federation. Most Buddhist National Unions are member of the EBU. However, Baumann states, Today the political authorities of most European countries have come to some form of official recognition of Buddhism.

Participation in international organisations

In 2008 the EBU obtained official participatory status with the

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; , CdE) is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949, it is Europe's oldest intergovernmental organisation, represe ...

in Strasbourg and participates in the Council of Europe's Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations. In June 2014, Michel Aguilar (representative of the EBU to the Council of Europe) got elected chair of the Human Rights Committee for a three-year term of office. The Human Rights Committee brings together some 160 NGOs. Topics that are currently on the agenda include: the protection of human rights defenders, media and human rights, religion and human rights, children and human rights, the Social Charter, economic and social rights. The EBU has been a regular partner in dialogue between the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

and European bodies concerned with religion and belief. The EBU is a founding member of the European Network of Religion and Belief, a network of European confessional and non-confessional organisations who want to combat discrimination and promote mutual understanding in the field of religion and belief, working within the framework of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
/ref> The EBU is also a member of the

World Fellowship of Buddhists The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is an international Buddhist organization. Initiated by Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, it was founded in 1950 in Colombo, Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), by representatives from 27 nations. Although Therav ...

(2000) and the

International Buddhist Confederation International Buddhist Confederation is the biggest religious Buddhist confederation, based in Delhi, India. The architect of the International Buddhist Confederation is Lama Lobzang. This confederation is named as the first organization which uni ...

(2014).

Current members

There are currently 50 organizations affiliated with the EBU.

Regional members

* Asociación Hispana de Buddhismo (Spain) * Asociación Nalanda (Spain) * Benchen Karma Kamtsang Association (Poland) * Buddhist Mission Hungary – Church of the Arya Maitreya Mandala (Hungary) * Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Salzburg (Austria) * Centro Zen L’Arco (Italy) * Comunidad Budista Soto Zen (Spain) * Dharmaloka chan budistička zajednica (Croatia) * Haus Tao (Switzerland) * Jai-Bhim Network (Hungary) * Jodo Shinshu Deutschland (Germany) * Maitreya Foundation Roma (Italy) * Mandala Milano – Centro Studi Tibetani (Italy) *

Mandala Samten Ling – Centro Studi Tibetani A mandala (, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid t ...

(Italy) * Monastero Zen Enso-ji IL Cerchio (Italy) * Reiyukai France (France) * Rimay (France) *

Sakya Tashi Ling Sakya Tashi Ling () is a monastery belonging to one of four Buddhist schools from Tibet, the Sakyapa tradition. It is an ancient order that follows the Tibetan spiritual leader and ancient king Sakya Trizin. The monastery is ruled by Lama Jamy ...

(Spain) *

Sangha Activa – Sakya Thekchog Düde Sangha or saṃgha () is a term meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community". In a political context, it was historically used to denote a governing assembly in a republic or a kingdom, and for a long time, it has been used b ...

(Spain) * StoneWater Zen Centre (UK) *

The Gate of the Dharma Ecumenical Buddhist Foundation ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...

(Hungary) *

The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...

(UK) * Tibetisches Zentrum Hamburg (Germany)

National Union members

* Boeddhistische Unie Nederland (BUN) (Netherlands) *

Buddhist Federation of Norway The Buddhist Federation of Norway (Norwegian: Buddhistforbundet) is an umbrella organization for the different Buddhist groups in Norway. It was founded in 1979 by two Buddhist groups (Rinzai Zen Senter and Karma Tashi Ling buddhistsamfunn) with th ...

(Norway) * Buddhist Union of Belgium (BUB-UBB) (Belgium) * Deutsche Buddhistische Union (DBU) (Germany) * Federación de Comunidades Budistas de España (FCBE) (Spain) * Network of Buddhist Organisations – UK (UK) * Österreichische Buddhistische Religionsgesellschaft (Austria) * Polish Buddhist Union (Poland) * Portuguese Buddhist Union (UBP) (Portugal) * Suomen Buddhalainen Unioni (SBU) (Finland) * Swedish Buddhist Community (SBC) (Sweden) * Swiss Buddhist Union (SBU-USB-UBS) (Switzerland) * Union Bouddhiste de France (UBF) (France) * Unione Buddhista Italiana (UBI) (Italy)

International members

* Amida Trust (UK) *

Buddhist Congregation Dharmaling The Buddhist Congregation Dharmaling is a Buddhist organization, which main office is registered to the Office for religious communities of the Government of Slovenia. Buddhist Congregation Dharmaling is also signatory of an agreement with the Sta ...

(Slovenia) * Dechen Buddhist Community (UK) * Dhagpo Kagyu Ling (France) * Diamond Way Buddhism – Buddhistischer Dachverband Diamantweg (Germany) * Dzogchen Community Europe (Italy) * FPMT Europe (Netherlands) *

RIGPA In Dzogchen, ''rigpa'' (; Skt. Vidya (Knowledge), vidyā; "knowledge") is knowledge of the Ground (Dzogchen), ground. The opposite of ''rigpa'' is ''ma rigpa'' (''Avidyā (Buddhism), avidyā'', ignorance). A practitioner who has attained the sta ...

(France) *

Sakyadhita Sakyadhītā International Association of Buddhist Women is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1987 at the conclusion of its first conference and registered in California in the United States in 1988. Sakyadhītā holds an international co ...

(France) * Shambhala Europe (Germany) * The Triratna Buddhist Order and Community (UK) *Western Chan Fellowship (UK) * Yun Hwa Sangha Europe (Germany)

References

External links

*
ENORB - European Network on Religion and Belief

WFB - World Fellowship of Buddhists

IBC - International Buddhist Confederation
{{Authority control Buddhist organizations in Europe Organizations with participatory status with the Council of Europe Religious organizations established in 1975