The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order

 is an international network dedicated to communicating Buddhist truths in ways appropriate to the modern world. The essence of Buddhism is timeless and universal. But the forms it takes always adapt according to context.Now that Buddhism has come to the West, the task is to create new Buddhist traditions relevant to the 21st century. See the main FWBO web site at www.fwbo.org

During the past 35 years the FWBO has become one of the largest Buddhist movements, with activities in many cities around the world. In applying their experience of Buddhism to their lives, people in the FWBO have developed living and working structures which together are creating a new society.How we live and how we work are among the most important questions in our daily lives.

The FWBO seeks to create conditions that support the practice of Buddhism in the modern world. Rather than importing the institutions that developed in the traditional Buddhist East it seeks to develop new ones that are founded on Buddhist principles.In this way the FWBO is creating a New Society that is a radical alternative to mainstream society.

All members of the Western Buddhist Order and others in the FWBO try to make their lives based on generosity rather than materialism; on contentment rather than acquisitiveness and distraction; and on simplicity rather than busy-ness.

Western Buddhist Order                                            

The Western Buddhist Order is a spiritual community of men and women who have committed themselves to following the Buddhist path to Enlightenment. It was founded in 1968 by Sangharakshita. Order members have made that commitment - traditionally known as Going for Refuge to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha - the central point of their lives. In particular, they have chosen to make the WBO the context in which they are trying to gain Enlightenment.

The WBO is a radical alternative to the model found many forms of Buddhism in Asia, where everyone is either a monk, nun or a lay person. The Order is open to any man or woman who is sincerely and effectively committed to the Buddhist path, not just to those who want to live a monastic lifestyle. Although Order members try to lead a one hundred percent Buddhist life, they are not monks or nuns. What matters is not the lifestyle that Order members adopt but the spiritual commitment they have made: commitment is primary, lifestyle is secondary.

Some Order members are full-time meditators, living a monastic life in a retreat centre; others live with their families and have ordinary jobs. Others work full-time in a Right Livelihood business, others again are supported to work full-time at their local FWBO centre.

There are no rules in the WBO. Buddhism is a path of individual practice which entails acting for the good because one has taken responsibility for one's thoughts and actions. The WBO aims to be a free association of individuals working towards a common goal, and it is founded on the principle that you cannot create spiritual community by force. Therefore there are no rules in the Order, and all decisions made by bodies within the Order are made by consensus.

At the time of their ordination, all Order members undertake to practise a traditional set of ethical precepts. These point to basic principles that are to be applied to all actions of body, speech and mind. Men and women Order members take the same precepts, and practise on an equal basis.

To read more about ordination visit www.aranya.fwbo.org