Buddhism has reached the far corners of the globe. Here are just a few unexpected places that are playing host to thriving sanghas in 2016.

 

Photograph courtesy: Anchorage Zen Community
Photograph courtesy: Anchorage Zen Community

Anchorage Zen Community
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Date of Founding: 1986 
Lineage: Soto Zen 
Head Teacher: Rev. Genmyo Zeedyk
www.alaska-zen.org

 

Photograph courtesy of: Casa Zen de Costa Rica.
Photograph courtesy: Casa Zen de Costa Rica.

Casa Zen de Costa Rica
Location: Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica
Date of Founding: 1974
Lineage: Roshi Philip Kapleau, whose teachings were influenced by Zen master Harada Daiun Roshi and his mix of ancient Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen sects
Head Teacher/Abbot: Roshi Sunyana Graef
www.casazen.org

 

Photograph courtesy: Centro Zen Anshin
Photograph courtesy: Centro Zen Anshin

Centro Zen Anshin
Location: Rome, Lazio, Italy
Date of Founding: 2006
Lineage: Soto Zen, lineage of Kodo Sawaki Roshi and Uchiyama Kosho Roshi
Abbot: Rev. Guglielmo & Doryu Cappelli
http://anshin.it/en/

 

Photography courtesy: Thanissara (Mary Weinberg)
Photography courtesy: Thanissara (Mary Weinberg)

Dharmagiri Insight Meditation Centre
Location: Underberg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Date of Founding: 2000
Lineage: Forest School of Ajahn Chah / Insight Meditation
Head Teacher/Abbot: Kittisaro & Thanissara
www.dharmagiri.org

 

Photography courtesy: Marco Fieber
Photography courtesy: Marco Fieber

Ivolginsky Datsan
Location: Buryatia, Russia
Date of Founding: 1945
Lineage: Gelug (Tibetan Buddhism)
Head Teacher/Abbot: XXIV Hambo Lama Damba Pandido Ayusheev 

 

Photo Courtesy: Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity
Photography Courtesy: Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity

Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity
Location: Colville, Coromandel, New Zealand
Date of Founding: 1981
Lineage: Gelug (Tibetan Buddhism)
Head Teacher: Kyabje Lama & Zopa Rinpoche
www.mahamudra.org.nz

 

Photography Courtesy: Soka Gakkai International – Iceland
Photography Courtesy: Soka Gakkai International – Iceland

Menningarsetur SGI á Íslandi
Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
Date of Founding: 1980
Lineage: Nichiren
Head Teacher: Daisaku Ikeda
http://sgi.is/

 

Photography Courtesy: O Quintal Zen
Photography Courtesy: O Quintal Zen

Juniper Meditation Group
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of Founding: 2016
Lineage: Juniper, from Ven. Segyu Choepel Rinpoche, whose teachings are influenced by the Gelugpa master Kyabje Lati Rinpoche
Head Teacher: Ven. Segyu & Choepel Rinpoche
http://www.oquintalzen.com/meditacao/

 

Photography Courtesy: The Hungarian Karma Kagyupa Community
Photography Courtesy: The Hungarian Karma Kagyupa Community

The Hungarian Karma Kagyupa Buddhist Community
Location: Tar, Hungary
Date of Founding: 1991
Lineage: Karma Kagyu (Tibetan Buddhism)
Head Teacher: Ven. Lama Chopel

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