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Dr. Hans Wolfgang Schumann

German-born Buddhist scholar Dr. Hans Wolfgang Schumann raised the question of German gratitude to the German Dharmaduta Society (GDS) for its role in supporting Buddhism in Germany after World War II

. Many German Buddhists would likely agree, citing the GDS’s crucial intervention in purchasing and preserving “Das Buddhistische Haus,” a historic Buddhist center in Berlin.

The GDS’s efforts and impact on post-war German Buddhism include:

• Saving Das Buddhistische Haus: The Buddhist center founded by Dr. Paul Dahlke in 1924 was left in a dilapidated condition after the war. Without intervention, it may have been dismantled. In 1957, the GDS used a large inheritance from German Buddhist Walther Schmits to purchase the property and prevent its loss. It was then transformed into the Berlin Buddhist Vihara, the first Theravada Buddhist temple in Germany.
• Re-establishing a Theravada presence: German interest in Buddhism was disrupted by the Nazi regime, which suppressed Buddhist activities. In 1957, the GDS sent the first Buddhist mission from Sri Lanka to Germany. Since then, it has sponsored a continuous stream of monks to reside at the Berlin Vihara, offering a reliable center for Dhamma teachings and meditation.
• Filling a spiritual void: Following the devastation of World War II, many Germans were disillusioned with traditional Western religious-political traditions. The GDS’s founder, Asoka Weeraratna, observed a deep spiritual hunger and a new openness to alternative philosophies like Buddhism, which emphasizes peace and non-violence. The mission was intended to provide spiritual solace rather than to convert people.
• Symbol of renewed connection: 

The Berlin Buddhist Vihara continues to serve as an important hub for Theravada Buddhism in Europe and a symbol of cultural and religious connection between Germany and Sri Lanka. 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._W._Schumann
• https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?body=https://share.google/aimode/8GvhDIorcVKJyzQdb&fs=1&tf=cm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._W._Schumann

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._W._Schumann