History of the FWBO
The FWBO was founded in 1967 by Sangharakshita, an Englishman who spent 20 years in the east, 16 of them as a Buddhist monk. Having returned to Britain in the mid-1960s he saw the need for a new Buddhist movement. His vision was to create something faithful to traditional Buddhist values while being relevant to the modern world.
He didn’t want simply to transplant one of the Asian schools — Sangharakshita believed it would be a mistake to set up a form of Buddhism already in existence in Asia in the very different conditions in which he now found himself: London in the late 60s. He was also wary of adapting and losing the spirit — he didn’t want to water Buddhism down to suit modern tastes. Instead he attempted to base the new movement on the core teachings that underlie all Buddhist schools, and to apply those principles in the contemporary West.
Sangharakshita started classes in a London shop basement, and in the early days, he taught all the classes, gave all the lectures, and led every course and retreat. However, he soon attracted many people who responded to his approach, some of whom chose to be ordained. Before long FWBO centres opened where members of the Western Buddhist Order taught meditation and Buddhism. Following their experience of the more intensive and satisfying conditions on retreat, some people started living communally. The first residential FWBO communities grew out of these experiences. As they became more committed to Buddhist practice, some people found ways to work together co-operatively in 'Right Livelihood' teams and businesses — raising funds to teach the Dharma.
The FWBO grew rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s to become one of the leading Buddhist movements in the West. There are now more than 90 FWBO urban centres and rural retreat centres, and activities in over 20 countries. The FWBO is one of the principal Buddhist movements in UK, India, and Australasia and is increasingly well-established in western Europe and the USA. At the heart of the FWBO lies the Order: today a spiritual community of more than 1,200 men and women around the world who have committed their lives to following the Buddhist path.
Now aged 80, Sangharakshita has handed his responsibilities to a large group of senior Order members. They are continuing his work of developing a thriving Buddhist movement that aims to make effective Buddhist practice available to as many people as possible.
To learn more about the history of the FWBO see the series of video histories produced by Lights in the Sky. You find further reading in Perceptions of the FWBO in British Buddhism by Vishvapani in the Western Buddhist Review and The FWBO — a Community in Transition by Nagbodhi in Madhyamavani.