How to Find Buddhist Centers and Organizations Using BuddhaNet's World Directory

Updated

BuddhaNet's World Directory is a free, browsable listing of Buddhist centers, monasteries, and organizations organized by region. Use it when you want to locate a Buddhist group in a specific part of the world, find contact information for a teacher or organization, or submit your own center's details to the directory. It works best as a starting point for contact and visit planning rather than as a real-time, verified database.

What the World Directory Covers

The directory is one section of BuddhaNet, a long-running Buddhist information and education network. Its main navigation groups listings into these regions:

  • The Americas
  • Asia
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • Europe
  • Africa / Middle East

There is also a separate Masters/Organisations category, which lists teachers and organizations rather than geographic locations. If you already know the name of a teacher or group but not where it sits geographically, start there.

Step-by-Step: Finding a Center

  1. Go to the World Directory – Main page. From BuddhaNet's homepage, the directory sits under "The Buddhist World" in the main navigation.
  2. Choose a region. Select the continent or area closest to where you are looking. Each region page lists the centers and organizations recorded for that area.
  3. Scan or search the list. Listings typically include the name of the center or organization and its location. Open an individual entry to see whatever contact details BuddhaNet has on file.
  4. Cross-check before you visit or write. Directory entries can be outdated. Confirm the address, phone number, or email independently — for example, through the center's own website — before traveling or sending correspondence.
  5. Use the Masters/Organisations category if you are looking for a specific teacher or tradition rather than a place.

Expected result

You should end up with one or more named centers or organizations in your target region, plus whatever contact information the directory holds for each. Treat that as a lead to verify, not a confirmed current listing.

Submitting or Updating Your Organization's Info

BuddhaNet provides a Send/Update Your Info option in the directory section. Use it if:

  • Your center or organization is not listed and you want it included.
  • Your listing exists but the details have changed (address, contact person, status).

Because the directory is maintained manually, updates are not instant. If your situation is time-sensitive, follow up through BuddhaNet's general contact page rather than assuming the change has gone live.

Common Snags

  • Stale entries. A listed center may have moved, closed, or changed its contact details. Always verify.
  • Uneven coverage. Some regions and traditions are represented far more densely than others, so an empty or thin result for your area does not mean no Buddhist group exists there.
  • No built-in map or distance search. The directory is organized by region and list, not by proximity to your location. For "nearest center" searches, combine the directory with a general map or search tool.
  • Language and naming variation. Centers may appear under a translated or alternate name, so try a few spellings if your first search comes up empty.

Related BuddhaNet Resources

If your goal is broader than finding a place to visit, BuddhaNet also hosts Buddhist studies material, eBooks, audio files, and its BuddhaZine magazine. The directory is the right tool specifically for locating people and places; the study and eBook sections are better for learning about teachings and practice.