Buddhist Teachers in Europe (BTE) is an informal group of Dharma/Dhamma teachers from a range of traditions and countries within Europe, including the UK. Their main meeting is an annual three-day gathering hosted in turn by one teacher or another, somewhere in Europe or the UK.

As part of my work as Triratna's 'Liaison officer' I have attended BTE meetings every year since 2013. While they have varied in style I think at present they most resemble a small Order gathering, usually with a theme, open space for new topics to arise and plenty of time for discussion.

This year it's my turn to host again and the BTE is returning to Adhisthana following their very enjoyable meeting at Adhisthana in 2018, in which Bhante took part, just a few weeks before his death.

Interesting in attending?
Attendance at the BTE is open to Buddhists from Europe (including the UK) who have been teaching for at least 10 years; in Triratna terms Order members who have been ordained and regularly teaching in Triratna for at least 10 years.

Particularly seeking 'younger teachers'
Established attenders may bring with them those who have been teaching for at least five years: in Triratna terms Order members who have been ordained and regularly teaching in Triratna for at least five years.

If you are interested in attending, or can suggest someone I should invite, please email me at munisha@triratnadevelopment.org.

Munisha
Liaison officer

25th April, 2025
09:00 – 16:00 | Public Educational Centre, Praterstern 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria

An international conference open to everyone

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the European Buddhist Union (EBU) invites the Buddhist community and interested audiences to reflect on the future of European Buddhism. The conference, guided by prominent voices in contemporary Buddhist thought, including representatives of younger generations, will explore how this tradition might evolve in an era of profound social, technological, and environmental changes.

Speakers: Stephen Batchelor, Ven Bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā, Peter D. Hershock, Gábor Karsai, Ioanna Spataru

The program will feature three thematic sessions, each structured around a crucial question for the identity of contemporary Buddhism, encouraging both debate among keynote speakers and active dialogue with the audience.

Bookings and more information

Triratna has been a very active member of the EBU for many years. Bhante having a keen interest in Triratna's relations with other Buddhist traditions, he set up our 'Liaison office' in the 1980s; as our current Liaison officer I have attended every year since 2013 and currently sit on the council as a Vice president.

Munisha
Liaison Officer
Email: munisha@triratnadevelopment.org

A free webinar for those running Buddhist charities in any tradition in England and Wales. Presented by the Charity Commission, the webinar will be hosted by the Network of Buddhist Organisations UK.

Saturday 8th February 2025
10am-11am
Online

What are your Buddhist charity’s Safeguarding duties? Do you know what you need to do to protect adults and children from harm in the course of your charity’s activities?

In this free webinar, speakers from the Charity Commission will explain the Commission’s expectations and standards for charities in England and Wales.

This webinar is primarily aimed at trustees, teachers, leaders, volunteers and Safeguarding leads in Buddhist charities.

Book your free place.

The Zoom link will be emailed to you shortly before the event.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the International Council for the day of Vesak invite academic papers reflecting the significance of Vesak and addressing the central theme of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, along with any of the following sub-themes:

Main Theme: Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development.

Sub-Themes: (1) Cultivating Inner Peace for World Peace; (2) Forgiveness and Mindful Healing: A Path to Reconciliation; (3) Buddhist Compassion in Action: Shared Responsibility for Human Development; (4) Mindfulness in Education for a Compassionate and Sustainable Future; (5) Fostering Unity: Collaborative Efforts for Global Harmony.

Submission deadline: January 29, 2025. 

Enquiries here

Applications here

Every year, as Triratna’s Liaison officer, I attend the residential meeting of Buddhist Teachers in Europe, a very informal gathering of people who teach in various Buddhist traditions.

Our latest meeting took place 24th-29th September in a newly built Ch’an retreat centre in the hills west of Zagreb, Croatia, hosted by the country’s oldest Buddhist group, started decades ago in what was then Yugoslavia.

We were about 20 participants, from Theravada, Tibetan, Ch’an, SGI, Reyukai, Pure Land and Zen traditions, including two bhikkus and two bhikkhunis, as well as Vassika and me from Triratna. Some of us have been friends over many years and it's always a great pleasure - also fun - to have time to meditate, walk, talk and eat together over several days.

