Statement of Mission, Vision, Values and Goals
The European Buddhist Union (EBU) is the umbrella organisation of national
Buddhist unions and Buddhist organisations in Europe. We are open to all schools and traditions of Buddhism in Europe wishing to unite on the basis of Buddhist teachings and work together in spiritual friendship and respect for diversity.
Our mission
Our mission is 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.
Our vision
We envision a European fellowship of Buddhists bringing Buddhist ideas and principles into European society. We wish that the voice of Buddhism should help bring about a world guided by wisdom and compassion, for the happiness and wellbeing of all.
Our values
We believe in the limitless potential of all beings for wisdom and compassion. We are motivated by the values of non-violence, compassion, kind heartedness and responsibility, which are at the heart of Buddhism.
We support the implementation of Human Rights, equality and individual responsibility for all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, nationality, social origins, birth status or any other distinction.
We share the values that inspired the founders of the Council of Europe and the European Union: of creating and maintaining peace, solidarity and diversity across Europe, after centuries of war and discrimination, via free, democratic, open and non-discriminatory states.
We encourage openness, clarity and transparency within the EBU, and within the societies in which we live and work.
At the root of many modern difficulties may often be found greed, anger and prejudice. Though these may be personal and local in origin, their consequences may be global and collective. We believe that Buddhist practice, founded in a deep understanding of interconnectedness, can help transform attitudes.
We believe that oppression, discrimination, labour exploitation and all aspects of social and economic injustice should be transformed into openness, freedom, co-operation and peace.
With wisdom and compassion, unhealthy consumerism and over-exploitation of our planet can be transformed into care for all life forms and deep respect for the earth and its ecological diversity.
Our goals
- to be the leading European network giving European Buddhists a voice in
Europe through information, networking and action. - to develop capacity within particular European Buddhist communities; for example, teachers, mediators, hospice-workers and prison chaplains.
- to promote dialogue amongst Buddhist traditions and with other religions, beliefs and philosophies.
- to promote Buddhist culture, ethics, philosophy, politics, social action and practice in Europe.
- to be a forum for discussion of teaching about Buddhism in European schools and universities, and to promote academic research and translation of Buddhist texts.
- to establish structural, informal and exploratory channels of communication between European Buddhists and the Council of Europe, the European Union and other European and international organisations.
- to identify issues in European politics and culture where the voice of
European Buddhism can make a positive contribution. - to inform European policy-makers about Buddhism in Europe and to inform European Buddhists about European policies.
- to promote the activities of socially engaged Buddhists and share ideas
about how Buddhism can contribute to a better world. - to build partnerships with other organisations to end discrimination and prejudice and promote human rights and the flourishing of all living beings
Read here our article "Let's create European Buddhism" for more on our mission, vision and values!
A Buddhist voice for Europe
The European Buddhist Union is an international association of Buddhist organisations and national Buddhist unions in Europe.
We envision a fellowship of European Buddhists bringing Buddhist ideas and principles into European society.
In 2008 the EBU obtained official participatory status with the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations at the Council of Europe.
Our background
The EBU was founded in 1975 as an umbrella association for existing European Buddhist organisations. The influence of Buddhism and Europe upon each other goes back much further than the 19th or 20th centuries: there has been much interaction between Buddhism and European culture since the beginning of Buddhism in India in the 5th century BCE.
More about Buddhism, some characteristics of Buddhism, and Interactions between Buddhism and European culture coming soon on this page.
What we do
Our mission is 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.
Click here to read more on EBU and its members activities
Our council
The European Buddhist Union is guided by an international council elected by a general assembly of all member organisations. The present council was elected for 3 years in September 2020.
Click here to meet our council members
Our members
The European Buddhist Union is open to all schools and traditions of Buddhism in Europe wishing to unite on the basis of Buddhist teachings and work together in spiritual friendship and respect for diversity.
About the membership
We bring together almost 50 member organisations from 16 European countries. We regret we cannot offer individual membership at present.
represent Buddhists on an European level