London Buddhist Vihara Sri Lankan Theravāda Buddhist temple in London

Maha Bodhi Society

Sharing the Dhamma in English

The British Maha Bodhi Society (BMBS) was founded in London on 24 July 1926. It grew from, and shares its inspiration with, the Maha Bodhi Society that Anagārika Dharmapāla founded in 1891. Based at the Vihara, it works to make the Buddha's teaching available to people in Britain, and that work today centres on regular Dhamma talks given in English.

History & founder

Buddhism in the West

Anagārika Dharmapāla founded the Maha Bodhi Society in Colombo on 31 May 1891, first to work for the restoration of Bodh Gaya to Buddhist care, and then more widely to spread knowledge of the Dhamma. He also founded the journal The Maha Bodhi in the same year.

The British Maha Bodhi Society was founded on 24 July 1926, in connection with the Buddhist Mission from which the London Buddhist Vihara later developed. It was created to support the study and dissemination of Buddhist teachings and to encourage the growth of Buddhism in the West. It was supported from the start by distinguished patrons, including Anagārika Dharmapāla, Mrs Mary Foster Robinson, and the Thai Ambassador to the United Kingdom. In 1934 it organised the European Buddhist Congress, reflecting its contribution to the development of Buddhism in Europe.

Following a period of internal disagreement and subsequent legal proceedings concerning the Vihara premises, the matter was finally determined by the High Court in 1991 in favour of the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust and its Custodian Trustee, the Public Trustee of Sri Lanka. After a period of inactivity, the British Maha Bodhi Society was reconstituted under a new Constitution and continues its work under the aegis of the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, with the London Buddhist Vihara serving as its headquarters.

[Current officers and Constitution to be confirmed for publication.]

Key facts

  • 1891 — Maha Bodhi Society founded by Anagārika Dharmapāla, Colombo.
  • 1926 — British Maha Bodhi Society founded, 24 July, with the Buddhist Mission in London.
  • 1934 — European Buddhist Congress organised by the Society.
  • 1991 — High Court ruling in favour of the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust; the Society later reconstituted.
  • Early patrons: Anagārika Dharmapāla, Mrs Mary Foster Robinson, and the Thai Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
  • Now headquartered at the London Buddhist Vihara, under the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust.

English talks

A programme of talks and discussion

Regular talks are given in English and are open to everyone — members of the Vihara community, visitors, and people encountering the Dhamma for the first time. Talks are usually followed by discussion and questions. Recordings are gathered under Learn and Practise → Talks.

[Talk schedule, speakers and how to take part to be provided by the Society.]

Related Learn and Practise

Beginner introductions, meditation guidance and the wider talks archive sit under Learn and Practise.

Publications

The Maha Bodhi journal and Society booklets

The Maha Bodhi, founded by Anagārika Dharmapāla in 1891, is one of the oldest Buddhist journals still in publication. The British Maha Bodhi Society also issues occasional booklets and papers connected with its talks and its history.

[Current status of the journal, how to read or subscribe, and a list of Society booklets to be provided by the Society.]

Elsewhere on the site