Buddhism in Poland

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Stupa in Darnków

The Buddhism in Poland has its roots in the early 20th century with connecting lines to countries of origin of Buddhism , namely China, Korea and Japan. After the Second World War it was predominantly Poles living abroad in the USA and Europe that had joined various Buddhist groups. Since the political change of 1989, Buddhism can develop in a somewhat more liberal climate.

Today many of the main schools of Theravada , Mahayana ( Zen , Shin ) and Tibetan Buddhism are represented in Poland . Western versions, such as the FWBO , are also active in Poland.

Umbrella organizations such as the “ Buddhist Mission ” (Misja Buddyjska) and the Buddhist Union of Poland bring more than two dozen Buddhist groups into contact with one another. In addition to Vietnamese and Japanese Zen communities, numerous Korean Zen groups are active in many cities in Poland. By far the largest distribution (approx. 40 groups) is found in the Diamond Way Centers by Lama Ole Nydahl .

In May 2000 the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso opened a Buddhist department in the Pomeranian Library in Szczecin . At the end of 2005 the “Buddhist Mission” moved into a new large center in Szczecin. The Buddhist Mission also hosted the European Buddhist Union's annual congress and the BTE ( Buddhist Teachers in Europe ) meeting in 2005 .

Despite state recognition of Buddhist groups as religious organizations, there is no precise information on the number of Buddhists in Poland. Estimates go from well over 10,000.

Web links

Commons : Buddhism in Poland  - collection of images, videos and audio files