Buddhism in the Netherlands
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Buddhism is a small minority religion in the Netherlands, but it has shown rapid growth in recent years.[when?] As of the 2006 estimate, 170,000 Dutch people identified their religion as Buddhist (about 1% of the total population).[1]
Early history
The first awareness of Buddhism in the Netherlands can be traced back to early books,[2] with references to Buddhism reappearing in 1651,[3] 1843[4] and 1878,[5] with the first book on Buddhism being written in the Dutch language in 1879.[6] The turn of the century saw more popular books on Buddhism published in Dutch.[7][8][9][10][11]
Academic study of Buddhism in the Netherlands
The scientific study of Buddhism began in the Netherlands with the appointment of
Postwar Buddhism
After the
National Buddhist Organisation
In 1966 the Dutch Circle of Friends of Buddhism Circle changed its name to the ‘Buddhist Society in the Netherlands’. The new Society held activities that were calculated liberal to all the schools of Buddhism. This ecumenical policy led to some dissension, and later the organization was revamped as the ‘Stichting Nederlands Buddhistisch Centrum’ (Dutch Buddhist Centre Foundation) on 8 November 1967, with the aim ‘to study of the principles of Buddhism in all its diversity and to encourage the practical application of these principles. From 1968 to the present, the Centre has issued a journal. Originally it was called ‘Saddharma’[16] and early in the 21st century it was rechristened as ‘Vorm en Leegte’[17] and published together with a commercial Buddhist publisher. The centre changed its name in 1978 to ‘Stichting Vrienden van het Boeddhisme’ (Friends of Buddhism Foundation). In the same year the ‘Boeddhistische Unie van Nederland’ (Buddhist Union of the Netherlands) was founded, consisting only of representatives of Buddhist groups, with Tony Kurpershoek-Scherft as its first President. It was this second organization which became the Dutch member of the European Buddhist Union. Early 21st century however it dropped its membership of the EBU for a number of reasons; a main one being that the EBU had, and currently still has, both national umbrella organisations amongst its members as well as 'traditions on European level' like FPMT, Triratna Buddhist Community etc. making it in the BUN's eyes a too confused platform.
From 1978 onwards, the history of Buddhism in the Netherlands is mostly the story of individual Buddhist traditions. With however the BUN still acting on their behalf towards government and NGOs, leading to e.g. the BOS 'Boeddhistische Omroep Stichting' (Buddhist Broadcasting Channel) and the formal Buddhist Prisoner Chaplainship which gets equal recognition as other religions. And the SVB still being relevant as an ecumenical entry-level organisation, and as publisher of the only generic Buddhist (quarterly) magazine available in Dutch kiosks.
Zen/Chán Buddhism
In 1968 Leo Boer and Janwillem van de Wetering founded a Zen group, and through two books [18][19] made Zen popular in the Netherlands. The guidance of the group was taken over by Erik Bruijn who is still in charge of a flourishing community.[20]
There are several Zen organisations in the Netherlands:
- The Kanzeon Sangha of Genpo Roshi – having its roots in the White Plum Asanga of Taizan Maezumi Roshi – consists of several organisations:
- Ton Lathouwers is the informal "leader" of Maha Karuna Ch’an, an … informal and fundamentally open sangha of laypersons …..
- Another group consists of the Zen.nl organisation from Rients Ritskes, a student of Hirata Roshi of Tenryū-ji in Kyoto.[24] He studied in Kyoto in 1986/87, and claimed to be "officially authorised" by Sokun Tsushimoto Roshi in 1999.[25][26][27]
- Many other groups are also represented in the Netherlands, like the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives in Apeldoorn, the Thich Nhat Hanh Order of Interbeing and the International Zen Institute Noorderpoort[28]monastery/retreat centre in Drenthe, led by Jiun Hogen Roshi.
- Chinese Buddhists developed an own centre: it is a famous landmark in the Chinatown district of Amsterdam, called the He Hua temple.BLIA of Ven. Hsing Yunfrom Taiwan.
Theravada Buddhism
In 1971 the Dutch merchant Monshouwer gathered some people in order to discuss the possibility of founding a Theravada temple with the support of Thai ambassador Sompong Sucharitkul. In 1973 the temple was officially founded in Waalwijk. Originally the temple was named Wat Dhammasucaritanucharee, but two years later renamed as Buddharama Temple with its own supporting foundation called ‘Young Buddhists Netherlands’. This foundation had its own journal.[30] Later the founding abbot Ven. Mettavihari moved to Amsterdam and started a separate community of vipassana practitioners there. The foundation supporting the Thai temple in Waalwijk was renamed the ‘Nederlandse Buddha Dhamma Stichting’ (Dutch Buddha Dhamma Foundation) and now aims mainly for Thai immigrants.
In 2015 it became known that Mettavihari had sexually abused various of his followers in Waalwijk and elsewhere. At least 21 victims had accused him of abuse by June 2015.[31]
After the passing away of Ven. Mettavihari, there still is the Sangha Metta Buddhist temple in Amsterdam centre; next to this two countrywide organisations being the general Vipassana-oriented SIM and the Burmese-oriented Sagya U Bha Khin . Also more regional organisations exist e.g. around Groningen and Drenthe in the north of the country.
