The European Buddhist Union
The European Buddhist Union (EBU) is a network of Buddhist organizations and National Buddhist Unions in Europe. We are open to all schools and traditions of Buddhism in Europe wishing to unite on the basis of Buddhist teachings and work together in spiritual friendship and respect for diversity.
The EBU is a member of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (2000).
In 2008 the EBU obtained official participatory status with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The EBU is actively participating in the Council of Europe's Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations.
The EBU is a founding member of ENORB, the European Network of Religion and Belief, founded in Brussels, 2011.
Our Mission
Our mission is to facilitate international exchange and promote spiritual friendship amongst European Buddhists, to support social action and ideas motivated by Buddhist-inspired values, and to amplify the voice of Buddhism in Europe and worldwide.
Upcoming Events
The European Buddhist Union and the Buddhist Union of the Netherlands present
HOW CLINGING TO GENDER SUBVERTS ENLIGHTENMENT
A Talk by Rita Gross
Monday 1st July 2013, 7.30pm
at the Rigpa Centre Amsterdam
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Rita Gross speak. Rita rarely visits Europe, therefore this is an unmissable opportunity to hear this acclaimed American scholar and practitioner. Those who have read her books will know what an interesting and original thinker she is.
Freedom from the prison of gender roles, the goal of feminism, is also built into the most basic ideals of Buddhism. Buddhist teachings from all periods and all schools of Buddhism are gender neutral and gender free, declaring that women and men are equally capable of realization. Nevertheless, there is a deep contradiction at the heart of Buddhism between those teachings and its institutional practices regarding gender. Historically, Buddhist institutions have not treated women and men equally and Buddhist teachers have not addressed this problem forcefully enough. This generalization pertains even to Western Buddhism. But reinforcing and clinging to conventional gender norms and practices is detrimental to deep practice and to realization. Clinging to gender does subvert enlightenment.
Rita M. Gross is a scholar-practitioner who teaches and writes about Buddhism and contemporary issues, including gender. She is a senior teacher in the lineage of Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, one of the few female lineage holders actively teaching in Tibetan Buddhism. She is also professor emeritus of Comparative Studies in Religion. The author of many books and articles, her forthcoming book is Religious Diversity—What’s the Problem? Buddhist Advice for Flourishing with Religious Diversity.
This event is free. Donations are welcome to cover the speaker’s expenses.
- Venue: Rigpa Netherlands, Van Ostadestraat 300, 1073 TW Amsterdam
- Phone: +31 20 470 5100 Email : rigpa(at)rigpa.nl
- Transit: Amsterdam, Ceintuurbaan/Van Woustraat
