Buddhism in Scotland
Encyclopedia
The arrival of Buddhism in Scotland is relatively recent. In Scotland
Buddhists represent 0.13% of the population (6,182). People were asked both their current religion and that they were brought up in. 6,830 people gave Buddhism
as their current religion, and 4,704 said they were brought up in it, with an overlap of 3,146.
traditions of Burma, Thailand
, and Sri Lanka
. To begin with, 150 years ago, this response was primarily scholarly, and a tradition of study grew up that eventually resulted in the foundation of the Pali Text Society
, which undertook the huge task of translating the Pali Canon
of Theravada Buddhist texts into English
.
The rate of growth was slow but steady through the century, and the 1950s saw the development of interest in Zen Buddhism. In 1967 Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre
was founded by Tibetan lamas and refugees Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche
. It is in Eskdalemuir
, in south west Scotland and is the largest Tibetan Buddhist
centre in Western Europe, and part of the Karma Kagyu
tradition.
As well there are other Buddhism-based new religious movements such as the New Kadampa Tradition
, Triratna Buddhist Community and Sōka Gakkai International
. The Triratna community maintains a retreat centre at Balquhidder
in the Trossachs
.
monastery—founded in 1967—includes the largest Buddhist temple in western Europe. There is an associated community on Holy Isle
which is owned by Samyé Ling who belong to the Kagyu
school of Tibetan Buddhism. The settlements on the island include the Centre for World Peace and Health and a retreat centre for nuns. Samyé Ling has also established centres in more than 20 countries, including Belgium
, Ireland
, Poland
, South Africa
, Spain
and Switzerland
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Buddhists represent 0.13% of the population (6,182). People were asked both their current religion and that they were brought up in. 6,830 people gave Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
as their current religion, and 4,704 said they were brought up in it, with an overlap of 3,146.
History of Buddhism in Scotland
The earliest Buddhist influence on Scotland came through its imperial connections with South East Asia, and as a result the early connections were with the TheravadaTheravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
traditions of Burma, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. To begin with, 150 years ago, this response was primarily scholarly, and a tradition of study grew up that eventually resulted in the foundation of the Pali Text Society
Pali Text Society
The Pali Text Society was founded in 1881 by T.W. Rhys Davids "to foster and promote the study of Pali texts".Pali is the language in which the texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism is preserved...
, which undertook the huge task of translating the Pali Canon
Pāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
of Theravada Buddhist texts into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre
Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist complex associated with the Karma Kagyu school located at Eskdalemuir, near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.- History :...
was founded by Tibetan lamas and refugees Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche
Akong Rinpoche
Chöje Akong Rinpoche is a tulku in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and a founder of the Samye Ling Monastery. He was born in 1939, near Riwoq in Kham, Eastern Tibet. At the age of two he was discovered by the search party seeking the reincarnation of the previous Akong, Abbot of Dolma...
. It is in Eskdalemuir
Eskdalemuir
-External links:*...
, in south west Scotland and is the largest Tibetan Buddhist
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
centre in Western Europe, and part of the Karma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu , or Kamtsang Kagyu, is probably the largest and certainly the most widely practiced lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and current...
tradition.
As well there are other Buddhism-based new religious movements such as the New Kadampa Tradition
New Kadampa Tradition
The New Kadampa Tradition ~ International Kadampa Buddhist Union is a global Buddhist organisation founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in England in 1991. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" were added to the original name "New Kadampa Tradition"...
, Triratna Buddhist Community and Sōka Gakkai International
Soka Gakkai International
is a lay religious movement within Nichiren Buddhism, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism derived from the teachings of the thirteenth-century Japanese monk, Nichiren Daishonin....
. The Triratna community maintains a retreat centre at Balquhidder
Balquhidder
Balquhidder is a small village in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It is overlooked by the dramatic mountain terrain of the Braes of Balquhidder, at the head of Loch Voil. Balquhidder Glen is also popular for fishing, nature watching and walking...
in the Trossachs
Trossachs
The Trossachs itself is a small woodland glen in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It lies between Ben A'an to the north and Ben Venue to the south, with Loch Katrine to the west and Loch Achray to the east. However, the name is used generally to refer to the wider area of wooded glens and...
.
Samyé Ling
Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan CentreKagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre
Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist complex associated with the Karma Kagyu school located at Eskdalemuir, near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.- History :...
monastery—founded in 1967—includes the largest Buddhist temple in western Europe. There is an associated community on Holy Isle
Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde
The Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde is one of a number of islands in the United Kingdom which go under the name "Holy Island". It is located in the Firth of Clyde off the west coast of central Scotland, inside Lamlash Bay on the larger island of Arran.- Details :The island is around long and around ...
which is owned by Samyé Ling who belong to the Kagyu
Kagyu
The Kagyu, Kagyupa, or Kagyud school, also known as the "Oral Lineage" or Whispered Transmission school, is today regarded as one of six main schools of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism, the other five being the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Bon and Gelug...
school of Tibetan Buddhism. The settlements on the island include the Centre for World Peace and Health and a retreat centre for nuns. Samyé Ling has also established centres in more than 20 countries, including Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Notable Scottish Buddhists
- Stephen Batchelor
- BodhipaksaBodhipaksaBodhipaksa is a vegetarian Buddhist author and a member of the Western Buddhist Order. He has published several books including Guided Meditations for Calmness, Awareness, and Love. He has also written Wildmind, Guided Meditations for Busy People and Vegetarianism...
- Alex FernsAlex FernsAlexander "Alex" Ferns is a Scottish actor and television personality, best known for his EastEnders role as Trevor Morgan, "Britain's most-hated soap villain."...
- Rupert GethinRupert GethinDr. Rupert Mark Lovell Gethin is a Lecturer in Indian Religions in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and codirector of the Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol, and president of the Pali Text Society...
- Ajahn CandasiriAjahn CandasiriAjahn Candasiri is a senior nun in the Thai Forest Tradition of Thai Theravada Buddhism.Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, she became an occupational therapist in the mental health field after graduating from a university. Having been raised as a Christian she later as an adult began to take an...
External links
- Edinburgh Buddhist Centre (FWBO)
- Scotland - List of Buddhist groups in Scotland
- Portobello Buddhist Priory (OBC)
- Edinburgh Theravadan Buddhists
- Scottish Wild Geese Sangha (COI)