Our theme was ‘One Dharma: many sanghas’. Apart from talking about our lives and presenting some examples of our forms of practice there were a couple of presentations, including a short talk from me about Bhante’s long interest in the unity of Buddhism.

I referred to his article ‘The Unity of Buddhism’, published when he was just 18, and his 1996 talk, ‘Extending the Hand of Fellowship’, in which he outlined the spirit in which he considered Order members should relate to Buddhists from other traditions – in essence, solely on the basis of shared Going For Refuge to the Three Jewels.

This talk shows how often in those days Bhante found Order members being treated as laypeople by monastics. Although this is certainly still the case in some quarters, I must say that in over a decade as Liaison officer I have never experienced this. The UK and European Buddhists I work with tend to talk about ‘ordained sangha’, referring to anyone who is ordained whether monastic or not, and the monastics are always in a minority and rarely behave as though different or superior to the rest of us.

Still, not everyone does see Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels as the defining characteristic of a Buddhist, so we had an interesting and very friendly discussion.

Who can attend meetings of the Buddhist Teachers in Europe?
The BTE is for duly authorised teachers in any Buddhist tradition, who have been teaching for at least 10 years. In Triratna terms that means Order members ordained at least 10 years. They also welcome 'younger teachers' (ordained at least 5 years) when introduced by an existing member. If you would like to attend please email me at munisha@triratnadevelopment.org. 
NB Please note that you would need to cover your own expenses for travel, food and accommodation (usually in low cost retreat centre facilities)

Sakyadita is a worldwide association of Buddhist women. It holds an international conference every two years, at which Triratna Order members have spoken in previous years.

As they say on their website, "Sakyadhita provides a communications network among Buddhist women internationally. We promote research and publications on Buddhist women's history and other topics of interest. Our members strive to create equal opportunities for women in all Buddhist traditions. We work to empower the world's 300 million Buddhist women to work for peace and social justice through local branches, the content we offer free of charge online, and through our biannual conferences.

The UK branch of Sakyadhita states that the organisation's role is "to empower women in Buddhism, and thereby empower all" and that "anyone, regardless of gender identification, is warmly invited to be involved."

European Buddha is the podcast run by the European Buddhist Union (EBU), looking at current affairs and various aspects of the EBU's work.

This month's interviewee is Munisha, who lives in Sweden and runs Triratna's Liaison office, responsible for Triratna's relations and co-operation with other Buddhist groups, mainly in the UK and Europe. In this capacity she has worked with the EBU since 2012 and was elected to the EBU council as vice president in September 2023.

Dear Friends,

Recently I was appointed General Secretary of the Buddhist Federation of Norway (BNF), having been on the board of trustees since 2000. That was the year I started Triratna's Oslo Buddhist Centre, returning home after many years at the Manchester Buddhist Centre.

The BNF is an umbrella organisation with 16 member communities with about 16,000 members, founded in 1979. Created to enable an application for money from the Norwegian government to fund Buddhist activities, it has steadily grown and is now involved in running a website, joint celebrations of Vesak/Buddha day, rituals and translating and publishing, as well as a 'confirmation course' where teenagers learn about basic Buddhism and different traditions over two residential weekends. The BNF facilitates activities for young adults, and promotes sustainability.

I see this work as an opportunity to contribute to Bhante's idea of the New Society, which inspired me right from the start as a student of business ethics at the University of Manchester, and provided part of my vision in starting the Oslo Buddhist Centre. Now, handing on the Chair to Muditadevi, I am free for other responsibilities, including conducting my first private ordination, for Norwegian Mitra Nils, this summer.

This means an exciting deepening of practice, internally and externally, to let the bodhi spirit flow through the ordination; and simultaneously I have to deepen my practice to facilitate dialog and inspiration across the various Buddhist traditions and into society. I think I am well prepared through Bhante’s perspective and training in Triratna, as well as my professional training. I am excited to have this opportunity and feel humble about the complexity and demands of the task.

In my role as General Secretary I will be representing the BFN at meetings of the European Buddhist Union where I will meet my good friend Munisha (Triratna's Liaison Officer and EBU Vice President).

I still teach at the Oslo Buddhist Centre, offer gestalt therapy and teach social workers at OsloMet University.

