We’ll be taking a break over the summer and will return in the fall. Have a fantastic summer, and we’ll see you again soon!
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We’re taking a Summer Break
The international conference Asian-Global Networks and Relationships in the Modern Spread of Buddhism will take place from 30 June to 2 July 2026 at the University of Oxford. The event explores the transnational networks and relationships that have shaped the modern spread of Buddhism across Asia and beyond. Scholars from Europe, Asia, and North America will present research on Buddhist institutions, missions, meditation traditions, and global exchanges.
The conference features keynote lectures by Elizabeth Harris (University of Birmingham), Steven Kemper (Bates College), and Mark Unno (University of Oregon). Over two days, participants will engage with a wide range of topics, including Buddhist networks in Europe and America, transnational Southeast Asian Buddhism, narratives of propagation, and the development of meditation lineages in global contexts.
In-person attendance is free, but places are limited. Online participation via Microsoft Teams is also available.
For more information and registration details, click here.
A mini-workshop will take place on 13 May, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, at the University of Basel. As part of this workshop, our esteemed colleague Jørn Borup from the Department for the Study of Religion at Aarhus University in Denmark will give a lecture entitled:
“Zen War, Militant Monks, Lama Violence, and Enlightened Abuse: What Does ‘Dark Buddhism’ Tell Us About Buddhism?”
The mini-workshop will address popular misconceptions about Buddhism as well as some of its darker and lesser-known historical and contemporary dimensions.
Anyone interested in attending is kindly asked to register by writing to: a.renger@unibas.ch
Cheers,
Almut-Barbara Renger
Although Buddhism in the Nordic Countries has been available since May 2025, we are pleased to now officially highlight this significant volume.
Edited by Jørn Borup, Mitra Härkönen, Knut A. Jacobsen, and Katarina Plank, the book offers a comprehensive exploration of Buddhism in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. It examines the main Buddhist traditions, institutions, and the societal factors that have shaped their development in the Nordic context.
We are pleased to draw attention to this important contribution to the study of Buddhism in the Nordic countries. A special feature: Chapter 2 on Buddhism in Sweden by Katarina Plank is available as an Open-Access PDF. For more information, click here.
Professor Dananjaya Gamalath served as a Senior Archaeological Research Officer at the Central Cultural Fund of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2008. During this period, he led the archaeological excavations and research at the Jetavana Stupa, the tallest brick monument in the world. His research monograph on this work was awarded the National Buddhist Literary Award.
Professor Gamalath is affiliated with the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Since 2008, he has specialized in Buddhist archaeology, with a particular focus on the historical processes of Hindu–Buddhist religious interaction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka from the earliest periods up to the 19th century CE. His research includes monographs on Buddhist monasteries and ascetic traditions, as well as biographical and historiographical studies of historical and legendary figures, including King Ravana.
At present, he serves as a Principal Lecturer in the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, for the subjects of Historical art and Architecture and Historical Archaeology. He also worked as principal Lecturer for the subject of Heritage Management. Professor Gamalath actively fosters international research collaboration and student engagement in fieldwork at Buddhist sites, exploring religious interactions and cultural exchanges across the Indian Ocean region. Together with Dr. Nayomi Kekulawala, he conducts research on King Ravana traditions and Hindu–Buddhist interactions, while also leading projects analyzing the historical and social contexts of Buddhist monasteries and contributing to collaborative scholarly networks in Buddhist studies. He is also a member of the Senate of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and previously served (2016–2018) as the Archaeological Director for the Ampara and Batticaloa regions in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
We are delighted to welcome him to our international network and look forward to his contributions to our collaborative blog and future academic exchanges.
The Routledge series Critical Studies in Buddhism is inviting proposals for monographs and edited volumes exploring the diverse traditions of Buddhism worldwide. The series welcomes historical, philological, cultural, and sociological approaches, and works that make a significant contribution to the broader field of Buddhist Studies.
For initial consideration, proposers are asked to submit a brief outline including: the central idea, the book’s novel contribution, the research it draws on, why the book is needed, and an estimated word count. If the project is based on a PhD thesis, the proposer should explain how it will be adapted for a wider audience.
Proposals should be sent to:
- Stephen C. Berkwitz: sberkwitz@missouristate.edu
- AnnaMary Goodall: AnnaMary.Goodall@tandf.co.uk
More information: Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism
The Bristol Buddhist Studies Centre has released a Call for Papers for a conference on Buddhism and Medicine, which will take place at the University of Bristol from 21–23 May 2026. The organizers invite submissions from late-stage PhD candidates and early career researchers. Abstracts may be up to 300 words and should be accompanied by a short biographical note.
The conference highlights current developments in the study of Buddhist medicine and brings together established scholars and emerging researchers. Papers from all disciplinary backgrounds are welcome. Topics of particular interest include:
- Healing substances and pharmacological knowledge
- Women as agents of medical knowledge
- Veterinary practices and the healing of animals
- Integrating traditional Buddhist approaches into contemporary health frameworks, especially mental health
Three participants will receive bursaries covering travel and accommodation. The deadline for submissions is 19 December 2025.
Full details and contact information can be found on the organizers’ official website. Contact Email: b.lomi@bristol.ac.uk
A brief reminder has been circulated regarding the call for papers for the “Buddhism and Emotion” conference, to be held in Edinburgh from 24–26 June 2026. Organised by the Edinburgh Centre for Buddhist Studies together with the UK Association for Buddhist Studies, the event will also serve as a European regional meeting of the IABS, allowing members of either organisation to benefit from reduced registration rates and ECR support.
The deadline is 30 November 2025, with decisions expected by 19 December.
The conference welcomes a wide range of approaches to the theme, and includes opportunities for early career researchers. Limited financial support is available for selected UK-based PhD students and Europe-based PhD students without institutional funding.
Further information is available on the conference website.
A new digital platform called Dharmamitra
(https://dharmamitra.org) has recently launched, offering an integrated set of computational tools to support research on Buddhist texts in Pāli, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese.
Developed at the Berkeley AI Research Lab with support from the Tsadra Foundation, Dharmamitra provides:
- 🤖 MITRATranslate – advanced machine translation across classical Buddhist languages into modern languages
- 🔍 MITRASearch – a multilingual semantic search engine for conceptually related passages throughout the Buddhist canon
- 📄 MITRA-OCR – document-level optical character recognition for large files
- 🧩 Browser extensions for easy access to translation and grammatical tools
- 📚 Detailed grammatical tools powered by specialized models
- 🕸️ DharmaNexus – a database for exploring intertextuality and text matching, integrating core canonical texts with plans for ongoing expansion
More info, demos, and contact:
🌐 https://dharmamitra.org
✉️ dharmamitra.project@gmail.com
The International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Culture (IJBTC), published by the Academy of Buddhist Studies at Dongguk University (Seoul), is now accepting submissions for its upcoming Winter 2025 issue (Vol. 35 No. 2), scheduled for publication in December 2025.
The journal welcomes original articles and book reviews exploring:
- Buddhist philosophy
- Buddhist history
- Buddhist literature
- Buddhist culture
Contributions offering fresh perspectives and innovative research in Buddhist Studies are especially encouraged.
🗓️ Submission deadline: September 30, 2025
🌐 For details & submissions visit: http://ijbtc.dongguk.edu
📧 Contact: ijbtc@dgu.ac.kr
International Network “Cultural Transformations of Buddhism” 