STATUTE

Art.1 – Under the name of “Unione Buddhista Italiana” – Italian Buddhist Union, abbreviated “U.B.I.” – an association of Italian Buddhist centers is constituted, with registered office in Rome.

Art.2 – The U.B.I., a religious and worship institution offering also cultural and charitable activities, does not represent any particular Buddhist school, but aims to support the whole of the Italian Buddhist movement, respecting all the traditions of the Doctrine in all its forms.

Art.3 – The association is created for an indeterminate duration, unless dissolved by a resolution adopted by at least four fifths of its members.

Art.4 – The objects of the UBI are:

  • to bring together and support the various Italian Buddhist groups;
  • to contribute to the diffusion of the teachings and practices of the Buddhist Doctrine, in its various schools and traditions, in particular with actions of support, encouragement and coordination of the initiatives of the various Buddhist groups;
  • to develop collaboration between the groups of the various Buddhist schools;
  • to promote dialogue with other religious communities and in general with the centers of spiritual commitment, as well as with cultural institutions on topics of common interest;
  • to cultivate relations with the Buddhist Union of Europe, the World Fellowship of Buddhists and other foreign and international Buddhist organizations;
  • to manage or promote educational activities on Buddhism in the context of the history of religions.

Art.5 – In Buddhism, worship is practiced above all through collective or individual meditation sessions that can include refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), recitation of mantras, prostrations and other practices; offering ceremonies are also celebrated and secular and monastic initiations and ordinations are conferred. The worship activity is integrated with the teachings of the Doctrine, based on the canonical scriptures and their commentaries and imparted by recognized Masters.

Art.6 – The Union is a nonpolitical, nonprofit association.

Art.7 – The Union brings together centers, Institutes and other associations or groups institutionally engaged in the teaching and practice of Buddhism in the spirit of the Refuge in the Triple Jewel, inspired by teaching orientations accepted and recognized in its tradition, provided that they regularly operate in the Italian territory and that they are non-profit.

Founding members can also be natural persons.

The following centers or institutes are currently members of the U.B.I.:

  • Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, based in Pomaia (PI),
  • Associazione Italiana Zen Soto, Shobozan Fudenji, based in Salsomaggiore (PR),
  • International Meditation Centre Italia, based in Biana (PC),
  • Centro Milarepa, based in Val della Torre (TO),
  • Karma Dechen Yangtz Ling, based in Viganella (NO),
  • Centro Rabten Ghe Pel Ling, based in Milan (MI),
  • Karma Samten Cheoling, based in Castagneto (MO),
  • Scaramuccia Monastero Chan, based in Orvieto-Scalo (TR),
  • Karma Phun Thsok Dechen Ling, based in Brescia (BS),
  • Istituto Tekciok Sam Ling, based in Belvedere Langhe (CN),
  • Istituto Mahayana Internazionale, based in Pomaia (PI),
  • Karma Tegsun Tashi Ling, based in Cancello (VR),
  • Centro Ewam, based in Florence (FI),
  • Istituto Samanthabhadra, based in Rome (RM),
  • Fondazione Maitreya, based in Rome (RM),
  • Centro d’Informazione Buddhista, based in Giaveno (TO),
  • Centro Lama Tzong Khapa, based in Villorba (TV),
  • Associazione UBA KHIN, based in Milan (MI),
  • Centro Cenresig, based in Bologna (BO),
  • Kunpen Lama Gancen, based in Milan (MI),
  • Centro Kalachakra, based in Ventimiglia (IM),
  • Centro Sakya, based in Trieste(TS),
  • A.Me.Co., based in Rome (RM),
  • Associazione Santacittarama, based in Sezze (LT).

Art.8 – To become a member of the U.B.I. an application must be submitted to the President; the application must document the activity carried out and the internal organization; the Board of Directors deliberates on the application.

Art.9 – The status of member can be lost following the dissolution of the U.B.I. or through voluntary withdrawal or through exclusion unquestionably pronounced by the Board of Directors if the eligibility conditions stated in art. 7 and, above all, due to behaviors incompatible with the Buddhist ethics.

Art.10 – Each center has the right to one vote, regardless of the number of its members.

Art.11 – Each center member of the Union retains its autonomy, also patrimonial, towards the Union itself, assuming full responsibility for its management and programs.

Art.12 – The Union ensures the achievement of its purposes through collaboration, voluntary contributions and proceeds from its assets. The Union’s assets currently consist of:

  • villa located in Rome, “Casal Palocco”, via Euripide 137/6, registered into the land registry at NCEU of the Municipality of Rome, Sheet 1113, Part.528, sub.2, transferred to the UBI by the spouses Piga Vincenzo and Petti Giuseppina with a deed of gift dated 28/10/87 executed with Notary Marina Fanfani in Rome;
  • Participation in the shares of tax revenues possible assigned by the State;
  • Member subscriptions paid annually, to the extent established by the Assembly;
  • Donations, bequests, legacies or successions;
  • Other possible offers, also from third parties, provided that they are useful for carrying out the Union’s programs in full autonomy.

Administrative management begins on the 1st of January of each year and ends on the following December, 31st, and is based on financial statements proposed by the Board and approved by the Assembly.

Art.13 – The Union has the following bodies:

  • the Members’ Assembly,
  • the Board of Directors,
  • the President,
  • the College of Auditors.

Art.14 – The Assembly is composed of the representatives regularly designated by the associated centers and is convened by the President at least once a year for the approval of the financial statements and work programs.

Every three years, coinciding with the renewal of the office bearers by the Assembly, the National Congress is convened.

The resolutions of the Assembly must be recorded in the minutes signed by the President and by the Secretary.

Art. 15 – The Assembly elects, among its members and for three years, the Board of Directors composed of seven people, for the ordinary and extraordinary management of the Union. The election must ensure adequate representation of the different traditions, adopting the most appropriate procedures for this purpose. The Directors must be members of centers associated to the U.B.I.

Art.16 – The Assembly will elect a three-member College of Auditors, in office for a three-year term.

The Auditors must ascertain the regular keeping of the accounts of the association, will prepare a report on the annual financial statements, can ascertain the cash in hand and the existence of the values ​​and ownership of the association, and may proceed at any time, even individually, with deeds of inspection and control.

Art.17 – Within the Board, the Board of Directors chooses a President and two Vice-Presidents.

The President – who must be an Italian citizen and have his/her domicile in Italy – is the legal representative of the Union, convenes the Assembly at least once a year and the Board whenever he/she deems it appropriate or at the request of at least two directors; in order to ensure a rotation of the various traditions, he/she cannot be re-elected for two consecutive three-year terms.

Art.18 – The activities of the President and of the Directors are not remunerated, except for any reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

Art.19 – This Statute can be modified only with an explicit decision of the Assembly, approved with a two-thirds majority. Any changes to the Articles of Incorporation and the Statute are communicated to the Supervisory Authority and registered in the public register of legal entities. The changes of a substantial nature in the purpose, destination of the goods and in the way of existence of the Union are communicated to the Supervisory Authority, which provides pursuant to the law.

Art.20 – With the dissolution of the Union, the remaining assets will be donated by the Assembly – with the favorable vote of at least three quarters of its members – to other institutions in Italy with similar purposes.

Art.21 – For anything not provided for in this Statute, the rules of the Italian Civil Code apply.