With metta,
Gunaketu

Buddhists Across Traditions invite you to this event in London on 21st January, facilitated by Plum Village UK and Quakers in Britain.

Details: https://plumvillage.uk/event/peace-is-every-step/

Daisaku Ikeda, who died on 15th November at the age of 95, was founder president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which grew out of the Soka Gakkai in the 1970s. Both are part of the tradition founded by Nichiren Daishonin in 13th century Japan.

Soka gakkai means 'society for the creation of value'. Having been deeply affected by growing up in Japan during WW2 Mr Ikeda began to practise this type of Buddhism at the age of 19 and devoted the rest of his life to peace work and campaigning for nuclear disarmament.

SGI is perhaps best known for its meditative chanting practice of the title of the Lotus Sutra in Japanese: nam myoho renge kyo. It's said to be the world's largest lay Buddhist movement with 12 million members worldwide, including an estimated 1.5 million outside Japan.

Watch a video about the history of the Soka Gakkai.

"The ideal of Mahayana Buddhism is the realization of happiness for oneself and for others. Nowhere is this more completely set out than in the Lotus Sutra, which recognizes the Buddha-nature in all people—women and men, those with formal education and those without. It declares that all people, without regard to their class, origin, personal, cultural, or social background, can attain enlightenment. Our recitation of the title of the Lotus Sutra is a way of renewing our vow to live in accord with this ideal."

Daisaku Ikeda

Here is news of an online follow up to the conference Being Buddhist in Britain which we advertised here earlier.

Wednesday 13th December
7:30-8:30pm
Zoom

Due to bad weather during the weekend of the conference and disruptions to transport, the key speaker Dr. Caroline Starkey, was unfortunately unable to make the event.

However, Caroline will now deliver her talk and you can attend from home. (See registration details below.)

Dr. Caroline Starkey is Associate Professor of Religion and Society and Director of Liberal Arts in the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds. She will speak from her years of studying Buddhists in Britain, including Triratna.

She writes:

"The aim of this talk is to provide a brief historical overview of Buddhism's connection to Britain, detail its contemporary trajectories, and give particular focus to burgeoning areas of study and reflection of interest to Buddhist practitioners and academics alike, including gender, social class, secular mindfulness and Covid.

Whilst Buddhism in Britain has grown and diversified since the 1960s, it still does not receive the kind of academic attention it deserves, and the aim of this talk is to encourage a revitalisation in the study of Buddhism on British shores. Through the talk, I weave together a discussion of what it is like being a Buddhist in Britain, whilst also studying Buddhists in Britain, and the opportunities and tensions inherent within occupying this particular position.'

Caroline's talk will be followed by Q&A.

Registration
please register for the online event using this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIldO2tqzkrGteNqF7Blaxue7mmln6Dl0mg.

Once you have registered you should receive the Zoom log-in details.
If you do not receive login details within 24 hours of registering, please email lp@Appliedbuddhism.org.uk.

As every year on the last long weekend in September the European Buddhist Union held its annual 3-day meeting, this year outside Brussels, followed by the annual 3-day meeting of Buddhist Teachers in Europe.

(These meetings meet in different places around Europe year by year but this time we met in Brussels to mark the EBU's transition to being registered as an organisation in Belgium, to enable easier access to the European political institutions in which the EBU is active.)

As Triratna's Liaison Officer I have been attending the EBU for 11 years now; this year I was elected as a council member and vice president for a four-year term, and was joined at the meeting by Vassika, from Triratna's Paris sangha.

According to its mission statement the EBU aims "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."

Forty to fifty people from a range of UK and European Buddhist organisations attended the EBU meeting, In a generally positive atmosphere we discussed the EBU's various projects which include environmental education, mindfulness for schools, chaplaincy, women, LGBTQ+ rights, animal welfare and contemplative sciences, as well as the work of its European Affairs Team.

The subsequent Buddhist Teachers in Europe meeting attracted over 20 women and men to a much more informal 3-day gathering for discussion of themes arising from our personal practice and teaching. For this, Vassika and I were happy that Vajratara was again able to join us.

Read more about the EBU and BTE.

A day of talks, workshops and discussions exploring what it means to be Buddhist in Britain today.

