Leipzig University will welcome hundreds of scholars from around the world for the 20th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS), taking place from 10–15 August. Organized by the university’s Faculty of History, Art and Area Studies, the congress marks the first time the event is being held in Germany and arrives at a moment of renewed in-person international engagement following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Prof. Dr. Jowita Kramer, chair of the Planning Committee and professor of Indology at Leipzig University, the 20th congress will bring together participants from over 30 countries for more than 450 presentations across 48 panels and 24 sections.
“This gathering reflects the global and dynamic nature of our field,” Prof. Kramer stated in a welcome message. Referring to recent COVID-19 restrictions, she added that it was particularly meaningful as the congress offered Buddhist scholars an “opportunity to gather again without the restrictions of recent years.” (University of Leipzig)
Notably, the 2025 congress will offer live-streaming of selected panels, expanding access to those unable to attend in person. Remote participants can view sessions taking place in three venues: Lecture Hall 3 (HS3), Lecture Hall 1 (HS1), and the Felix-Klein-Auditorium. These streams are free to access globally and will help extend the reach of the event’s scholarly discussions.
The congress will feature a number of special events, including:
• UK Association for Buddhist Studies (UKABS) Reception (11 August): A networking opportunity open to all, highlighting UKABS’s ongoing work, including its journal Buddhist Studies Review and upcoming conference on consciousness in London.
• Film Screening: “Carving the Divine” (12 August): A documentary by Yujiro Seki exploring the Japanese tradition of Buddhist wood carving. The screening will be held at the Grassi Museum and introduced by Dr. Katja Triplett.
• Global Mindfulness Roundtable (13 August): Sponsored by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, this roundtable will feature prominent scholars discussing mindfulness as a subject of academic research. Panelists include John Dunne, Rupert Gethin, and Jan-Ulrich Sobisch.
• Festschrift Reception for Paul Harrison (14 August): An invitation-only reception honoring Professor Harrison and the publication of Buddhakṣetrapariśodhana: a Festschrift for Paul Harrison (Indica et Tibetica Verlag 2024).
• Khyentse Foundation Networking Event for PhD Students and Postdocs (14 August): A gathering in Schillerpark aimed at fostering connections among early-career scholars.
The academic program includes panels on a wide range of topics, such as Buddhist literature, Vinaya studies, Buddhist ethics, commentarial traditions, gender, law, art, ecology, and technology. Highlights include:
• The INTELLEXUS Project: Mapping the Indic and Tibetic Buddhist Text Corpora
• Reading, Writing, and Rewriting Buddhist Genders
• Indigenous Buddhist Culture of the Tocharians of Kucha
• Machine Translation, Large Language Models, and Buddhist Studies
• Dharma in Motion: Intersecting Pathways of Buddhism and Film
• Tantric Ethics and Buddhist Monasticism
• Looking into the Future: Influential Buddhist Women in Living Traditions
In her welcome remarks, Prof. Kramer also reflected on the long history of Buddhist studies in Leipzig. The university was among the first in Germany to offer Indology as an academic discipline in 1841, with scholars such as Hermann Brockhaus and Friedrich Max Müller shaping the field. Leipzig also became the birthplace of Germany’s first Buddhist organization, the Buddhist Missionary Society, founded in 1903 by Karl Seidenstücker.
Today, Leipzig University remains a significant center for Buddhist studies in Germany, with dedicated professorships in Indology, Tibetology, and Mongolian and Tibetan languages, as well as strong interdepartmental cooperation. The university also hosts the Centre for Contemplative Traditions, supported by Khyentse Foundation.
“The legacy of Buddhist studies in Leipzig reminds us of the value of long-term scholarly engagement, of cross-cultural dialogue, and of the importance of nurturing academic fields that foster thinking beyond the boundaries of our own traditions and backgrounds.” Prof. Kramer noted. (University of Leipzig)
The XXth IABS Congress is supported by the German Research Foundation, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, Khyentse Foundation, and Leipzig University’s Faculty of History, Art and Area Studies. The full program and other information, including event locations, can be found at the IABS website. Links to specific location events are as follows:
• Lecture Hall 3 (HS3): https://www.urz.uni-leipzig.de/streams/livestream-hoersaal-3
• Lecture Hall 1 (HS1): https://www.urz.uni-leipzig.de/streams/livestream-hoersaal-1
• Felix-Klein-Auditorium: https://www.urz.uni-leipzig.de/streams/livestream-felix-klein-hoersaal
See more
XXth IABS Conference (International Association of Buddhist Studies)
“Buddhakṣetrapariśodhana : a Festschrift for Paul Harrison” (The Ho Center for Buddhist Studies, Stanford)
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