ICDV ICDV-Committees

Mr. Egil Lothe

Member

Mr. Egil Lothe (born 23 May 1954 in Norway) is a Buddhist scholar, leader, and author known for his long-standing leadership and contributions to Buddhist communities in Norway and internationally. He developed a personal interest in Buddhism in his late teens and went on to study the tradition academically, earning a Master’s degree in Religious Studies — including Pāli and Sanskrit — from the University of Oslo, with his thesis focusing on the Concept of Mission in Theravāda Buddhism (1987).

For decades, Lothe has been a central figure in organized Buddhism in Norway. He became a leading member of Buddhistforbundet (the Buddhist Federation of Norway) and served as its President since 1987 and later as Secretary-General, guiding the federation’s growth from a small community into a registered umbrella organization with multiple member groups and thousands of adherents.

In addition to organizational leadership, Egil Lothe is an author and educator on Buddhist topics, having written several books and articles — for example Buddhismen (“Buddhism”) — aimed at explaining Buddhism’s history, ethics, and practice in Western contexts. He has also been active in inter-religious dialogue, freedom of religion initiatives, and international Buddhist cooperation.

Lothe has held roles in international Buddhist bodies such as the International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV) Executive Committee, representing Norway in global Buddhist observances and collaboration.