International Workshop 2026
Aktualisiert: vor 13 Stunden
Bringing together an interdisciplinary cohort of scholars and practitioners from India, Germany, Japan, the US, Poland and other countries, the workshop examined how the Buddhist "Science of the Mind" can provide ethical and psychological frameworks to navigate the "polycrisis" of the 21st century, including climate change, geopolitical instability, and the rapid developments in the field of artificial intelligence. It was grounded in the premise that Buddhism offers systematic tools for understanding mental phenomena. The workshop specifically examined how Buddhist principles such as mindfulness, dependent origination, compassion, and emptiness could broaden Western-centric perspectives in the humanities and social sciences.
Day 1 – Opening at Karmapa International Buddhist Institute
The event commenced on October 2 at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI). It was opened by the local organizers, Dr. Tsewang Gyatso Bhutia (KIBI) and the Ven. Gandun Thargey (KIBI) and the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Rolf Scheuermann (Univ. of Heidelberg / FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg). The opening ceremony featured distinguished guests, including Prof. Dr. Rana Pratap Singh (VC of Gautam Buddha University), Prof. Upender C. Rao (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and Dr. Subhur Bakht (Director of the Heidelberg Centre South Asia, University of Heidelberg). The intellectual tone was set by the keynote speaker, Dr. Martina Draszczyk, whose presentation, "Mindfulness in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," argued that Buddhism can offer a valuable counter-practice in human-AI interactions that allows for a mindful relationship to AI.
Day 2 – Continuation at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute
The second day, held at KIBI, was divided into four intensive sessions: During the extensive morning session, which brought “Buddhism in Dialogue with the Sciences”, experts discussed cognition through the lenses of neuroscience and Buddhist perspectives, temporality and aging, the application of Nāgārjuna’s Catuṣkoṭi (Tetralemma) in contemporary psychology, and digital research infrastructures like the digital information service CrossAsia and the AI platform Dharmamitra. In a session dedicated to “Climate Change, Wars and Diseases – Buddhist Responses to the Polycrisis”, scholars discussed Buddhist strategies for the pressing problems of our time. This session transitioned from theory to practice via a "Walking Discussion" at the nearby city forest Sanjay Van, allowing participants to integrate academic discourse with mindful movement.
The day concluded with the first part of the session on “Living Mindfully, Now and Then – Understanding Mind in the Technological Age”, which critically reflected on the relevance of Buddhism for our contemporary societies, examined how guru yoga meditation practices could be adapted in the 21st century, and examined how practitioners construct the meanings of presence, authenticity, and blessing of Karma Kagyu Practices’ livestreaming events.
Day 3 – Continuation and Conclusion of the Sessions at Gautam Buddha University
After the group of participants arrived at Gautam Buddha University and was welcomed there by the local organizer, Prof. Dr. Chintala Venkata Sivasai and the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Rolf Scheuermann (Univ. of Heidelberg / FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), the session on “Living Mindfully, Now and Then – Understanding Mind in the Technological Age” was concluded with two examinations of how presentations of mind in classical Buddhist works can broaden the perspective of contemporary psychology and support well-being.
The last workshop session then focused on “Challenges of Traditional Practices and Education in the 21st Century”, delving, on the one hand, into the scholar’s dilemma that derives from the possibility to publicly sharing texts related to Secret Mantranāya practice and their secrecy, which requires restricting their circulation to those authorized to use them. On the other hand, the session presented recent activities of the Digital Tibetan Archives of Bonn (DTAB).
A further highlight of the third day was the Young Scholars Summit on topics related to the workshop theme, which gave seven emerging scholars from partner institutions a platform to present their research, engage with experts, and expand their academic networks.
The last day of formal workshop sessions concluded with concluding remarks and addresses featuring distinguished guests, such as Prof. Dr. Upender Rao (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Prof. Dr. Rajeev Varshney (Dean Academics, Gautam Buddha University), and Dr. Suboor Bakht (Director of the Heidelberg Centre South Asia, University of Heidelberg). The Chair of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Rolf Scheuermann (Univ. of Heidelberg / FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), outlined further collaboration possibilities between the institutions and presented the plan to publish the workshop proceedings. After the local organizer, Prof. Dr. Chintala Venkata Sivasai, formally concluded the workshop day with a vote of thanks, the workshop participants went on a Campus Tour of Gautam Buddha University, visiting the meditation hall and the newly planted Bodhi Tree.
Day 4 - Excursion and Campus Visit: Hindu College, Delhi University
The fourth workshop day began with a visit to the Delhi-Meerut Ashoka pillar. Erected in Meerut by the Buddhist King Ashoka in 3 BC, Firuz Shah Tughlaq transferred the sandstone pillar to Delhi in the 14th century. After an on-site introduction to the pillar and its history by Prof. Dr. Krishna M. Pathak (Hindu College, University of Delhi). Afterward, participants went for a guided tour through the Kamla Nehru Ridge, one of the oldest mountain systems on Earth. The group was introduced to the science-based ecological restoration programme and explored the fauna and flora of the fragile eco-system of the ridge, which serves as a green lung for the town of Delhi. The event then culminated at Hindu College with the special lecture “Compassion (karuṇā) in a Changing Climate: Buddhist Approaches to Environmental Stewardship” by Dr. Rolf Scheuermann (Univ. of Heidelberg / FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), followed by an interactive Q&A session with philosophy students. The workshop closed with a vote of thanks by the local organizer, Prof. Dr. Krishna M. Pathak (Hindu College, University of Delhi), followed by a short celebration at Hindu College, University of Delhi.