Tibetan Buddhism
In 1977 Han de Wit, an authorized pupil of the Kagyu lama
Other groups
Finally two more ecumenic groups should be mentioned. In the first place the
Present situation
This section needs to be updated.(July 2015) |
In 1971 there were 900 Buddhists in the Netherlands. Since 1971 the number of Buddhists has increased considerably, probably in connection with the rise of ‘alternative’ views in society and the decline of Christianity. The increased interest in Buddhism is evident from the growth in number of Buddhist centres. In 1990 total there were forty-two groups.,[34] in 2010 between eighty and one hundred including groups associated with a larger national centre. A Buddhist broadcasting channel (Boeddhistische Omroep Stichting) offers programming on the national network. In 2004 there were 170,000 Buddhists in the Netherlands - about 1% of the population.[35] Also the Buddhist Prison Chaplainship, 'Boeddhistische Zendende Instantie', is formally recognised by the government, gets equal subsidy as the other main religions and is busy setting up a professional training in cooperation with the Free University of Amsterdam.[36]
References
- ^ Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau. Maatschappelijke organisaties in beeld Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Den Haag, 2008.
- Barlaam en Joasaph – a translation of the Greek manuscript by c.7 patriarch John of Damascus
- ^ Rogerius (1651) notes of missionary work on the Coromandel Coast of India mentioning the Buddha as the ninth Avatar of Visnu
- ^ J.H. Halbertsma (1789-1869) Het Buddhisme en zijn Stichter (Buddhism and its Founder) based on Brian Houghton Hodgson's illustrations of the literature and religion of the Buddhists, published in 1841
- ^ C.P.Tiele (1878) review on W. T. Rhys Davids' book Buddhism: Being a sketch of the Life and Teaching of Gautama, the Buddha
- ^ J.P. van der Vegte (1879) Het Buddhisme en zijn Stichter (Buddhism and its founder) 330pp (translation of Rhys Davids' book)
- ^ Felix Ortt (1905) The Gospel of Buddha translation of the work by Paul Carus
- ^ H.U. Meyboom (1902) Het Licht van Azie translation of Paul Arnold's The Light of Asia
- ^ C. J. Wijnaendts Francken (1897) Het boeddhisme en zijn wereldbeschouwing (Buddhism and its world-view)
- ^ H. Bouwman (1906) Boeddhisme en Christendom (Buddhism and Christianity)
- ^ S. van Houten (1889) De leer van de Boeddha naar de heilige boeken van het zuidelijke Boeddhisnie voor Europeanen bewerk (The Teaching of the Buddha according to the holy books of Southern Buddhism, adapted for Europeans)
- ^ Hendrik Kern (1882) ‘Geschiedenis van het Buddhisme in Indie’(History of Buddhism in India) Vol. 1
- ^ Hendrik Kern (1884) ‘Geschiedenis van het Buddhisme in Indie’ Vol. 2
- ^ Hendrik Kern (1896) Manual of Indian Buddhism
- ^ ‘De Samenspraak’ (The Dialogue)
- ^ Saddharma
- ^ Vorm en Leegte
- ^ Janwillem van de Wetering (1973) Het dagende niets (The Dawning of Nothingness)
- ^ Janwillem van de Wetering (1973) The Empty Mirror (Routledge & Kegan Paul)
- ^ "Erik Bruijn". Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
- ^ "Zen Centrum Amsterdam". Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
- ^ "Zen River". Archived from the original on 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
- ^ Maha Karuna Ch’an Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Zen.nl Archived May 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Zen.nl Zenmanagement: trainers
- ^ Boeddhistisch Dagblad, 17 april 2013, Rients Ritskes op beschuldiging: ‘Raksu formeel uitgereikt als bewijs van competent zenleiderschap’ Archived April 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ See also The Japan Times online: Caring for body and soul. Interview with Sokun Tsushimoto Archived 2012-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "International Zen Institute". Archived from the original on 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ He Hua Temple
- ^ ‘Vipassana-Sara’
- ^ "Excuses voor slachtoffers misbruik boeddhistische tempel Waalwijk". 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- ^ "Han De Wit". 13 November 2022.Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ "THE SAKYA TRADITION". Sakya Bristol.Retrieved 2023-02-21.
- ^ quantitative estimations are based on a 1990 survey by V. van Gemert
- ^ 2004 data drawn from 2008 SCP report Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Chaplaincy Network". European Buddhist Union. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
Further reading
- Boer, I. den, Boeddhisme in Nederland’, Saddharma, 19(2), 19(4), 20(1).
- Janssen, R. H. C., "Buddhism in the Netherlands: History and Present Status", in: Buddhism into the Year 2.000. International Conference Proceedings (First International Conference 'Buddhism into the Year 2000', hosted by the Dhammakaaya Foundation, Bangkok (Thailand), February 8, 1990), Bangkok: Dhammakaya Foundation 1995, pp. 151–156
- Gemert, Victor van, Boeddhisme in Nederland, 1990, ISBN 90-71013-07-3
- Poorthuis, Marcel; Salemink, Theo, Lotus in de Lage Landen: De geschiedenis van het boeddhisme in Nederland - Beeldvorming van 1840 tot heden, Uitgever Parthenon, Almere, ISBN 90-79578-05-3