Argentina
Buddhism in Argentina is well known since the early 1980s. Approximately 0.15% of the people of Argentina are Buddhist.
Even though this is a mainly Catholic country, Chinese immigrants established the first Chinese temple in 1986. By the same time, Korean immigrants founded their own temple. Since then, many groups have been giving teachings, some of them rooted in the best known Soto tradition from Japan, but also in many Tibetan institutes for the practice of the meditation (Mahamudra, Dzog Chen, Lam Rim).
His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama visited Buenos Aires twice. The first time was in 1991 or 1992.
Nowadays, as many branches have flourished, an increasing number of practitioners is keeping the Buddha's teachings alive.
Many organizations have cooperated to bring the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to Argentina. This event was supported by the Royal Embassy of Thailand in Buenos Aires.
There have been many scholars who contributed to the spreading of Buddhism in Argentina. One of them is Samuel Wolpin, whose books have opened a door to many students and the general public. Others are Carmen Dragonetti and Fernando Tola, two scholars who have been researching and studying Buddhism for many years, with their books translated to many languages.
But the main source of improvement of the practice is the presence of great teachers who have visited the country. Among them, Pu Hsien, the founder of the Tzon Kuan Temple, Mok Sunim, the teacher who was responsible for the great spreading of the Korean Buddhism in the last four years, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Founder of the international Dzog Chen Community who transmitted Dzog Chen teachings here, and Lama Ngawang Sherab Dorje, who visited Argentina many times, and who has contributed to the development and nourishment of the practitioners.
Among the local teachers, the main are: Augusto Alcalde (Diamond Sangha) the first Roshi in this country. Jorge Bustamante, Soto lineage. Alberto Pulisi (Upasaka). Gonzalo Barreiros (Dharma Teacher), and two Argentinian Lamas, Horacio and Consuelo.
See also
References
- The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
- http://www.thedhamma.com/