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Since its founding in 2002, we have undertaken the support of several projects to help alleviate suffering from malnutrition, poor education, epidemic illness and natural disaster. We believe that these efforts are in the best tradition of the Dhamma teachings of Karuna and Compassion. Please visit here to learn how you too can experience these teachings in your practice.
To nourish the dissemination of the Buddha Dhamma by serving and supporting the Pacific Northwest Sangha with special focus on the Asian-American Buddhist temples and communities.
The Buddhist Council of the Northwest (BCN), a non-profit organization, has been formed to pool resources and coordinate efforts by its membership to:
create an atmosphere of fellowship and cooperation;
serve as a consultant to and advocate for Buddhist temples, study groups, and individuals on matters of cultural, legal, and government concern related to the preservation and promotion of the Buddha Dhamma (Dharma) in the Pacific Northwest;
preserve and nurture the Buddha Dhamma, realizing and respecting the diversity of Buddhist traditions within the Pacific Northwest;
help initiate or support any religious, cultural or social welfare project which will help to disseminate the spirit of the Buddha Dhamma;
and to engage in ecumenical cooperation with all religious groups.
On 27 January 2002 an initial meeting regarding greater cooperation among the Northwest Buddhist Sanghas was held at Chua Co Lam Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Seattle. This gathering was convened after several discussions between Ajahn Ritthi Thirajitto and other members of the NW Buddhist sanghas indicated an interest in this subject. The discussion was tentative but enthusiastic. It was generally recognized that substantial benefit could be derived from wider communication and cooperation between the western Buddhist communities (largely convert Buddhists) and the much larger Asian Buddhist communities.
Given that there had been little interaction between the “cradle” and “convert” communities, there had been an insignificant history of shared understanding. In was recognized that this would take time to build but it was determined that this should begin immediately. In order to keep the impetus, the following actions were put into motion:
The group took the East West Buddhist Coalition as a preliminary organization name. In November of 2002, the name was changed to the Buddhist Council of the Northwest prior to incorporation as a non-profit organization in the state of Washington.
Ajahn Ritthi Thirajito
Atammayatarama Buddhist Monastery
Bhante Polwatte Pangnananda
Sarana International Buddhist Center
Thich Nguyen Kim
Chua Co Lam Vietnamese Buddhist Temple
John Roberts
George Draffan
Irene Goto
Janice Clark
