Buddhism 2075 – Shaping the Identity of European Buddhism

📅 April 25, 2025 | 🕘 09:00 – 16:00 | 📍 Public Educational Centre, Praterstern 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria

🔹 An international conference open to everyone

On the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the European Buddhist Union (EBU) invites the Buddhist community and interested audiences to reflect on the future of European Buddhism. The conference, guided by prominent voices in contemporary Buddhist thought, including representatives of younger generations, will explore how this tradition might evolve in an era of profound social, technological, and environmental changes.

The program will feature three thematic sessions, each structured around a crucial question for the identity of contemporary Buddhism, encouraging both debate among keynote speakers and active dialogue with the audience.

📍 Click here and register now to secure your spot at the conference

Speakers

Stephen Batchelor is a British Buddhist teacher and writer known for his secular or agnostic approach to the Dharma. Formerly a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions, he is the translator and author of several books including Buddhism Without Beliefs, After Buddhism, and Secular Buddhism. His forthcoming book, Buddha, Socrates and Us: Ethical Living in an Uncertain World, will be published in August by Yale University Press.

Ven Bhikkhunı Dhammadinna is an Italian-born scholar and Buddhist monastic. Her research focuses on early Buddhist discourses, the development of Buddhist meditative traditions in India, and monastic law, drawing from Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and Khotanese sources. She serves as the director of the Agama Research Group at the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts in Taiwan and is currently a visiting professor at the University of California at Berkeley.

Peter D. Hershock is the Manager of the Asian Studies Development Program and directs the Humane AI initiative at the East-West Center in Honolulu. His philosophical work makes use of Buddhist conceptual resources to address contemporary issues. His publications include Bud-
dhism and Intelligent Technology and Consciousness Mattering.

Gábor Karsai presently serves as the Managing Director of Mind & Life Europe, after being a long-time member, and is also Rector and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest. He combines leadership in non-profit organisations with a commitment to contemplative practice and cross-disciplinary dialogue.

Ioana Spataru is a Human Rights Trainer, Life Coach, and Youth Worker based in Vienna. Thirteen years ago, she joined the Buddhist Youth of the Austrian Buddhist Union in search of her spiritual path and has been leading it since 2022. With an academic background in Cultural and Social Anthropology and experience as a Roma activist, she facilitates sessions that explore Buddhist philosophy and history, peace education, and social transformation through Buddhist practices.

📍 Click here and register now to secure your spot at the conference

Programme

09:00–09:30 | Welcome and Opening Remarks

09:30–11:00 | Session 1: How can European Buddhism embrace modern worldviews?

Chaired by Francesco Tormen, this session addresses whether and how Buddhism should engage with modern cultural paradigms shaped by secularism, scientific thinking, and technology.

11:00–11:30 | Coffee Break

11:30–13:00 | Session 2: How can European Buddhism be "Engaged"?

Chaired by Chiara Mascarello, this session focuses on the role of European Buddhists in addressing social issues such as equality, the climate crisis, and bioethics, exploring whether and how activism can align with spiritual integrity.

13:00–14:30 | Lunch Break

14:30–16:00 | Session 3: Is a European Sangha Possible?

Chaired by Dharmacharini Munisha, this session discusses the possibility of building a cohesive Buddhist community in Europe, reflecting on the role of community for both monastics and lay practitioners.

16:00 | Final Remarks and Farewell

Organising Committee

Stefano Davide Bettera, Chiara Mascarello, Francesco Tormen, Emma Bano, Carlotta Segre, Martin Schaurhofer

✨ Join us in shaping the future of European Buddhism!

For any inquiries, contact us at: anniversary2025@europeanbuddhistunion.org