1987 - 2009

The foundations were laid by a group of Berlin Friends and Mitras, who had met the FWBO through attending retreats run by Order members or through reading books. They wanted to support each other by meeting and meditating together regularly.

With the arrival in 1995 of Anomarati and Dayaraja, two German Order members who had been living and working in England, and who wanted to establish the FWBO in the German capital, the nature of FWBO, Berlin, began to change. They offered courses which attracted newcomers. Regular courses and events were held in Anomarati and Dayaraja’s flat in Antonstraße, Wedding.

The legal organisation, 'FWBO (Berlin) e.V.' was founded in 1996 with the stated aim of promoting the learning, studying and practising of Buddhism. Means for achieving these aims included “the creation and maintenance of its own centres, especially a Buddhist centre in Berlin”, as set out in the charity’s constitution.

In 1997 FWBO Berlin received 150,000 GBP from Windhorse Trading, a right livelihood business in Great Britain, to buy a property suitable for a Centre. It was decided to invest this money until the Sangha had grown a little larger.

In the autumn of that year, a building project was begun to convert a rented property in Berlin Mitte. This became the first Buddhistisches Tor Berlin and was opened by Bhante Sangharakshita in May 1998 amidst much rejoicing. On account of the considerable renovation work undertaken by the FWBO before being able to move in to its current premises, the first five years were ‘rent-free’.

Over the next few years, the situation in the Buddhistisches Tor continued to change. New Order members moved to Berlin, including Amogharatna in 2000. Mitras were ordained as new Order members, while others withdrew from active involvement or left Berlin.

An important feature of the growing movement was the foundation of a men's residential community, Chintamani, in 2001, It has flourished ever since, currently with 6 members. Ideas for starting a right livelihood business have been considered, but so far none has actually taken root.

In November 2003, Amogharatna became chairman of the FWBO Berlin e.V.

In 2005, the search for suitable premises for a new Centre started. Since then the BTB2-Team has met up on regular basis to co-ordinate the search and many properties have been viewed.

Over the past couple of years, the charity has substantially re-organised itself. In 2006 a teaching team was created to co-ordinate all activities. Since 2008, there has been an executive team responsible for developing an overall vision for the Centre, as well as creating strategies to implement the vision through engaging all those who want to be involved in any way. A part-time Centre manager was appointed in August 2008.

In July 2008, Sangharakshita, the founder and teacher of the FWBO, visited the Centre for the second time. The shrine room was packed with more visitors than we had ever had before! As well as conducting a mitra ceremony, he gave a talk on 'The Six Emphases of the FWBO.'

In April 2009, the charity made the historic decision to buy a part of the former Urban hospital in Berlin-Kreuzberg. On July 6th 2009, the contract for the new property was finally signed...