Multi Faith Cooperation

Since its inception in 1993 the Centre for Applied Buddhism has been actively involved in many multi-faith and inter/intra-faith organisation collaborations and activities. This work has contributed towards creating good relationships and collaborations across faith traditions as well as between different schools and traditions of Buddhism. The Centre has worked with a variety of faith traditions to run events, including conferences, exhibitions, and panel discussions. The Centre's ongoing collaborations include with:

Religions for Peace (RfP), a global multi-faith organisation, is guided by a vision of a world where faith communities cooperate effectively for peace. This work is carried out in many arenas including gender equality, peaceful and just societies, the environment, freedom of thought and belief and Global partnerships. Jamie joined RfP-UK in 2012, and is serving as the current chair. He also sits as the Buddhist Representative on the European Council of Religious Leaders and is on the board of the newly developed RfP-EU. 

Faith for the Climate (FftC), a multi-faith network with an aim to strengthen and build climate action, was founded in 2018 and CfAB has been involved since the beginning of 2019. Jamie is on the Board of Trustees and Olivia is part of the steering group, and the coordinator of the Eco Dharma Network, which is part of FftC’s capacity building group.

The  Network of Buddhist Organisations – UK (NBO) came about in 1993 and CfAB has been fully involved in the work of the NBO from the beginning. This has included planning and organising many of NBO’s activities, for example Buddhist Action Month, and also co-creating joint conferences, panel events and exhibitions on various aspects of Buddhism and Buddhist engagement. One of the CfAB/ NBO collaborations was the ‘Transforming Conflict- Buddhist inspired ideas for personal and social change’’ conference in 2013.  Jamie was the Chair of the network from 2000 – 2014 and is still a member of the NBO committee.

European Buddhist Union (EBU) Having begun attending meetings and activities in 2006 Jamie was invited to sit on the Council for 6 years and then served as the President from 2012 – 2018. Presently he serves as Vice President. He has been involved in organising a number of conferences and in initiating participation in Faith events at the European  Parliament. The EBU has two main focuses: Internal -  building harmony and understanding between Buddhist traditions and groups, and External - working with a variety of European institutions as well as multi-faith organisations. 

The International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) is a long-running global movement and Jamie is on their advisory council. Creating good relationships with many of the member groups and organisations has opened up a variety of connections across the world and resulted in good working partnerships. Both INEB and NBO work to create harmony and understanding between Buddhist traditions and to carry out various activities around many of the issues at the heart of CfAB.