Basic Information on the DBU in English


Aims and Brief History

Since 1903 we can observe activities of Buddhists in Germany. It was in 1955 when some 43 German Buddhists met in Frankfurt to found the »German Buddhist Society« which was renamed in 1958 into the present »German Buddhist Union« (DBU). In 1975 the DBU became a founding member of the »Buddhist Union of Europe« (EBU) and since 1961 is a Regional Centre of the »World Fellowship of Buddhists« (WFB).

The German Buddhist Union was and is a platform where Buddhists from all traditions and schools meet and develop understanding and appreciation for the variety and diversity of Buddhist theory and practice.

It is difficult to estimate the actual number of Buddhists in Germany, as many of them practice in private or are only loosely connected to one of the more than hundred Buddhist groups in our country. There are some 120.000 Buddhists of Asian origin living in Germany, most of them Vietnamese refugees, some from Thailand, Taiwan, Cambodia, Korea, Japan and other Asian countries. We estimate about 100.000 Buddhists of German origin. They generally practice in different groups. There are occasions like Vesakh where members of ethnic and German groups meet and co-operate. Some few groups have both Asian and German members. However the contacts are growing more intensive in the last years.



Members

Currently, there are 57 member-groups of the DBU, some of them having many branches all over Germany. For a list of all member-groups (German language), please have a closer look at the page DBU-Mitgliedsgemeinschaften.

Contacts with other Buddhist groups in the country are existing on a friendly level and each year new groups decide to join the DBU. In addition to group members it is also possible for individuals, who want to support Buddhism in Germany, to become members. Currently they are around 2300 individual members.



Activities

Information and Publishing:

Since 1986 the DBU has a national office where information, brochures, programs and the quarterly »Buddhismus Aktuell« can be obtained and which helps to organise and co-ordinate local and national events together with the different Buddhist centres and groups.

The office manages a database of over 600 buddhist groups, all over Germany, which can help interested persons to find a group in their region. Please look at Gruppensuche. On our Website it is also possible to look up buddhist events like talks, workshops and meditation retreats all over Germany. Please look at Veranstaltungssuche.

The quarterly »Buddhismus Aktuell« (formerly »Lotusblätter«) offers a wide range of articles on all Buddhist traditions, reports, book reviews and information on events. It has some 3500 subscribers and sells altogether around 4500 copies of each issue. It is also available in newsstands at the railway stations of major german cities.

Events:

Since 1955 the DBU meets for the annual plenary session in spring and since 1985 it holds a Buddhist Convention in fall, open to the general public. DBU council members, delegates of the member societies, Buddhist teachers and friends from all traditions meet for speeches, guided meditations and inspiring discussions on teaching and practice of Buddhism in a Western country. Please find further information (in German) at: www.buddhismus-kongress.de

There is a growing readiness for local groups to join together to hold regional Dharma days with Dharma talks, guided meditations, films on Buddhism and discussion groups. These events have proved to be very inspiring for the participating Buddhist groups and for the interested – more and more non-Buddhist – public who find great inspiration in this harmonious co-operation of Buddhists of different traditions. The most important regional event is Vesakh which is celebrated around May/June in commemoration of the birth, enlightenement and death of Buddha.

Buddhist studies:

Since March 2004 a two-year study program on all buddhist traditions has started. It is open to all buddhists who want to gain deeper knowledge about the different buddhist traditions. An extended part of the program is also used to train buddhists who are also school teachers to become teachers for buddhist religion in german public schools. In the future it is planned to offer parts of the program to the general public.



Board of the DBU

Here follows the list of the board of directors.

President:

Vajramala Sabine Thielow, Überlingen

Vice-President:

Hans-Erich Frey, Frankfurt

Treasurer:

Pawo Baner, Frankfurt

Further Council Members:

... representing all important buddhist traditions in Germany.

Representative for the WFB: Dorin Genpo Zenji


For further information (also in English) please contact the office of the DBU:

Address:

Deutsche Buddhistische Union e.V.
Amalienstr. 71
80799 Muenchen - Germany

Tel: +49-89-280104
Fax: +49-89-281053

E-mail: dbu@dharma.de
(Please also refer to our contact-page!)