Buddhism in England
Encyclopedia
Buddhism is quite a recent religion to arrive in England. Despite this, 144,453 people declared themselves to be Buddhist at the 2001 Census.
influences grew in England during the early twentieth century, particularly with the foundation in 1924 of London
’s Buddhist Society and the Theravadin London Buddhist Vihara
in Chiswick
in 1926. A slow trickle from England travelled to Asia to take monastic ordination, mainly as Theravadin monks. Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu introduced the Dhammakaya tradition to the UK
in 1954 in this way and founded the English Sangha Trust in 1955. A few Asian monks came to live in England.
In 1967, Englishman Sangharakshita
(1925-), who had spent time in the east as a Theravadin monk founded the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order
, the first home-grown Buddhist movement. He was followed by other westerners who had studied in the East, and by Eastern teachers, particularly refugee Tibetan Lamas, and under the influence of these teachers a large and diverse British Buddhist world has emerged. At the 2001 census
, 36% of those stating they were Buddhist lived in London and 38% of Buddhists were white..
The Manjushri Kadampa Buddhist Centre
in Conishead Priory located just outside of Barrow-in-Furness
, Cumbria
is a large New Kadampa Tradition
Tibetan Buddhist centre. The priory established by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1975 claims to be 'the mother centre from which around 1100 Kadampa Buddhist centres have been set up worldwide'.
A Theravada
monastery consisting mainly of Westerners following the Thai Forest Tradition
of Ajahn Chah
was established at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
in Sussex, and has established branches elsewhere in the country. A lay meditation tradition of Thai origin is represented by the Samatha
Trust, with its headquarters cum retreat centre in Wales. Sōtō Zen
has a priory at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
in Northumberland.
There are now many Buddhist groups in England, to name a few from the Tibetan Tradition there are Sangha's of:
RIGPA , ROKPA , DECHEN
History
Theosophical and TheravadinTheravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
influences grew in England during the early twentieth century, particularly with the foundation in 1924 of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
’s Buddhist Society and the Theravadin London Buddhist Vihara
London Buddhist Vihara
The London Buddhist Vihara is one of the main Theravada Buddhist temples in the United Kingdom. The Vihara was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery to be established outside Asia....
in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
in 1926. A slow trickle from England travelled to Asia to take monastic ordination, mainly as Theravadin monks. Kapilavaddho Bhikkhu introduced the Dhammakaya tradition to the UK
Dhammakaya Movement UK
The Dhammakaya Movement is one distinct tradition of Thai Buddhism that has had a pioneering role in establing Buddhist practice in England since 1954.- Origins :...
in 1954 in this way and founded the English Sangha Trust in 1955. A few Asian monks came to live in England.
In 1967, Englishman Sangharakshita
Sangharakshita
Sangharakshita is a Buddhist teacher and writer, and founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community, which was known until 2010 as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, or FWBO....
(1925-), who had spent time in the east as a Theravadin monk founded the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order
Friends of the Western Buddhist Order
The Triratna Buddhist Community is an international fellowship of Buddhists, and others who aspire to its path of mindfulness, under the leadership of the Triratna Buddhist Order...
, the first home-grown Buddhist movement. He was followed by other westerners who had studied in the East, and by Eastern teachers, particularly refugee Tibetan Lamas, and under the influence of these teachers a large and diverse British Buddhist world has emerged. At the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, 36% of those stating they were Buddhist lived in London and 38% of Buddhists were white..
The Manjushri Kadampa Buddhist Centre
Kadampa Buddhist Temple
The Kadampa World Peace Temple is located at Conishead Priory on the outskirts of Ulverston, Cumbria, England. It was consecrated in July 1997 and functions as the main meditation hall at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre...
in Conishead Priory located just outside of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
is a large New Kadampa Tradition
New Kadampa Tradition
The New Kadampa Tradition ~ International Kadampa Buddhist Union is a global Buddhist organisation founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in England in 1991. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" were added to the original name "New Kadampa Tradition"...
Tibetan Buddhist centre. The priory established by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1975 claims to be 'the mother centre from which around 1100 Kadampa Buddhist centres have been set up worldwide'.
A Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
monastery consisting mainly of Westerners following the Thai Forest Tradition
Thai Forest Tradition
The Thai Forest Tradition is a tradition of Buddhist monasticism within Thai Theravada Buddhism. Practitioners inhabit remote wilderness and forest dwellings as spiritual practice training grounds. Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya are the two major monastic orders in Thailand that have forest...
of Ajahn Chah
Ajahn Chah
Venerable Ajahn Chah Subhaddo was an influential teacher of the Buddhadhamma and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition....
was established at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
Cittaviveka, popularly known as Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, is a Theravada Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition. It is situated in West Sussex, England in the hamlet of Chithurst between Midhurst and Petersfield...
in Sussex, and has established branches elsewhere in the country. A lay meditation tradition of Thai origin is represented by the Samatha
Samatha
Samatha , śamatha "calm abiding," comprises a suite, type or style of Buddhist meditation or concentration practices designed to enhance sustained voluntary attention, and culminates in an attention that can be sustained effortlessly for hours on end...
Trust, with its headquarters cum retreat centre in Wales. Sōtō Zen
Soto
Sōtō Zen , or is, with Rinzai and Ōbaku, one of the three most populous sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism.The Sōtō sect was first established as the Caodong sect during the Tang Dynasty in China by Dongshan Liangjie in the 9th century, which Dōgen Zenji then brought to Japan in the 13th century...
has a priory at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey is a Buddhist monastery and retreat centre located in Northumberland, in northern England. It follows the Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition, similar to the Sōtō Zen sect in Japan.-External links:*...
in Northumberland.
There are now many Buddhist groups in England, to name a few from the Tibetan Tradition there are Sangha's of:
RIGPA , ROKPA , DECHEN
See also
- Buddhism in ScotlandBuddhism in ScotlandThe arrival of Buddhism in Scotland is relatively recent. In Scotland Buddhists represent 0.13% of the population . People were asked both their current religion and that they were brought up in...
- Buddhism in WalesBuddhism in WalesBuddhism in Wales has a relatively short history, having only really established a presence in the country in the 20th Century. 5,407 people declared themselves Buddhist in the 2001 census, representing a number of Buddhist traditions. Tibetan Buddhism is particularly well represented with...
- Buddhism in the United KingdomBuddhism in the United KingdomBuddhism in the United Kingdom has a small but growing number of adherents which, according to a Buddhist organisation, is mainly the result of conversion. In the UK census for 2001, there were about 152,000 people who registered their religion as Buddhism, and about 174,000 who cited religions...