@ Birmingham Buddhist Vihara
29-31 Osler Sreet, Ladywood, B16 9EU
10:00-16:00

Register here: https://bit.ly/3qvF3Dh

The organisers write: “A wonderful opportunity for Buddhists from all traditions and backgrounds to meet and get to know each other and discuss how Buddhism is progressing in the UK in all its magnificent diversity.”

For more information:

https://www.nbo.org.uk/conference-being-buddhist-in-britain/

Would you like to support the UK Buddhist community? 

The Network of Buddhist Organisations UK seeks a new volunteer treasurer. This is a small but vital role including processing membership payments, preparing accounts for Companies House and the Charity Commission, and assisting with various back-office tasks. We are a small organisation and our income for the year ending 2022 was around £1300.

Join us (including Munisha, Triratna's Liaison officer) in our work of working for the good of all Buddhists within the UK, fostering good relationships within the Buddhist community and between all faiths and supporting chaplaincy, Religious Education and engaged Buddhism.

Key responsibilities

• Processing membership payments and maintaining accurate records
• Preparing accounts and financial statements for submission to Companies House and the Charity Commission
• Assisting with various administrative and back-office tasks related to financial operations
• Monitoring cash flow and financial transactions
• Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to financial policies and procedures
• Providing guidance on financial matters to the Network of Buddhist Organisations' trustees and executive committee

Skills and qualifications
We are looking for someone with the following:

• Experience in finance, accounting, or a related field, if possible
• Familiarity with bookkeeping and financial management
• Organizational skills and attention to detail 
• Computer skills, including knowledge of spreadsheets and accounting software
• Communication skills, written and verbal
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Sympathy with Buddhist principles and values

Why join us?
As our volunteer treasurer, you will be working for the good of Buddhism in the UK, with others with the same commitment; and the role will allow you to gain valuable experience in financial management and charity administration.

Applications and further information
Please write to nbochair@gmail.com. For applications, please send your CV and a short letter describing experience or achievements that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

If you aren't known to the NBO committee we may ask for two references to support your application.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kaspa Thompson
(they/them)

The death has been announced of Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche of the Longchen Foundation, husband of Lama Shenpen Hookham of the Awakened Heart Sangha. He was 88.

Both attended teachings by Sangharakshita in the 1960s; Rigdzin Shikpo may be better known to Triratna readers as Mike Hookham, one of the 'Three Musketeers' mentioned in Bhante's memoirs, Moving Against the Stream.

Lama Shenpen has published this post
https://buddhawithin.org.uk/2023/05/04/the-passing-of-lama-rigdzin-shikpo-rinpoche/

Read more on the Tricycle website.

As Triratna's Liaison officer I have written to Lama Shenpen to extend good wishes.

The European Buddhist Union's international conference, "Buddhist Chaplaincy in Europe", will take place in Rome, at Sapienza University and online on 24th-25th June 2023.

Pre-conference workshops will take place on 23rd June.

The purpose of the conference is to develop, organize and support Buddhist chaplaincy in Europe in order to provide support, training opportunities and materials for those engaged in Buddhist chaplaincy, and to identify spiritual and pastoral needs within Buddhist communities to encourage broader community cohesion and social integration.

Full information below.

Bookings and enquiries to ebuchaplaincy@gmail.com

Read about the EBU's European Chaplaincy Network

***

FIRST EUROPEAN BUDDHIST UNION CHAPLAINCY CONFERENCE

2023

“BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY IN EUROPE”

Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25

Pre-conference workshops Friday, June 23

Location

Pre-conference Workshop: Centro Zen L’Arco, Rome and Online

Conference: Sapienza University, Rome and Online

Buddhist chaplaincy is an emerging field in Europe.

Centro Zen L’Arco – together with the EBU Chaplaincy network - is currently organising an exciting programme of speakers, workshops and discussions to foster dialogue amongst dharma practitioners serving in the areas of health, end-of-life-care and prisons.

We want to invite delegates who share the visions of European Buddhist Chaplaincy and who are keen to contribute to its development over the next few years.

Speakers will include dharma teachers, researchers, pioneers, and changemakers from across Europe and the United States.

