News - Announcements

EBU Tibet Resolution

23rd March 2008

The European Buddhist Union

We, the representatives of The European Buddhist Union extend our support and solidarity with the recent protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet as we see hundreds of Buddhist monks and ordinary citizens take to the streets of Lhasa in protest too about the destruction of their culture. They have been met with violence and the monasteries in Lhasa have been closed and surrounded by troops. Yet the monks are undeterred, and continue to protest in Tibet's cities wherever possible.

In solidarity with the people of Tibet, our brothers and sisters in the Dharma, we condemn the Chinese government's suppression of peaceful demonstrations, the closing of monasteries, and the broad imposition of martial law. The violent response by Chinese security forces only adds fuel to fires they lit many years ago.

Day by day we closely follow the news. We are shocked and appalled. The world has stood by whilst decades of Chinese occupation has systematically attempted to destroy indigenous Tibetan culture until, as the International Campaign for Tibet says "In Tibet's cities and fertile valleys, particularly in eastern Tibet, Chinese outnumber Tibetans by two and sometimes three to one."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has appealed "to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people...I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence."

We join with the Dalai Lama in his appeal and condemn the violent repression of natural and proper protest of China's longstanding repression of Tibet. We ask all friends of Tibet - people and governments - to do the same. We call on the government of the People's Republic of China to release all Tibetans held on political charges. Finally we encourage the brave and patient people of Tibet to stay strong, and to uphold the Buddha's teachings of nonviolence.

We urge all ministers and governments to do everything in their power to stop repression and to achieve discussions with the Dalai Lama as leader of the Tibetan people. We call upon all concerned agencies to take special responsibility to see that the situation receives immediate attention to avoid further harm, bloodshed and conflict.

EBU Council Meeting 2008

The next EBU Council meeting will be held from March 1 to 2 in Paris (175 rue de Tolbiac 75013 Paris). (Subway "Tolbiac" or "Place d'Italie"). We are guests at the Zen dojo of AZI (Association Zen Internationale). The Zen monk in charge of the Dojo is Emmanuel Risacher and the phone number of the dojo is 00 33 (0)1 45 89 14 00.

The meeting will start on Saturday 1st of March (10 am to 12 and 2pm to 6pm )and will be continued on Sunday morning at 10 am.

A number of topics are on the agenda: increasing membership of EBU with a focus on Eastern Europe, improving communication among members in various ways, carrying on the work on projects and platforms, intensifying our role in interfaith dialogue and academic institutions. The meeting will also prepare the agenda for the next Annual General Meeting of EBU in Italy next September, as well as the upcoming election of a new Administrative Council.

EBU Annual General Meeting 2007

Friendship and Communication between diverse sanghas

The 2007 AGM, that took place from 27th - 30th September, once again saw an increased attendance. Members came from 14 countries to the Naropa Institute in Cadzand, Holland where the staff and volunteers took very good care of us. There have been several new membership applications and their representatives joined us.

We were deeply affected by the news of events in Burma. So one of our first tasks was to create together a statement of solidarity and support containing a plea for a peaceful solution.

It was a lively meeting, with various projects and platforms under discussion. We had an invited guest, Gabriela Reichert, who talked about Sakyadhita Europe and the Nun's Congress in Hamburg 2007. The ensuing women's platform agreed to compile a list of female teachers in Europe. Another group discussed how to involve and encourage young people into our sanghas. Ultimately it is hoped to bring young people together in Europe. A questionnaire will be designed and sent to EBU members to find out more about the needs of their young people. A summer school under the aegis of EBU was proposed. Possibilities of increased co-operation between national unions and networks were also considered. Visits and a number of possible "twinnings" are planned between countries in the coming year. A booklet about the EBU has been designed and will soon be available.

The AGM was preceded by the "Buddhist Teachers in Europe" meeting that is sponsored by the EBU. We had three very full days where we explored "Building Sangha/Building community". Teachers from ten very different sanghas either talked about what sangha means to them and/or described how their sanghas were organised. In smaller groups we then either explored the difficulties we have encountered and face within our sanghas or relationships with neighbouring sanghas and inter-faith dialogue. It was very heartening to come together and discuss such meaningful issues.

As a new member I was delighted to make new friends at the meetings and be part of the good work being done by the EBU. Reverend Modgala, Amida Trust, UK