Buddhism in Estonia

Table of Contents

• The Beginning of Buddhism in Estonia: Karl Tõnisson

  ​Estonia had been in the sphere of Christianity for many centuries when, in 1873, a man named Karl Tõnisson was born in the village of ...
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• The Beginning of Buddhism in Estonia: Friedrich Lustig

  Voldemar Friedrich Lustig, the second Buddhist in Estonian Buddhist history, was born on 26 April 1912. Lustig graduated from Narva Gymnasium in 1927 and his ...
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• The Beginning of Buddhism in Estonia: Roman Ungern von Sternberg

  ​In addition to Karl Tõnisson, Estonia has another Buddhist religious hero: Baron Roman Ungern von Sternberg. Ungern was born in Austria to a Baltic-German family ...
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• The Beginning of Buddhism in Estonia: Karl Tõnisson’s actions

  Karl Tõnisson’s actions in Estonia did not extend to the creation of practical Buddhism, because no buildings or objects (temples, stupas etc.) were established ...
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• Foundation of a practical Buddhist tradition in Estonia by Vello Väärtnõu

  Estonia's short period of independence was interrupted by the Soviet occupation in 1941. Ideological control checked the growth of Buddhist ideas, and the Buddhism ...
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• The first Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood

  In 1982, Vello Väärtnõu established the first Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood in Tallinn. He gathered around him a group of people who were interested in practical ...
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• Activities of the Buddhist Brotherhood

  The first Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood was established in Tallinn in Kadriorg and quickly became known as Taola (“Tao's place”), the members were called Taolased ...
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• Translation and the publishing of Buddhist books and texts

  The Brotherhood and faith-followers translated dozens of books, which were multiplied through hundreds of exemplars; also a remarkable library was founded, in which most of ...
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• Building the first stupas of northern Europe in 1983–1985

  ​In accordance with Buddhist tradition, the Brotherhood started their activities by building a stupa. The first stupa was erected under the guidance of Väärtnõu in ...
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• Relations with the Ivolga Monastery in Buryatia

  Lamas from the Ivolga Monastery made major contributions to the development of Estonian Buddhism. From 1978–1986, Väärtnõu studied Buddhist philosophy, psychology, rituals, architecture and ...
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• Foundation of Estonian National Independence Party by Väärtnõu

  In 1987, the leader of the Buddhist Brotherhood, Vello Väärtnõu, came up with the idea and programme of the Estonian National Independence Party. So, the ...
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• Buddhism after the restoration of the Estonian Republic: establishment of Buddhist communities

  After the Taola period, when a basis for further development was established, many Buddhist groups and movements flourished. After the restoration of the Estonian Republic ...
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• Buddhism after the restoration of the Estonian Republic: 2005–2012

  Estonian Nyingma Encyclopaedia of Buddhism

  In 2005, Ven. Väärtnõu started the first web portal, the Encyclopaedia of Buddhism in Estonia, which contains scientific works, terminology ...

  
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