EUROPEAN NETWORK OF BUDDHIST CHRISTIAN STUDIES (ENBCS) WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG’S “ACADEMY OF WORLD RELIGIONS” AND “ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL ECUMENISM”

The topic of this conference is a sequel to the last one. After 2024’s “Buddhist Christian Dialogues on the Body”, the 2026 conference will present different aspects of the mind from Buddhist and Christian perspectives. Traditional conceptions of the mind, its possible transformation, its relation to ultimate reality and its role in conceptions of life after death will be discussed against the background of contemporary perspectives from neuroscience.

In addition to the invited papers there will be two sessions (with parallel groups) on Sunday morning for short presentations (20 mins) on any kind of topic related to Buddhist-Christian studies. This is an opportunity especially for upcoming scholars (but also more senior scholars) to report about their research projects. Proposals for the open presentations need to approved by the Network (please send them to Prof. Schmidt-Leukel: perrysl@uni-muenster.de).

Part of the conference will also be an open public event at the University of Hamburg in celebrating the Network’s thirtieth birthday with two presentations by Elizabeth Harris and Perry Schmidt-Leukel.