Buddhist Origins and Key Organisations in the UK

• In the 19^th and early 20^th century Buddhism was often spread by people who originated the UK and became Buddhists when abroad, and who then returned to spread the religion.

• In 1908 the Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland was formed to receive a Buddhist mission by the Venerable Ananda Metteyya (Alan Bennett) who, in 1901, had been ordained as a monk in Burma.

• The Buddhist Society UK has been recognised as a key source of information on Buddhists and Buddhism in the UK. More recently, The Network of Buddhist Organisations UK has also played a similar role.

• Buddhists of many ethnic backgrounds, and a great variety of Buddhist traditions and movements (see A Short Introduction to Buddhism) are found in the UK.

• The greatest concentrations of Buddhists in England and Wales are found in

• The Buddhist Society produces The Buddhist Directory. An introduction to Buddhists in the UK and contact details for a range of national, local and regional organisations can also be found in the directory Religions in the UK and also in the World Fellowship of Buddhists’ On-Line Directory, BuddhaNet.

Written by Professor Paul Weller