This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (November 2016) |
Part of a series on |
Western Buddhism |
---|
Although there was regular contact between practising Buddhists and Europeans in antiquity the former had little direct impact. In the latter half of the 19th century, Buddhism came to the attention of Western intellectuals and during the course of the following century the number of adherents has grown. There are now between 1 and 4 million Buddhists in Europe, the majority in Italy, Germany, Hungary, France and the United Kingdom.[1]