We will reflect on the unique opportunities and challenges within the European context and explore:

• the practice of Buddhist spiritual care in different public settings (hospital, hospice, prison)
• the European approach to Buddhist chaplaincy
• the training needs and pathways to becoming a Buddhist chaplain
• the various training models offered in the United States and Asia
• the new training course for Buddhist chaplains planned by the EBU
• the insights from chaplains of other denominations

In addition, the conference will provide forums to identify spiritual and pastoral needs within Buddhist communities to encourage broader community cohesion and social integration.

All are warmly welcome, especially Dharma practitioners serving in public settings/ engaged in sangha care and anyone interested in Buddhist contemplative-based spiritual care. Sessions can also be followed live online.

Our deepest wish is to find ways to work together and serve others in the full spirit of dhamma / dharma. We are looking forward to seeing you in Rome this June!

Speakers

Rev. Joan Halifax Roshi – Abbot of Upaya Zen Center, Hospice Caregiver
Dr. Monica Sanford – Assistant Dean for Multireligious Ministry, Lecturer in Ministry Studies, Harvard University
Ven. Ajahn Khemadhammo (Phra Bhavanaviteht) OBE, Spiritual Director, Angulimala The Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy   
Kirsten DeLeo – Meditation Teacher, Buddhist Spiritual Carer, Trainer in Contemplative Care, EBU Chaplaincy Network steering group
Rev. Dario Doshin Girolami – Abbot of Centro Zen L’Arco, Prison Chaplain, EBU Chaplaincy Network Coordinator
Keith Munnings - Meditation Teacher, Hospital Chaplain, EBU Chaplaincy Network steering group
Imam Yahya Pallavicini – President of COREIS (Islamic Religious Community – Italy)
Prof. Antonino Raffone – Professor of Neuroscience, Sapienza University
Ven.Dr. Carola Roloff – Buddhist Nun, Professor of Buddhism, University of Hamburg
Filippo Scianna – Italian Buddhist Union President
Rev. Elena Seishin Viviani – Italian Buddhist Union Religious Ministers coordinator
Dr. Gabor Karsai (TBC) - Managing Director of Mind & Life Europe, Rector of Dharma Gate Buddhist College
Catholic Chaplain, Jewish Chaplain (TBC)

Pre-conference Workshop on hospice, prison and hospital chaplaincy with Kirsten DeLeo, Dario Doshin Girolami, Keith Munnings

Location
Pre-conference Workshop: Centro Zen L’Arco, Piazza Dante 15, Rome

Conference: Sapienza University, Facoltà di Medicina e Psicologia, via dei Marsi 78, Rome

Online
Preconference workshop: the zoom link will be provided soon
Expenses contribution:

Preconference workshop: 40 Euro – please pay cash onsite. 
Full Conference: 60 Euro - please pay cash onsite

Online: please pay via Zoom

A Wesak video greeting from UN Secretary General, António Guterres.

The death was announced yesterday of Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who co-founded Kopan Monastery, Wisdom Publications, and the international organisation known as the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). He was 76.

A teacher of the Gelug school of Buddhism, Lama Zopa was born in the Mount Everest region of Thami in 1946 and left Tibet in 1959 for Bhutan after the Chinese occupation.

The FPMT today comprises 160 Dharma centres and projects across 37 countries.

Read more about Lama Zopa:

https://www.lionsroar.com/buddhist-teacher-lama-zopa-rinpoche-co-founder-of-fpmt-dies-at-76/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thubten_Zopa_Rinpoche

The spring edition of European Buddhist, the European Buddhist Union's magazine, is available now, for free download here:

https://europeanbuddhistunion.org/ebu-spring-2023-magazine

On the theme of EcoDharma, it includes articles on

• Buddhism meets the Climate Crisis
• Wisdom Working for the Earth
• The Way of the Ecosattva
• Is Ecodharma (always) Buddhist?
• Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au
• Buddhists and climate change in practice
• Ecoselves: towards a spiritual and cultural transformation?
• Being the Change: EBU and the Sustainable Environment on Earth for All Beings
• What Ecodharma Means to Me
• Nature, Mindfulness, Ecology, The culture of harmony

Saturday 19th November 2022

14.00-19.00 CET

Zoom

Inaugural conference of the European Buddhist Union's Contemplative Sciences Network.

Registration is free

Details here.