Insights into the beginnings of Buddhism in Germany
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The Buddhist House in Berlin-Frohnau celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. It is considered the oldest Theravada centre in Europe and was founded in 1924 by Dr. Paul Dahlke (1865–1928), a German physician and dedicated Theravada Buddhist. In 1957, the Sri Lanka-based German Dharmaduta Society sent the first three monks to Berlin, acquired the house and property, and transformed the Buddhist House into a Theravada monastery.
Since then, monks from Sri Lanka have primarily lived there, giving regular lectures and leading meditations.
To mark the anniversary, this book brings together historical documents, newly published publications, and recently written texts. Taken together, it is the most comprehensive overview to date of the five eras of the house’s history and its prehistory. The chapters of the book correspond to these eras, although the editors have not followed a strictly chronological approach. The chapter on the fifth epoch offers fascinating retrospectives from a Sinhalese perspective on the beginnings of Buddhism in Germany.
Editor Winfrid Liebrich, in his retirement, voluntarily built up the Archives of the Buddhist House. Together with his co-editors Senaka and Tissa Weeraratna, nephews of Asoka Weeraratna, the founder of the German Dharmaduta Society, they offer the German public, for the first time, a detailed insight into the archives and make their treasures generally accessible.
A particular advantage of the book is that it brings together testimonies about Dr. Paul Dahlke’s personality from various perspectives. Particularly impressive is Margarete Lau’s “Memories of Dr. Dahlke.” She was likely his first and, for a long time, only student after their meeting in 1914. Her account provides a vivid insight into a phase of Dr. Paul Dahlke’s life that dates
back ten years before the founding of the house.
(Prof. Dr. Andreas Feldtkeller is attached to the Humboldt University of Berlin)
| Book facts | |
| The Buddhist House in Berlin-Frohnau – Edited by Winfrid Liebrich, Senaka Weeraratna and Tissa Weeraratna Published by: Tectum Scientific Publishing, Germany 380 pages Reviewed by Andreas Feldtkeller |
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