The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is an international Buddhist organization. Initiated by Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, it was founded in 1950[1] in Colombo, Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), by representatives from 27 nations.[2] Although Theravada Buddhists are prominent in the organization, (its headquarters are in Thailand and all of its presidents have been from Sri Lanka or southeast Asia), members of all Buddhist schools are active in the WFB.[3] It has regional centers in more than 30 countries, including India, the United States, Australia, and several nations of Africa and Europe, in addition to traditional Buddhist countries.
The aims and objectives of the World Fellowship of Buddhists are:[2]
- To promote among the members strict observance and practice of the teachings of the Buddha
- To secure unity, solidarity, and brotherhood amongst Buddhists
- To propagate the sublime doctrine of the Buddha
- To organize and carry on activities in the field of social, educational, cultural and other humanitarian services
- To work for happiness, harmony and peace on earth and to collaborate with other organizations working for the same ends.
The current president is Phan Wannamethee of Thailand serving since 1999, while Venerable Hsing Yun of the Republic of China (Taiwan) served as honorary president.
Affiliates edit
Australia edit
- Buddhist Council of New South Wales
- Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey)
- The Buddhist Federation of Australia
- The Buddhist Foundation
- United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Australia & New Zealand
Austria edit
Bangladesh edit
- Agrasara Memorial Society of Bangladesh
- Anoma Cultural Association
- Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha
- Bangladesh Buddhist Association
- Bangladesh Buddhist Federation
- Bangladesh Rakhaing-Marma Sangha Council
- Parbatya Bouddha Sangha, Sakyamuni Bouddha Sangha
- The Supreme Sangha Council of Bangladesh
Belgium edit
Bhutan edit
Brazil edit
Burma (see Myanmar) edit
Cambodia edit
Canada edit
- Buddhist Church of Canada
- International Buddhist Friends Association (IBFA)
- True Faith Buddhism Association of Canada Inc.
- Universal Buddhist Temple
- Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Canada
China edit
Czechoslovakia edit
Finland edit
France edit
- Association Cultuelle Bouddhique De Marseille (Vallondes Tuves)
- Association Zen International (AZI)
- French Regional Centre of WFB
- French-Vietnamese Buddhist Association
- World Linh-Son Buddhist Congregation
Germany edit
Ghana edit
Great Britain edit
Hong Kong edit
- Hong Kong Buddhist Sangha Association
- The Hong Kong Buddhist Association
- WFB Hong Kong and Macau Regional Centre
India edit
- All Assam Buddhist Association
- All India Buddhist Mission
- Ambedkar Buddhist Academy
- Asoka Mission
- Bhikkhu Sangha's United Buddhist Mission
- Bouddhjan Panchayat Samiti, "Panchayatan" Dr. Ambedkar
- Buddhist International Centre
- Buddhist Society of India
- Buddhist Society Service Centre
- Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs - Sikkim
- Department of Religion and Culture
- Dharma Chakra Centre
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Samarak Samiti
- Indian Buddhist Society
- International Brotherhood Mission
- International Buddha Education Institute
- International Meditation Centre
- Kalimpong Dharmodaya Sabha
- Ladakh Buddhist Association
- Maha Bodhi Asoka Mission
- Maha Bodhi Society of India
- Pali Bhasha Adhyayan Parishad
- Pradnya Karuna Vihar Samiti, Nanded
- Shri Dadasaheb Gawai Charitable Trust, Amravati, "Kamal Pushpa"
- The Bengal Buddhist Association
- The Karmapa International Buddhist Institute
- The Sangha Mitra
- The South India Buddhist Association
- Triloka Buddha Mahasangha Sahayak Gana
- Vishwa Buddha Parishad
- Yashodhara Mahila Vikas Manda
Indonesia edit
- Buddha Dharma Indonesia Institution Foundation
- Gabungan Tridharma Indonesia (GTI)
- Jakarta Dhammacakka Jaya Foundation
- Perwakilan Umat Buddha Indonesia 1978 (Walubi 1978)
Japan edit
South Korea edit
North Korea edit
Laos edit
Malaysia edit
Mongolia edit
Myanmar edit
Nepal edit
Netherlands edit
Philippines edit
Singapore edit
Sri Lanka edit
Sweden edit
Taiwan edit
- Chinese Buddhist Temple Association
- Fo Guang Shan Monastery
- Han Tzang Cultural Association
- The Buddhist Association
- The Lay Buddhist Association
Tanzania edit
Thailand edit
- Buddhadhamma Foundation
- Dhammapradipa Association
- Luang-Poh Viriyoung Sirintharo Foundation (LVS)
- The Buddhist Association of Chon Buri Province
- The Buddhist Association of Nakhon Pathom Province
- The Buddhist Association of Thailand
- The Thai-Chinese Buddhist Association of Thailand
- The Young Buddhist Association of Thailand
United States edit
- Association of Vietnamese Buddhist Nuns in America
- Buddha's Universal Church
- Buddhist Churches of America
- Buddhist Sangha Council of Southern California
- Congregation of Vietnamese Buddhist in the USA
- Friends of Buddhism
- International Buddhist Meditation Centre
- International Zen Institute of America
- Khmer Buddhist Society of New England
- Los Angeles Buddhist Church Federation
- Mook Rim Buddhist Society International
- Pureland Lotus Community
- Sambosa Buddhist Temple of California
- San Francisco Zen Center
- Shasta Abbey
- Sonoma Mountain Zen Center
- The Buddhist Temple of Chicago
- Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Centre
- Union of Vietnamese Buddhist Churches in the United States of America
- Universal Buddhist Fellowship
- Vajradhatu Buddhist Meditation Centre (former)
- Vietnamese Buddhist Renovation Committee
- Vietnamese Theravada Buddhist Sangha Congregation
- WFB Hawaii Regional Centre
- Young Buddhist Association
USSR edit
Vietnam edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Olson, Carl (2009). The A to Z of Buddhism. Scarecrow Press. pp. 241–242. ISBN 9780810870734.
- ^ a b "About WFBHQ". World Fellowship of Buddhists. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ Sirikanchana, Pataraporn (2010). "World Fellowship of Buddhists". In Melton, J. Gordon; Baumann, Martin (eds.). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. ABC-CLIO. p. 3134–3135. ISBN 978-1-59884-204-3.