Addressing a World in Transition
The organisers noted that the world today is undergoing rapid social, political and environmental transformations, often resulting in conflict, alienation and uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the timeless teachings of the Buddha Dhamma rooted in compassion, wisdom and harmony offer valuable guidance for fostering peace and collective well-being.
The Summit will be held under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence,” highlighting the relevance of Buddhist philosophy in nurturing social harmony and constructive international engagement.
A Global Platform for Dialogue
Aligned with the motto of the International Buddhist Confederation, “Collective Wisdom, United Voice,” the Summit is envisioned as a global platform that brings together diverse Buddhist traditions and voices. The event will witness participation from around 200 distinguished delegates, with an overall audience of more than 800 participants.
Participants will include Supreme Patriarchs, heads of national Buddhist Sanghas, eminent monks, scholars, practitioners and senior dignitaries from across the world, reflecting the truly international character of the Summit.
Key Speakers and Thematic Deliberations
The Summit will feature prominent global figures such as former Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien of Vietnam, His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche of Bhutan, and renowned Buddhist scholar Prof. Robert Thurman from the United States, among several others.
Deliberations will be organised across five thematic areas, including social harmony through collective wisdom, entrepreneurship and right livelihood, scientific research and sustainable living, education in the light of Buddha Dhamma, and the evolving dynamics of the Sangha.
Technology Meets Buddhist Wisdom
A notable highlight of the Summit will be the live demonstration of NORBU, a language learning model based on the ChatGPT algorithm. Trained on extensive Buddhist textual data, NORBU is designed to generate contextually relevant responses rooted in Buddhist teachings across multiple languages.
The IBC has adopted NORBU as its global patron and named it “Kalyan Mitra” or Spiritual Friend, reflecting an innovative approach to engaging tech-savvy youth with the core values of Buddha Dhamma.
Exhibitions and Cultural Outreach
The Summit will also host special exhibitions, including displays on sacred Buddhist relics and India’s contemporary cultural engagement with Buddha Dhamma. Another exhibition titled “Virasat se Vishwa” will showcase India’s global outreach rooted in its Buddhist heritage.
These exhibitions aim to highlight India’s enduring role as the land of Buddha and its continuing contribution to global spiritual and cultural dialogue.
Continuing a Global Legacy
The first Global Buddhist Summit, held in April 2023, brought together over 170 delegates from 31 countries and focused on translating Buddhist philosophy into practical responses to modern challenges. Building on that foundation, the second edition seeks to deepen dialogue and strengthen global cooperation.
