FRIENDS of the western buddhist order (fwbo)

The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO) was founded in London in April 1967 with the first Ordinations into the Western Buddhist Order (WBO) taking place the following year.

The FWBO emphasises Buddhism as a vehicle for the development of the individual as well as for the transformation of society. It draws inspiration from the whole of the Buddhist tradition without adopting a specific teaching lineage or school, or the cultural expressions that can accompany these - language, liturgy or costume. It attempts instead to identify underlying Buddhist principles and apply these in a way that is relevant to modern culture.

The Western Buddhist Order does not maintain the traditional division between monks and laity, or have different Ordinations for women and men. Instead Ordination in the WBO is conferred to all postulants on the same basis – a lived commitment to putting the Dharma into practice. There are no higher Ordinations or empowerments, and ‘spiritual hierarchy’ within the Order is based on depth of practice not formalised authority. There are now over 1300 Order Members and thousands more FWBO Mitras and Friends all over the world, especially in India, where the FWBO is known as the TBMSG.

In terms of its position in the modern Buddhist world, the FWBO can be seen as having six distinctive emphases and five pillars.

The distinctive emphases are what makes the FWBO stand out from other traditions: it is ecumenical; it sees Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels as the central and definitive Buddhist act; it is a unified Buddhist Order (men and women are regarded as equal practitioners and teachers); it emphasises and explores the importance of Right Livelihood; the positive value of the Arts in spiritual development; and the need for Spiritual Friendship.

The ‘five pillars’ support the FWBO’s development as a new Buddhist movement. They are: its Ideas; Practices; Institutions; Experiments; and its Imagination. There are many ways that you can explore what the FWBO has to offer. Most people do this through one of our public teaching centres or by going on an FWBO retreat. Alternatively you could enroll on one of our online meditation and Buddhism courses through a site called ‘Wildmind’. There are also numerous books on meditation and Buddhism by FWBO authors available from Windhorse Publications, as well as many talks and lectures by FWBO teachers that can be downloaded for free from Dharmachakra. In addition there are a growing number of articles by FWBO writers exploring the relevance of Buddhism to modern life.

Latest developments and significant events can be seen on the FWBO news website. Or you can read about the lives and views of some individual Sangha members through their personal websites.

The main FWBO site outlines the principles and ideals of the FWBO. A more critical perspective by Vishvapani explores how the FWBO is perceived in the wider Buddhist world. Another very useful viewpoint is provided by Nagabodhi in his reflections on the FWBO’s history and what that history reveals about the Buddhist Movement that it is today.

For more information about the FWBO and WBO see www.fwbo.org