MT Desk: New Delhi will host the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit (GBS) on January 24-25, as the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, brings together global Buddhist leaders, scholars and policymakers to deliberate on contemporary global challenges through the lens of Buddha Dhamma. The Summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam, will be organised under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the two-day event as Chief Guest, continuing the tradition set during the inaugural Global Buddhist Summit held in New Delhi in 2023.
International President of SAARC Journalist Forum Raju Lama will attend the event as delegate of the Summit. SJF President Lama said, "The theme of Summit is `Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence`, which is also main objective of our organisation to build the peace, freedom and stability in the region so to participate in the Summit and learning contemporary global challenges through the lens of Buddha Dhamma will be fruitful for us."
At a time marked by rapid social, political and environmental change, the Summit seeks to explore how the timeless principles of Buddha Dhamma – compassion, wisdom, harmony and coexistence – can offer meaningful responses to conflict, alienation and uncertainty in the modern world. The deliberations will emphasise ethical leadership, social harmony and sustainable living in an era shaped by technological advancement, consumerism and environmental stress. Around 200 delegates, including Supreme Patriarchs, heads of national Buddhist Sanghas, eminent monks, scholars and senior dignitaries from across the world, are expected to participate, with the overall attendance estimated at over 800 participants.
Prominent speakers and panellists include Maris Sangiampongsa, former Foreign Minister of Thailand; Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien of Vietnam; Gyeltrul Jigme Rinpoche of India; Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche of Bhutan; Most Venerable Ashin Kumara of Myanmar; Prof. Dr. Subarna Lal Bajracharya of Nepal; Rev. Kosho Tomioka of Japan; Master Shih Jian-Yin of Taiwan; Ven. Ananda Bhante of India; and renowned Buddhist scholar Prof. Robert Thurman of the United States, among others.
The Summit’s deliberations will be structured around five thematic sessions: collective wisdom and united voice for social harmony; entrepreneurship and right livelihood in Buddha Dhamma; scientific research, healthcare, medicine and sustainable living; learning in the light of Buddha Dhamma; and Sangha dynamics, including roles, rituals and practice.
In addition to discussions, the Summit will feature exhibitions on Sacred Relics and Cultural Engagement in Contemporary India and Virasat se Vishwa: India’s Buddha Dhamma Outreach. A key highlight will be the live demonstration of NORBU (Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding), a language learning model based on the ChatGPT algorithm and trained on Buddhist texts.
Adopted by the IBC as its global patron and named “Kalyan Mitra” (Spiritual Friend), NORBU aims to connect tech-savvy youth with Buddhist teachings in multiple languages. The first Global Buddhist Summit, held in April 2023 in New Delhi, brought together over 170 delegates from 31 countries under the theme “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis” and was inaugurated by PM Modi.
Headquartered in New Delhi under the aegis of the Culture Ministry, the International Buddhist Confederation was established in 2011 and has a global membership of more than 300 monastic and lay organisations. Guided by its motto “Collective Wisdom, United Voice,” the IBC works to integrate Buddhist values into global discourse while promoting inclusiveness and balanced representation across traditions and communities worldwide.
