Unified Buddhist Church
Encyclopedia
The Unified Buddhist Church (Eglise Bouddhique Unifieé) was founded by Thich Nhat Hanh
in France in 1969, during the Vietnam War
(not part of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam
). The Unified Buddhist Church established Sweet Potatoes Community in 1975 which became the Plum Village
monastery
, France
in 1982, the Dharma Cloud Temple and the Dharma Nectar Temple in 1988, and the Adornment of Loving Kindness Temple in 1995. Thich Nhat Hanh’s Sangha
(community of practice) in France is usually referred to as the Plum Village Sangha. The Unified Buddhist Church also has a mindfulness practice center called Intersein in Bavaria, Germany. A sangha of about 150 monks, nuns and resident lay-practitioners live permanently in Plum Village.
The Unified Buddhist Church is the legally recognized governance body for Plum Village in France; for Maple Forest Monastery
and Green Mountain Dharma Center
in Vermont
which have closed and moved to the Blue Cliff Monastery
in Pine Bush, New York
as of May, 2007; and, since March, 1999, for the Community of Mindful Living
, Parallax Press, and Deer Park Monastery
in California
.
The Unified Buddhist Church, Inc.
(UBC), a non-profit corporation, was founded in 1998 to officially represent Thich Nhat Hanh and his Sangha in the United States
of America. It is a sister organization of Unified Buddhist Church (Eglise Bouddhique Unifieé) founded in France. The UBC in America is represented by Sr. Annabel Laity, Abbess
of the Green Mountain Dharma Center which acts as the headquarters of the Unified Buddhist Church in the U.S.
Unified Buddhist Church, Inc. is qualified by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
Nhat Hanh
Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who now lives in France. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name...
in France in 1969, during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(not part of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam
Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam
The Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam is a Buddhist organization in Vietnam. The Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam was founded in 1964 to unify 11 of the 14 different sects of Vietnamese Buddhism at the time present in the country...
). The Unified Buddhist Church established Sweet Potatoes Community in 1975 which became the Plum Village
Plum Village
Plum Village is a Buddhist meditation center in the Dordogne, in southern France. It was founded by Vietnamese monk Thích Nhất Hạnh, and his colleague Bhikkhuni Chân Không, in 1982.-History:...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1982, the Dharma Cloud Temple and the Dharma Nectar Temple in 1988, and the Adornment of Loving Kindness Temple in 1995. Thich Nhat Hanh’s Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
(community of practice) in France is usually referred to as the Plum Village Sangha. The Unified Buddhist Church also has a mindfulness practice center called Intersein in Bavaria, Germany. A sangha of about 150 monks, nuns and resident lay-practitioners live permanently in Plum Village.
The Unified Buddhist Church is the legally recognized governance body for Plum Village in France; for Maple Forest Monastery
Maple Forest Monastery
Maple Forest Monastery is part of Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing and a men's monastery. Established in 1997, after the donation of a property in Woodstock, Vermont. The governing body for the monastery is the Unified Buddhist Church. They are closely in touch with Plum Village for resources...
and Green Mountain Dharma Center
Green Mountain Dharma Center
Green Mountain Dharma Center was founded in April 1998 and is located in Hartland-Four-Corners, VT. As of 2006, 6 nuns and 3 monks are in residence there. Recently, the GMDC has been developing in a new direction by becoming a Fourfold Retreat and Practice Center for the teachings of Thich Nhat...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
which have closed and moved to the Blue Cliff Monastery
Blue Cliff Monastery
Blue Cliff Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located in Pine Bush, New York. It was founded in May 2007 by monastic and lay practitioners from Plum Village in France....
in Pine Bush, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as of May, 2007; and, since March, 1999, for the Community of Mindful Living
Community of Mindful Living
The Community of Mindful Living is a Buddhist community in the Berkeley, California. It was established in 1983 and incorporated in 1990 in California as a nonprofit religious organization . CML provides support for individuals and meditation groups worldwide who wish to practice in the tradition...
, Parallax Press, and Deer Park Monastery
Deer Park Monastery
Deer Park Monastery is a Buddhist sanctuary in Escondido, California. It was founded in July 2000 by monastic and lay practitioners from Plum Village in France....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The Unified Buddhist Church, Inc.
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
(UBC), a non-profit corporation, was founded in 1998 to officially represent Thich Nhat Hanh and his Sangha in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of America. It is a sister organization of Unified Buddhist Church (Eglise Bouddhique Unifieé) founded in France. The UBC in America is represented by Sr. Annabel Laity, Abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of the Green Mountain Dharma Center which acts as the headquarters of the Unified Buddhist Church in the U.S.
Unified Buddhist Church, Inc. is qualified by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
See also
- Buddhism in the United StatesBuddhism in the United StatesBuddhism is one of the largest religions in the United States behind Christianity, Judaism and Nonreligious, and approximate with Islam and Hinduism. American Buddhists include many Asian Americans, as well as a large number of converts of other ethnicities, and now their children and even...
- Buddhist Monasticism
External links
- Plum Village - Thich Nhat Hanh's main monastery and practice center, located about 85 km east of Bordeaux, France.