Resources and Links

Friends of the Western Buddhist Order

The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO) is a worldwide Buddhist movement devoted to the re-expressing the essential teachings essential teachings of the Buddhist tradition in ways appropriate to the modern world.

A full list of FWBO centres, businesses and resources, listed by country, is available here or here.

Sangharakshita is the founder of the FWBO.

Meditation Links

The Meditation Homepage of the FWBO contains more information on the two types of meditation taught in the centre.

The Wildmind Meditation webpage has a wealth of practical, down-to-earth yet inspiring material to coach you through the process of learning to work with your mind and emotions in order to develop more calmness, relaxation, clarity, and happiness. This page is also available in French - Méditation Bouddhiste, Spanish - Aprende la meditación budista, Russian, Portugese, Polish - and Chinese - simplified Chinese characters and traditional Chinese characters.

Kamalashila is one of the FWBO's foremost meditation teachers. His website includes many Dharma talks he has given and as well as his excellent meditation reference book 'Meditation', published in 1992 by Windhorse Publications.

Mindfulness-based Programme for living with Stress, Pain or Illness

Michael Chaskalson runs Mindfulness Works, which offers MBSR courses for coaches, for people suffering from stress, for corporate settings, and for therapists interested in Mindfulness- Based Cognitive Therapy.

The Peace of Mind Project is a self-management pain relief and relaxation programme, run courses in the UK.

Buddhist Books, Videos and Audio Resources

As part of the FWBO, Free Buddhist Audio host an enormous collection of Dharma and meditation Talks, Lectures, Seminars and other materials.

Clear Vision holds the FWBO's video and image archives. Their website offers a wealth of DVDs, images and free video, including 500 short Q&A with founder Sangharakshita, grouped by theme.

Videosangha.net is where F WBO Buddhists upload their own short videos on all sorts of topics.

Lights in the Sky is a FWBO resource which makes films to help people in their practice and understanding of Buddhism and the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order.

Windhorse Publications is the official publishing house of the FWBO.

The Meditation for Everyone DVD and Video is an accessible, practical and engaging video introduction to meditation practice for people of any belief or none.

Librosbudistas.com is a specialised online bookshop that sells Spanish translations of Buddhist books - Libros sobre el budismo y la meditación.

Schools, Media, Scholars and Interfaith

The Clear Vision Trust is a UK Buddhist charity presenting Buddhism through audio-visual media for adults and young people. Run by members of the FWBO, it's well known in UK schools for award-winning DVD and online interactive materials for Buddhism in the classroom. Building on thse, it now makes available free online information and materials for young people at home and temple.

Dharmapala College is a 'Community of Enquiry' with offers study and meditative contemplation in their programme of seminar-retreats. It aims to explore the Dharma through questioning and reasoning, and offers teacher support through workshops and training events at local centres.

Dharma Life was a magazine produced by the FWBO, including news, articles, reviews, features, comment and interviews covering all aspects of Buddhism in the West. It is now out of print, but you can still read from its archives.

FWBO News is an unofficial blog relating news of events, happenings, people and places related to the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO).

Urthona is a Buddhist magazine devoted to the arts produced by artists who practice within the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. It seeks out sources of inspiration for Buddhists within the Western cultural tradition, it explores the place of art in the spiritual life and it encourages the practice of the arts among western Buddhists.

The Jambudvipa Trust envisages and works towards a society free of caste and other social barriers, in which all people, whatever their background can participate fully.

The Western Buddhist Review is an online acedemic journal of Buddhist ideas, which publishes articles exploring the principles of Buddhism, in particular as practised within the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order.

Wolf at the Door runs Buddhist-inspired writing workshops and retreats.

Retreat Centres

The following are FWBO retreat centres throughout the world.

Aryaloka Retreat Centre,(New Hampshire) USA
Akashavana Women's Retreat Centre, Spain
Bhaja International Retreat Centre, in India
BuddhaField (Camping Retreats), UK
BuddhaField East (Camping Retreats), UK
BuddhaField North (Camping Retreats), UK
Dhanakosa Retreat Centre, (Highlands of Scotland) UK
Dharmapala College, Birmingham, UK
Eco Dharma Retreat Centre, Spain
Guhyaloka Men's Retreat Centre, Spain
Metta Vihara, Belgium
Padmaloka Men's Retreat Centre,(Norwich) UK
Rivendell Retreat Centre,(South East England) UK
Sudarshanaloka Retreat Center, New Zealand
Taraloka Women's Retreat Center, (Shropshire) UK
Tiratnaloka Women's Retreat Centre, (Powys) UK
Vajraloka Men's Retreat Centre, (North Wales) UK
Vijayaloka Retreat Centre, Australia
Vimaladhatu Retreat Centre, Essen

For more information about which retreat is right for you in the UK, try the Going on Retreat webpage.

Team-Based Right Livelihood Businesses & Other Businesses

The Karuna Trust is a charity which has worked with some of India's most disadvantaged people. Its aim to promote dignity, self-confidence, and the breaking down of caste and religious barriers.

Windhorse Trading is an FWBO team-based right livelihood which is a wholesaler of fashion and design-led gifts from around the world. They have been trading since 1981, and have grown to be one of the major UK suppliers of fashion giftware. They also have their own chain of several retail outlets across the UK and Europe, trading under the name Evolution.

Led by Osadha (Neil Dowling), Drum Nature facilitates drum circles and African drumming workshops in schools, businesses and communities throughout Ireland. The aim of Drum Nature is to use rhythm-based events to bring people together and to create a positive outlet for creativity, energy and self-expression. Drumming is a very accessible activity and even a group of beginners can create an up-lifting rhythm in a matter of minutes.

Buddhist Images sell fine quality Buddhist statues (rupas), Buddhist paintings (thangkas) and Buddhist ritual items. These are all made in Kathmandu, Nepal, by local craftspeople.

A full list of FWBO businesses are available here.

Buddhism and Ecology

Ecopractice has much information about Buddhist technques for saving the planet.

FWBO Authors and Personal Websites

FWBO People - Personal sites of people involved in the FWBO
Sangharakshita.org - A collection of some of Sangharakshita's writing
Bodhipaksa - Author of the book "Vegetarianism" and founder of Wildmind.

Other Buddhist Resources

Buddhist Recovery is a resource to illuminate the Buddhist path to freedom from alcoholism and addiction.

Access to Insight is an Internet website dedicated to providing accurate, reliable, and useful information concerning the practice and study of Theravada Buddhism, as it has been handed down to us through both the written word of the Pali Canon and the living example of the Sangha.

Buddhanet is a Buddhist information and education network, and contains a comprehensive list of most Buddhist centres around the world.

Yoga Links

A source of information about hatha yoga and meditation in Ireland, particularly Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, Yoga-Ireland provides lists of classes, a directory of qualified teachers and information about upcoming yoga events, weekends, seminars, retreats, holidays and courses (including teacher training courses).

The Yoga Therapy and Training Centre (Yttc) is Ireland's largest teaching and learning centre for Yoga Classes, Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Therapy.

Sudaka is an Order Member who visits the Dublin Buddhist Centre regularly, and he has his own website on yoga.