author
Paul Dahlke
1865–1928
A German physician who became one of the early voices of Buddhism in Europe, he wrote clearly and energetically about Buddhist thought for Western readers. His work helped shape the first lasting Buddhist institutions in Germany.
2 Audiobooks
Aus dem Reiche des Buddha: Sieben Erzählungen
by Paul Dahlke
Buddhism & science
by Paul Dahlke
About the author
Born in Osterode, East Prussia, on January 25, 1865, Paul Dahlke trained as a physician and later became known as one of the founders of Buddhism in Germany. Reliable sources describe him as a doctor, writer, and translator who published extensively on Buddhist teaching and brought Buddhist texts into German for new audiences.
Dahlke is especially remembered for the seriousness with which he tried to make Buddhist ideas understandable in Europe. He traveled in South Asia, embraced Buddhism, and wrote books and essays that connected philosophy, daily life, and religious practice in a direct, accessible way.
In 1924 he established Das Buddhistische Haus in Berlin, a place widely described as an early and important Buddhist center in Europe. He died in Berlin on February 29, 1928, but his name remains closely linked with the early history of Buddhism in Germany.