Finland

The documented influence of East Asian religiosities in Finland is mainly limited to Buddhism. Early influences include encounters by explorers and missionaries, and Buddhist representations in Theosophy. The Friends of Buddhism Society emerged as a Nordic pioneer group after World War II both from within and in juxtaposition to the Theosophical Society, and was associated with an early Finnish publication on Zen Buddhism. After a hiatus, the Buddhist scene began to grow from the 1970s on and diversified with interest in embodied practices, including meditation and martial arts, from the post-war generation, and with immigration, particularly from Vietnam. The turn of the millennium saw a third wave of interest characterised by an increasing number and diversity of Zen groups, often being groups of US-American organisations, the mainstream popularity of the mindfulness movement, and the institutionalisation of immigrant based Vietnamese Buddhist groups. Major knowledge gaps include empirical studies and non-Buddhist forms of religiosity.