The Dutch Sangha
The situation of Buddhist monks and nuns in the Netherlands is determined by Asian Buddhist monks.
In the beginning of the development of Buddhism in the Netherlands, mostly Asian monks and Asian immigrants spread the teachings of Buddha. They got the education in their home countries in Asia. Some of them traveled around the world to meet other Buddhist and to make Buddhism well known. Others had to leave their home countries because of the political situation or other problems. In both cases they caused an interest for Buddhism in other countries, so as in the Netherlands.
Buddhist temples were opened and more and more Dutch people became interested in Buddhism and its teachings.
That also leads to a rising interest of becoming a Buddhist monk or nun. The process of the education and acceptation from monks is still marked through the long tradition. It is a great and exhausting process. Only a few people really went through this process.
That's why a lot of Buddhists in the Netherlands are not monks but people that come together on a regular basis. They form a Buddhist community. So most of the Dutch people who are working in Buddhist temples in the Netherlands are not a monk or nun but a trainee or just educated in special areas of Buddhism. That’s why there are a lot of Dutch teachers for Zen-Buddhism or meditation practices. It's harder to find Dutch Buddhist nuns and monks because the process is for most people in the western culture hard to accomplish.
Even though there aren't a lot of Buddhist nuns and monks in the Netherlands, Buddhism is actually very organized in the Netherlands. This is in the form of an union named "Boeddhistische Unie Nederland" which means ‘Buddhism Union the Netherlands’. On their website you can find every Buddhist community in the Netherlands. That's also where you can find the monasteries. Besides the organization structure in the Netherlands there is an worldwide structure, people with the same vision have contacts in other countries. This can be in Asia but also in Poland or Mexico.
In the beginning of the development of Buddhism in the Netherlands, mostly Asian monks and Asian immigrants spread the teachings of Buddha. They got the education in their home countries in Asia. Some of them traveled around the world to meet other Buddhist and to make Buddhism well known. Others had to leave their home countries because of the political situation or other problems. In both cases they caused an interest for Buddhism in other countries, so as in the Netherlands.
Buddhist temples were opened and more and more Dutch people became interested in Buddhism and its teachings.
That also leads to a rising interest of becoming a Buddhist monk or nun. The process of the education and acceptation from monks is still marked through the long tradition. It is a great and exhausting process. Only a few people really went through this process.
That's why a lot of Buddhists in the Netherlands are not monks but people that come together on a regular basis. They form a Buddhist community. So most of the Dutch people who are working in Buddhist temples in the Netherlands are not a monk or nun but a trainee or just educated in special areas of Buddhism. That’s why there are a lot of Dutch teachers for Zen-Buddhism or meditation practices. It's harder to find Dutch Buddhist nuns and monks because the process is for most people in the western culture hard to accomplish.
Even though there aren't a lot of Buddhist nuns and monks in the Netherlands, Buddhism is actually very organized in the Netherlands. This is in the form of an union named "Boeddhistische Unie Nederland" which means ‘Buddhism Union the Netherlands’. On their website you can find every Buddhist community in the Netherlands. That's also where you can find the monasteries. Besides the organization structure in the Netherlands there is an worldwide structure, people with the same vision have contacts in other countries. This can be in Asia but also in Poland or Mexico.
The Dutch Sangha might be small, but that makes it all the more interesting. To find out more about places of gathering, meditation and whatnot, or to read about the people who have played or are still playing an important role within our Sangha, click one of the buttons on the right. Of course you can also head back to the homepage if you've had enough information about the Dutch community for now. Relax your face and smile, there's no need to frown!
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