Buddhism in Greece

Today, there is a sizable Buddhist community in Greece, comprising immigrants and native Greek converts. Buddhism has influenced Greek literary tradition to some extent, as evident in the works of Nikos Kazantzakis. There are many Buddhist centers in Greece, four centers founded by the Diamond Way and other centers in cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Sparta and Rhodes. The Athens Diamond Way Buddhist Center was founded in 1975 when Lama Ole Nydahl visited Athens for the first time. There are also Buddhist retreats in Corinth and on Mount Olympus, and nine stupas.