In this episode, we are honored to be joined by Carlo Luyckx, Vice President of The European Buddhist Union (EBU) and President of the Belgium Buddhist Union. Carlo offers us a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of European Buddhism, where diversity thrives within the backdrop of the European Union's cultural mosaic. With his role as the EBU Liaison Officer to the European Union, Carlo serves as a vital bridge between the Buddhist community and the corridors of power in Brussels. We delve...

Welcome to a new episode of the European Buddha Podcast, where we explore the interplay of ethics and society with Munisha, Vice President of the European Buddhist Union (EBU). We delve into the EBU’s current priorities as an influential umbrella organization, shedding light on its endeavors to foster unity and harmony. Through our discussion, we gain insights into the profound importance of ethics and the timeless wisdom embodied in the five precepts of Buddhism - which are very dear to the...

From a Buddhist perspective, we understand that nurturing the heart is essential, and schools play a vital role in shaping values, whether consciously or unconsciously. Through self-reflection and fostering healthy relationships, we lay the groundwork for a more harmonious society. The EBU initiative „Teach Peace,“ emphasizes that educators are central to this process, embodying principles of social connection and compassion that students can absorb. We’re joined by David Rycroft, director...

In this episode, we sit down with Gabriela Frey and Dr. Thea Mohr to delve into the latest developments in the Buddhist women's movement and the Council of Europe. We spoke about the crucial role Sakyadhita plays as a member of the European Buddhist Union (EBU). Our conversation explores the intricacies of the EBU's representation in the Council of Europe, with Gabriela Frey serving as a key figure in the Conference for International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs). What did we...

Join us as we reflect on the past year, exploring moments of gratitude that shaped our journey. Embracing the spirit of fearlessness, we delve into the highlights and lessons learned. As we celebrate the power of gratitude, we extend an invitation to our listeners to support the European Buddhist Union. Your donations contribute to fostering unity, understanding, and the dissemination of Buddhist values across Europe. Visit us here to make a difference! A big thank you to all of you!

In this episode, we embark on a spiritual odyssey with Carla Ott, a young female Buddhist practitioner connecting with us from India. Carla joins us to share her insights on various aspects of Buddhism, delving into her experiences growing up in a Buddhist environment and exploring the nonconceptual memories that shaped her spiritual journey from a young age. We spoke about the impact of „Interconnected,“ a book by Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje and the great potential inherent in each of us as...

Join us for an ECO-Dharma Episode as we delve into the pressing issue of sustainability in our modern world. In the serene surroundings of the Maison Notre Dame Du Chant D’Oiseau, a historic monastery nestled in the heart of Brussels, we sat down during the AGM breaks to explore the theme of sustainability. Our guest for this conversation is Gunaketu, an ordained member into the Triratna Buddhist Order and a speaker at the Eco-Dharma Workshops. Gunaketu generously shared his insights on what...

In this special episode, we'll delve into the heart of the EBU's vibrant community, offering you an exclusive glimpse into the enlightening Eco-Dharma Workshop, thoughtfully introduced by Jake Lyne. Listen to insights about the intersection of spirituality and ecological consciousness, shedding light on profound connections that can help heal our planet. We also got a special interview lined up for you. Emilia and Martin took a walk in the park with the newly elected president of the EBU,...

Join us in this enlightening episode of the "European Buddha Podcast" as we welcome our special guest, Dario Girolami, to discuss the emerging field of Buddhist Chaplaincy in the West. We explore how the roots of Buddhist chaplaincy trace back to Buddha himself, and how it serves to address various forms of suffering. During our conversation, we delved into the profound impact of Dharma-based companioned service, extending compassion to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike in places of...

In this episode of the "European Buddha Podcast," we meet Ari-Pekka, an Organizational Psychologist and Author from Finland. He is part of the Bodhidharma association - member among many other traditions within the EBU. Drawing from his extensive experience working with organizations and his understanding of contemplative practices, Ari-Pekka invites our listeners to explore the laboratory of the mind. Ari-Pekka, also called A-P, emphasizes that social relationships are not separate from the...

In this episode, we are honored to have Deny Rinpoche join us. He is a regular speaker of the EBU Contemplative Science Network. We shed light on the importance of precise language usage, particularly when exploring concepts such as mindfulness and awareness, which can vary in interpretation across different languages. Our discussion delves into the challenges of translating experiential knowledge into words and the significance of establishing a meaningful connection between language and...

In this episode, we are joined by Dominique Side, an expert in Buddhist education and the author of „Windows into Buddhism.“ Dominique shares her insights on the European Buddhist Union’s project to teach Buddhism in schools and the importance of making Buddhism accessible to young people. We discuss the role of mindfulness and meditation in education and the benefits of incorporating Buddhist practices into the classroom. Dominique emphasizes the power of Buddhism in turning information into...

Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast, where we are honored to have Martin Schaurhofer, Secretary of the Austrian Buddhist Union, as our guest. We discussed the 40th anniversary of the Austrian Buddhist Union's recognition as a religion by the state of Austria. Mr. Schaurhofer shares with us the history of the organization, its challenges, and its achievements in the past four decades. He emphasizes the importance of being innovative and creative to adapt to the changing world and...

In this episode, we explore the intersection of Hispanic culture and Buddhism through the experiences of Ricardo Guerrero Diañez, founder of the Hispanic Association of Buddhism. We discuss the process of building a bridge of two seemingly different worlds, as well as the unique opportunity each translation of the Buddhadharma brings to the practice of Buddhism. We also delve into the importance of the consideration of the culture we inherit how the Hispanic Association of Buddhism is working...

In this episode, we take a dive into the Italian Buddhist Union with Stefano Bettera. Founded in 1985, the Italian Buddhist Union is a federation of Buddhist groups and centers in Italy, representing a wide range of different traditions and lineages. As an activity based organization the UBI (unionebuddhistaitaliana)  promotes the integration of Buddhism into Italian society through programs and initiatives aimed at education, social action, interfaith dialogue and more. In this episode we...

In the year-end episode, Emilia Raunio and Martin Landschein reunite with Ron Eichhorn, President of the EBU. They talk about how Buddhist principles can be brought into European Society and the important work that the EBU has done over the year - as a pan-traditional pan-European Buddhist organization, its doors are wide open to all people who are Buddhists or sympathize with Buddhist values. Ron Eichhorn gave some insights into his work and talked about what it’s actually like to be...

The Dharma is not male or female, not straight or gay, not cis or trans, but it is definitely queer! We spoke with our guest Dr. Michael Vermeulen about Rainbow Sangha, the acronyms LGBTQI+ and about Rainbow Sangha and it´s importance for Buddhism. What is meant by identify? We think of ourselves often in specific categories but what is meant when we talk about identify and how does a healthy approach on that looks like that is vulnerable, open and in touch with the environment? Given many...

Jamie Cresswell: Former President of the European Buddhist Union, member of the Soka Gakkai International UK and buddhist practitioner for 30 years. His Buddhist background includes a degree in Buddhist studies and practice and study in many traditions and schools. He is the Director of the Centre for Applied Buddhism which focusses on the application of Buddhist philosophy to contemporary issues. A suitable guest to bring this year’s topic of „Engaged Buddhism“  into focus again. We spoke...

All through the long history of Buddhism, women have played a very important role. They received full ordination from the Buddha himself, were teachers, healers, great masters, founded lines of transmission and achieved enlightenment. The equality of women and men is an basic principle of the European and international legislation. Unfortunately we have to observe a big gap between the legislation and the experience of everyday life. In this episode we talked with Vajramala about her early...

After the summer break, in this issue we deal with a long break: more precisely with retreat. Why does one go on a retreat? What to expect and what is there to consider? Our guest Juha Vajramitra Lamminaho just recently returned from a 5-day-retreat and kindly agreed to take time for our questions. He is a Dharma teacher and lives on the West Coast of Finland with his family. He translates Pali texts into Finnish and is a member of Bodhidharma Association - the oldest Buddhist association in...

Thanks to her retreats in Asia, Sara was inspired by Buddhism and discovered qualities and insights that have helped her as a parent. Meditation has proven to be a powerful tool for her to work with strong emotions and to see meditation - practice in a new light. We spoke about the everyday life of parents and the wisdom and curiosity of children. Together with the EBU, Sara has formed a group called „Dharma - Parenting“. Interested people can access and share resources about Dharma and...

In this episode we met Prof. Dr. Antonino Raffone. He holds a position of Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. As Prof. Raffone stated in the episode: "The Buddha is the greatest psychologist of all time!" Buddhism can offer insights to science in many ways - for example offering  very refined investigations on how our self & our consciousness are  constructed.  Representatives of Neurophenomenology such as Francisco Varela emphasize...

The Ukraine crisis raises many questions about our quest for peace and unity. How is dialogue possible and how can we help to prevent extreme conflicts such as war? We invited Gabriela Frey to reflect on these issues with us. She represents all European Buddhists in the Council of Europe and is the representative of the European Buddhist Union in the EU. She is also co-founder of the European Network of Buddhist Women where she supports and stands up for the rights of buddhist woman. With her...

In this episode we spoke about a topic that is very much related to the buddhist teachings: Animal Welfare.  Our guest for this topic was Carlo Luyckx - who has many years of experience working in Brussels as a representative of the EBU. We talked about the impact we have as human beings on the suffering of animals on this planet. With the EBU group Carlo provides a lobby for animal welfare in Brussels to get EU laws changed to reduce suffering of animals in the food industry and to create a...