The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is an international

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 ...

organization. Initiated by Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, it was founded in 1950 in

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...

Ceylon Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

(present-day

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

), by representatives from 27 nations. Although

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 ...

Buddhists are most influential in the organization, (its headquarters are in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

and all of its presidents have been from Sri Lanka or southeast Asia), members of all Buddhist schools are active in the WFB. It now has regional centers in 35 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: #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 Phan Wannamethee (born 30 January 1923) is a Thai diplomat who served as the sixth secretary-general of ASEAN between 1984 and 1986. Education Phan Wannamethee graduated from Oberlin College with a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degr ...

of Thailand serving since 1999, while Venerable

Hsing Yun Hsing Yun () (born 19 August 1927) is a Chinese Buddhist monk. He is the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order as well as the affiliated Buddha's Light International Association in Taiwan. Hsing Yun is considered to be one of the most ...

of the

Republic of China (Taiwan) Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...

serves 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 ''Anoma'' is a genus of gastropods belonging to the family Urocoptidae Urocoptidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Urocoptoidea. Taxonomy 2005 taxonomy The family Uroc ...

* 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

Burma (see Myanmar)

Cambodia

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

Canada

Buddhist Church of Canada 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 ...

* 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 The Buddhist Society is a UK registered charity which aims to encourage the study and practice of Buddhist principles. The Buddhist Society is an inter-denominational and non-sectarian lay organization. It offers talks and classes on the teach ...

Hong Kong

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

India

* All Asam 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 * Tripura Rajya Buddhist Association * Vishwa Buddha Parishad * Yashodhara Mahila Vikas Manda

Indonesia

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

Japan

Japan Buddhist Federation Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

South Korea

* The Korea Fellowship of Buddhists * WFB Korea Regional Centre *

Won Buddhism Won Buddhism ( ko, 원불교, Wǒnbulgyo, label=none), is a modern religion originating in Korea. It can be regarded as either a syncretic new religious movement or a reformed Buddhism. The name "Won Buddhism" comes from the Korean words 원/� ...

North Korea

Korea Buddhist Federation The Korea Buddhist Federation, also called the Chosŏn Buddhist Federation, sometime abbreviated Chobulyŏn, supervises all activities of Buddhists in North Korea. The organization was founded on Dec. 26, 1946. In 1999 there were 10,000 Buddhists ...

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 Fo Guang Shan Monastery ( is a Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhist monastery in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It is the headquarters of the Fo Guang Shan international organization and the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. History In 1967, Hs ...

* 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 is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

* 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 San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC), is a network of affiliated Sōtō Zen practice and retreat centers in the San Francisco Bay area, comprising City Center or Beginner's Mind Temple, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, and Green Gulch Farm Zen Cente ...

* 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 The Central Spiritual Board of Buddhists of the USSR (TsDUB) was the authorized organization for Buddhists in the Soviet Union. The organization was founded at a congress of Buddhist believers on May 21–23, 1946 in Ulan-Ude, Buryat-Mongol ASSR. T ...

(former)

Vietnam

* Theravadin Buddhist Association

References

External links

World Fellowship of Buddhists homepage
International Buddhist organizations Religious organizations established in 1950 1950 establishments in Ceylon International organizations based in Thailand {{Buddhism-org-stub