Ernő Hetényi


Ernő Hetényi was a Hungarian tibetologist and the leader of the Arya Maitreya Mandala for Eastern Europe.

Life

Heténys father was the operetta composer Albert Hetényi Heidelberg.
Ernő Hetényi was the founder of the Buddhist society of Hungary in 1951. As a disciple of Lama Anagarika Govinda he became leader of the order of the Arya Maitreya Mandala. During Communist government Buddhism as practising religion was not encouraged, but the activity of the Buddhist community was tolerated by the authorities. "In 1956 Dr. Hetényi founded the Alexander Csoma des Körös Institute for Buddhology, the order’s first academic institution in Europe. He has been very successful in strengthening the order’s ties with Buddhist communities and institutions in Mongolia and countries of the former Soviet Union."
Hetényi published numerous books and articles on Buddhism and Tibet. He was also a researcher of the History of Buddhism in Hungary.

Works