We are part of an international Buddhist movement known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, founded in 1967 by Ven. Sangharakshita, who although English by birth, spent 20 years in Asia studying and practicing under teacher's from Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. Returning to England he became convinced of the need for a new Buddhist movement in the West that would communicate the ideals of Buddhism by drawing not only from the three main Buddhist traditions but also from the cultural and artistic heritage of the West.