[Introduction] Buddhism was introduced into the United Kingdom more than a century ago . Since then, where has been increasing interests in this religion. In 1991, two temples were founded in London by the Chinese themselves; the Buddha's Light Temple and the Real Greatest Chapel . The former represented the movement of the Taiwanese Buddha's Light Temple and the latter the movement of the True Buddha Dharma. Coincidentally, both founders of these movements were from Taiwan, and more or less in the same time they started to develop into international movements. These two movements characterized different religious tradition, one was Mahåyåna Buddhism and the other, a syncretic new religion. In three years, these two movements have gained numerous members and gradually played increasingly influential roles to them in London. The purpose of the paper is to survey these movements. Since, the emergence of these two movements is so recent, not much research has been done on them. All of the information in this dissertation is therefore obtain directly from interviews and by observations while participating in these two temples from June to August in 1994. The reactions of the local leaders to this study were different. Whereas the Abbot of the Real Greatest Chapel, Sifu Wong was co-operative and friendly, allowing me to commence with interviewing immediately, I was only allowed to conduct my interviews after five weeks in the London Buddha's Light. I was obligated to attend its religious services in the latter enabling a relationship of trust to develop. The names of all interviewees will be kept confidential. Founder, history, and organisation of the Buddha's Light Temple The Buddha's Light Temple of Taiwan (Fo Kuang Shan in Mandarin) was founded by Master Hsing Yun on the 16th of May 1967. Through Master Hsing Yun's own devotion and the ardent support of his Sangha disciples and devotees, the Buddha's Light Temple in Taiwan evolved from a wild bamboo forest to become the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and obtained recognition domestically and internationally as a Buddhist holy monastery. In addition to the seventeen branches established in various cities of Taiwan dated in 1994, the Buddha's Light Temple extended overseas and developed very quickly. The first overseas branch was founded in Los Angeles, the His Lai Temple, in 1988. Since then there have been eighty branches established worldwide.
