World Fellowship of Buddhists explained

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]

1. To promote among the members strict observance and practice of the teachings of the Buddha
2. To secure unity, solidarity, and brotherhood amongst Buddhists
3. To propagate the sublime doctrine of the Buddha
4. To organize and carry on activities in the field of social, educational, cultural and other humanitarian services
5. 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

Australia

• 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

• Osterrichische Buddhistische Union (Austrian Buddhist Union)

Bangladesh

• 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

• Buddhist Study Centre of Belgium

Bhutan

• Dratshang Lhentshog (National Council of Sangha Communities)

Brazil

• Federacao das Seitas Buddhists do Brasil
• Sociedade Budista do Brasil

Cambodia

• Buddhism Community for Development of Cambodia
• Buddhist Association Khmer Republic

Canada

• 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

• Buddhist Association of China

Czechoslovakia

• Dr. Dusan J. Kafka

Finland

• Buddhismin Ystavat

France

• 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

• Deutsche Buddhistische Union (DBU)
• European Buddhist Union
• Order Arya Maitreya Mandala (AMM)

Ghana

• The Maha Bodhi Society of Ghana

Great Britain

• Amaravati Buddhist Centre
• The Buddhist Society

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong Buddhist Sangha Association
• The Hong Kong Buddhist Association
• WFB Hong Kong and Macau Regional Centre

India

• 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

• Buddha Dharma Indonesia Institution Foundation
• Gabungan Tridharma Indonesia (GTI)
• Jakarta Dhammacakka Jaya Foundation
• Perwalian Umat Buddha Indonesia 1978 (Walubi 1978)

Japan

• Japan Buddhist Federation

South Korea

• The Korea Fellowship of Buddhists
• WFB Korea Regional Centre
• Won Buddhism

North Korea

• Korea Buddhist Federation

Laos

• WFB Regional Centre

Malaysia

• Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia
• WFB Penang Regional Centre
• WFB Selangor Regional Centre

Mongolia

• Tashi Choi Ling Monastery
• The Centre of Mongolian Buddhists

Myanmar

• Sayadaw U Thittila
• The Buddhist Discussion Group
• The Chittagong Buddhist Association

Nepal

• Dharmodaya Sabha

Netherlands

• International Zen Institute Netherlands

Philippines

• WFB Philippines Regional Centre

Singapore

• The Buddhist Union
• The Singapore Regional Centre of WFB

Sri Lanka

• All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress
• German Dharmaduta Society
• Sri Lanka Regional Centre of WFB

Sweden

• Buddhismens Venners
• Svenska Buddhistiska Samfudes

Taiwan

• Chinese Buddhist Temple Association
• Fo Guang Shan Monastery
• Han Tzang Cultural Association
• The Buddhist Association
• The Lay Buddhist Association

Tanzania

• The Buddhist Association

Thailand

• 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

• 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

• Central Spiritual Board of Buddhists of the USSR (former)

Vietnam

• Theravadin Buddhist Association

See also

• Buddhist councils
• Index of Buddhism-related articles
• International Buddhist Confederation
• Maha Bodhi Society
• Pre-sectarian Buddhism
• World Buddhist Sangha Council

External links

• World Fellowship of Buddhists homepage

Notes and References

1. Book: Olson, Carl . The A to Z of Buddhism . Scarecrow Press . 2009 . 9780810870734 . 241–242.
2. Web site: About WFBHQ . dead . World Fellowship of Buddhists . 2 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150505000726/http://www.wfbhq.org/organization.html . 5 May 2015.
3. Encyclopedia: World Fellowship of Buddhists . Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices . 2010 . Sirikanchana . Pataraporn . Melton . J. Gordon . Baumann . Martin . ABC-CLIO . 3134–3135 . 978-1-59884-204-3.