What We Do
Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President The Buddhist Society, Venerable Amaro, Venerable Seelawimala, with Her Majesty The Queen for the Diamond Jubilee.
Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President The Buddhist Society, and delegates attending the International Buddhist Conclave, Sarnath, October 2016
His Grace Archbishop Justin Welby and Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President The Buddhist Society at Lambeth Palace.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government and Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President, The Buddhist Society in the Lecture Room of the Buddhist Society. August 2016
Ven Seelawimala, Chief Sangha Nayaka, London Buddhist Vihara, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth,Ven Phrakru Samulom, Buddhapadipa Temple, Wimbledon, and Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President of The Buddhist Society in its Library.
Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President The Buddhist Society, His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, Ven. Geshe Tashi, and Ven. Amaro, at The Buddhist Society for an Inter-Faith Meeting hosted by Lambeth Palace and The Buddhist Society on shared texts.
On 21st September 2015, The Buddhist Society invited its Patron, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to an event at The House of Lords to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Holiness and the 90th anniversary of The Buddhist Society. The theme was ‘The Preservation of Religious Culture and the Cohesion of the Faiths’.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama, with His Grace Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, and Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President The Buddhist Society, at the House of Commons.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama with Buddhist Society Council Member, Rev. Prof. Kemmyo Taira Sato at the House of Lords.
For over 40 years, The Buddhist Society has been organising a Summer School, which takes place at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. Prominent Buddhist leaders will be leading the retreat. The Summer School is open to all.
Ven. Phrakru Samulom (Buddhapadipa Temple, Wimbledon) and Ven. Lama Chime Rinpoche (Marpa House) will be guest teachers at The Buddhist Society Summer School in 2016.
The Society conducts its own courses on Buddhism, which are free to attend. Courses include Introducing Buddhism, which runs four times a year, First Steps in Buddhist Practice, The First Turning of the Wheel, and The Great Way course.
Since its beginnings, the Society has also held Public Lectures on aspects of Buddhist Art and Culture on Wednesday nights. Prominent recent speakers have included Professor Janice Stargardt of Cambridge University, and Dr John Clarke, Curator of the Himalayan and Southeast Asian Collection at the V&A Museum.
Prof. Janice Stargardt in The Buddhist Society Library
The Society also runs a Correspondence Course for people living outside London and unable to attend regular classes/courses at the Society. The course stresses the importance of practicing Buddhism rather than thinking about it, and helps the student discover how to do so.
The Buddhist Society has maintained an active publishing programme since its inception. Its recent publications include a three-volume edition of D.T. Suzuki's selected writings, in association with the University of California Press, and a translation of the Suramgamasamadhi Sutra, by the University of Hawai'i Press.
The Middle Way, the journal of The Buddhist Society, has a continuous publishing history dating back to 1925. First appearing under the title, Buddhism in England, it was renamed The Middle Way in 1943. It appears four times a year, in February, May, August, and November.
In October 2015, The Buddhist Society, in cooperation with the Triple Gem Buddhist Foundation, held a conference on Mindfulness with the participation of members of the Buddhist Sangha and lay individuals interested in exploring the theme of Mindfulness - Secular, Religious, Both, Or Neither. The Mindful Nation Parliamentary Report was presented and discussed. Scholars from British universities spoke alongside Faith Leaders, including Ven Ajahn Amaro from Amaravati and Ven Myokun from Shobo-an Zen Centre.
On 14th March 2015, The Buddhist Society attended a celebration at Shobo-an Zen Centre of the dedication of the Shrine Room and the new Zendo.
Ven. Myosui and Ven. Sogen of Fairlight Zen Temple.
In September 2014 The London Buddhist Vihara in association with The Buddhist Society hosted and celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Anagarika Dharmapala at Hammersmith Town Hall. The event celebrated the life, teachings and work of Anagarika Dharmapala. Over one thousand Buddhists participated.
In 2011 The Buddhist Society celebrated the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi, commemorating the anniversary of the Buddha’s Enlightenment. This celebration was organised with the UK Sri Lankan Sangha Sabha Council.
The Society takes a significant part in the model syllabus for Buddhism for UK Schools. It is represented on several Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (SACRE), statutory bodies which advise Local Authorities on all matters pertaining to the religious education of children.
It is represented on the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC), an independent body with a wide advisory role.
The Society published The Buddhist Directory covering the UK and Ireland. It offers advice to the BBC on religious matters concerning Buddhism. It also gives advice to authors and publishers, as well as to visitors and callers who seek help or information.
It is a member of the Inter-Faith Network for the United Kingdom and is actively involved in the interfaith movement.
As a member of the European Buddhist Union, the World Congress of Faiths, and the World Fellowship of Buddhists, it sends delegates to international conferences.
The Buddhist Society has developed its own Chaplaincy Programme with an Introductory Course. It is developing a fully accredited Chaplaincy Programme which will take place at its premises in Eccleston Square, London. It works in consultation with leading members of the Sangha, the NHS, and universities.
The Society is the endorsing authority for the Buddhist Chaplaincy for the Ministry of Defence.