Courtesy:  German Dharmaduta Society

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Buddhist wisdom has a profound and long-standing history in Germany, significantly influencing prominent

philosophers, authors, and the development of a strong local practice. This reception, often mediated by extensive literary translations, moved from an initial academic interest to a cultural phenomenon. 

Influence on German Thought

German philosophers were among the first in the West to seriously engage with Buddhist thought, primarily through secondhand translations and interpretations. 

Arthur Schopenhauer

Schopenhauer found his own philosophy of the “will” and the central role of suffering in life mirrored in Buddhist thought, particularly the First Noble Truth. He saw the Buddhist idea of non-attachment and renunciation as a path to escape the misery of existence, which influenced subsequent German thinkers who followed his line of thinking. Considered the first prominent Western philosopher to take a deep interest, 

Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche

Though his engagement was complex and critical, 

Schopenhauer’s  was heavily influenced by interpretation of Buddhism. He praised Buddhism for its realism in acknowledging suffering without resorting to the concept of sin, considering it “a hundred times more realistic than Christianity”. However, he also critiqued its goal of nirvana as a form of “nihilism” (a “will to non-existence”), ultimately using the comparison to formulate his own philosophy of the Übermensch and the affirmation of life.

Martin Heidegger

Heidegger’s

: Some scholars suggest philosophy, particularly his concepts of “Being” (Sein) and “nothingness” (das Nichts), may have been influenced by Zen and Taoist texts, finding parallels with Buddhist concepts like emptiness. 

Buddhist Influence on German Literature

Buddhism transformed from an obscure topic to a cultural phenomenon in German literary circles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with many leading authors engaging with its ideas. 

• Hermann Hesse

: The Nobel laureate was deeply interested in Eastern spirituality, and the influence of both Hindu and Buddhist thought is evident throughout his work. His seminal 1922 novel, Siddhartha, is a masterpiece derived from these influences, exploring an individual’s personal quest for spiritual fulfillment and self-knowledge, and remains one of the most widely read books on the topic in the West.

• Other Writers:
  • Karl Eugen Neumann

: An early and influential Indologist and translator of the Pali Canon into German, whose poetic translations are still highly regarded.

• Paul Dahlke  &  

Georg Grimm

• These figures were key writers and practitioners who helped ground Buddhism in a German context, establishing the “Old Buddhist Community” and making significant contributions to the literature with their own essays and books.
• Bertolt Brecht, 

Thomas Mann, 

Rainer Maria Rilke

Alfred Döblin

and    

Stefan Zweig

•  These notable writers also engaged with Buddhist themes and motifs in their work, contributing to the “Buddhist boom” in German culture.

German Practice and Communities

The theoretical engagement evolved into concrete practice, leading to the establishment of the first Buddhist institutions in Europe. 

Das Buddhistische Haus

• : Founded in Berlin in 1924 by Dr. Paul Dahlke, a German physician and prominent Buddhist writer, this Theravada temple is the oldest Buddhist institution in Europe and a designated National Heritage site. It is now owned and maintained by the German Dharmaduta Society ( founded by Asoka Weeraratna in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1952)
• Nyanatiloka Mahathera
• Anton Gueth  The first born German monk (later known as Ven. Nyanatiloka), established a solid foundation for practice, with his translations, summaries, and Pāli dictionary becoming international standards.

• Deutsche Buddhistische Union (DBU): The German Buddhist Union serves as an umbrella organization that unites various Buddhist traditions and schools in Germany, reflecting the diverse and thriving contemporary Buddhist community, which has grown significantly since the 1970s. 

Linguistic Exchange and Academic Ties: German scholars have historically contributed to the study of Sinhala. For example, Wilhelm Geiger’s work on the lexicography and origin of Sinhala remains a foundational pillar for both German and Sri Lankan linguists.

Vegetarianism and Orientalism: Some historical studies link German-speaking vegetarian movements to an interest in South Asian purity concepts, which occasionally intersected with the study of Sinhala Buddhist traditions. 

See also

“The Prospects for the Growth of Buddhism in Germany and other Western Countries”, by Agganyani (Christa Bentenrieder)

BuddhaNet Magazine Article: Prospects for the Growth of Buddhism in Germany and other Western Countries

Courtesy:  German Dharmaduta Society