Buddhism in Wales is followed by 0.3% of the Welsh population, according to the 2021 Census.
Buddhism has a relatively short history, having only really established a presence in the country in the 20th Century. 10,075 people in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
declared themselves
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
in the 2021 Census, representing a number of Buddhist traditions.
Denominations
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
is particularly well represented with branches of several different traditions and lineages, notably
Lama Shenpen Hookham Susan Kathryn Hookham (née Rowan), known as Lama Shenpen Hookham is a Buddhist teacher who has trained for over 50 years in the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Biography
Lama Shenpen was born Susan Kathryn Rowan in Essex, E ...
's Awakened Heart Sangha, based in North Wales.
Zen Buddhism has several groups in Wales and three
Soto Zen masters are currently resident and actively teaching. The
Samatha Trust, a lay
Theravada
''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...
group, have their headquarters in Wales as does the Tibetan group, Awakened Heart Sangha. The
Triratna Buddhist Community have a number of groups and a large
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
Buddhist Centre. The Nyingma Aro gTér Lineage has been active in Wales since 1981. The Aro gTér Lineage Holders, Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, are resident in Wales and have written many publications about Vajrayana Buddhist practice (see Aro Books worldwide and Aro Books Inc). Another Welsh author of this lineage is Ngakma Nor’dzin Pamo who is a teacher at Aro Ling Cardiff.
Buddhist Council of Wales
The Buddhist Council of Wale
has a growing number of Buddhist organisations and groups listed on their website. The Council is active in representing Buddhism and has two delegates on the
National Assembly for Wales
The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English language, English and () in Welsh language, Welsh, is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes ...
Faith Communities Forum and two on the Interfaith Council for Wales.
Notable Buddhists
*
Ricky Evans- former rugby star who converted to Buddhism.
Rugby star on Buddhist life
BBC News, 5 January 2004
See also
* Buddhism in Scotland
Buddhism in Scotland is a relatively recent phenomenon. In Scotland Buddhists represent 0.24% of the population or around 13,000 people.
History of Buddhism in Scotland
The earliest Buddhist influence on Scotland came through its imperial connec ...
* Buddhism in England
* Buddhism in the United Kingdom
* Religion in Wales
References
External links
Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist group
dashboard for Aro gTér Lineage sites
Buddhist Council of Wales
The Samatha Trust
Hermitage of The Awakened Heart
* Lama Shenpen Hookham Susan Kathryn Hookham (née Rowan), known as Lama Shenpen Hookham is a Buddhist teacher who has trained for over 50 years in the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Biography
Lama Shenpen was born Susan Kathryn Rowan in Essex, E ...
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
Wal
WAL or Wal may refer to:
Places
* Wał, Lublin Voivodeship, village in eastern Poland
* Wał, Masovian Voivodeship, village in east-central Poland
* Wales, constituent nation of the United Kingdom
* Wallonia, Walloon Region of Belgium
* Wallops F ...
Wal
WAL or Wal may refer to:
Places
* Wał, Lublin Voivodeship, village in eastern Poland
* Wał, Masovian Voivodeship, village in east-central Poland
* Wales, constituent nation of the United Kingdom
* Wallonia, Walloon Region of Belgium
* Wallops F ...
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