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Welcome to the Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg
The Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg, founded in 2007, has a unique position in the academic world of continental Europe. It aims to strengthen the study of Buddhism, promote understanding of all aspects of Buddhism among the public, and serve as a forum for discussions and other events.
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News from the Center for Buddhist Studies:
Photo Exhibition Death and Dying in Buddhism Now Online
The photo exhibition presented in winter 2009 is now online. See more on our events page
2010 Public Lectures: Buddhism, Ecoethics and Climate Change
The public lecture series will address the topic of past and present climate catastrophes (with particular focus on Asia) from diverse perspectives by asking the following questions, among others: What is the global ecological crisis like? What can be done? Is there a fundamental ethical basis for caring for the environment? Who defines eco-ethically reprehensible and correct behavior? How can climate fairness be implemented? How have various religious traditions reacted to global ecological crises? Can Buddhism contribute to ecological sustainability? What, in particular, is Chinese Buddhism’s position regarding these issues? more
A new publication in Buddhist Studies
We are pleased to announce a brand new publication, an outcome of a symposium held in 2008 by the Center for Buddhist Studies in cooperation with the Institute of Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI), Essen:
Buddhist Approaches to Human Rights: Dissonances and Resonances Eds. Carmen Meinert und Hans-Bernd Zöllner, transcript Publishers (Serie Globaler Humanismus). Available in January 2010, 248 pp., 29,80 EUR, ISBN 978-3-8376-1263-9
Sponsored by:
New book publication
We are pleased to announce the PhD thesis of a member of the Center:
Red mda‘ ba. Buddhist Yogi-Scholar of the Fourteenth Century -
The Forgotten Reviver of Madhyamaka Philosophy in Tibet by Carola Roloff, Reichert Publishers (Contributions to Tibetan Studies, Vol. 7). publisher´s website
Memorandum of Understanding with Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Taiwan
As of November 4, 2009, the Asia-Africa Institute (AAI) of the University of
Hamburg, represented by the Center of Buddhist Studies, has a new
collaborative partner. In a recent ceremony, the Director of the Center for
Buddhist Studies, acting on behalf of the Speaker of the AAI, and a
representative of Dharma Drum Buddhist College in Taipei County, Taiwan, signed
a memorandum of understanding. According to the terms of the accord, both
parties agree to cooperate with one another in the areas of teaching and
research. A mutual project, guided by Dr. habil. Bhikkhu Analayo already exists.
Both parties look forward to establishing a student exchange program in the future.
Dharma Drum Buddhist College is Taiwan's first accredited single-religion study
institute dedicated to the academic and spiritual education of Buddhists. It
offers B.A. and M.A. courses in various fields of Buddhist research
New Professor in Tibetan Studies since 1 October 2009
We are very pleased to welcome Dr Dorji Wangchuk as the new professor for Tibetan Studies, Department for Indian and Tibetan Studies, Asia-Africa-Institute of the University and look forward to his participation in our activities.
Photo Exhibition in the Asia-Africa-Institute
The Center for Buddhist Studies is currently showing an exhibition of 150 large-format photos titled "Death in Buddhism."
2009/10 Public Lectures: Death and Dying in Buddhism: Viewing Various Buddhist Cultures
This project is concerned with the perceived other; that is, with the
Buddhist handling of death. The theme is broadly stretched
geographically and presented in lectures, film and photos. more
TIDE TV Hamburg
TIDE TV Hamburg visited the Center on October 16, 2009 to conduct interviews on the topic "What is happiness from a Buddhist view?" Link
Buddhist Television Network
On October 12, 2009, Korea-based Buddhist Television Network (
BTN) visited the Center for Buddhist Studies. An interest in European Buddhism took the BTN filmmakers not only to France, Italy, Denmark and London, but also to the University of Hamburg. At the end of December 2009 a documentary film about Buddhism in Europe will be broadcast in Korea.
Workshop 2009: Meditation in Early Buddhism I
12 – 16 Oktober 2009
Time schedule: 10 a.m -1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
Venue: Universität Hamburg, Asien-Afrika-Institut, East Wing, Room 121
Teaching by: PD Dr. Bhikkhu Anālayo
Number of Participants: max. 30
The participation is free of charge.
Application is requested
Register by 31 July 2009
more...
The Center for Buddhist Studies moves to new rooms
Our new Address: Alsterterrasse 1, 20354 Hamburg
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling-Prize 2009 for Prof. em. Dr. Lambert Schmithausen (Buddhist Studies)
The Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling-Prize 2009 for outstanding academic
achievements in the field of Non-European Cultures – without Classical
Studies has been awarded by the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Bavarian Academy of Science) to Prof. em. Dr. Lambert Schmithausen, an eminent scholar in the field of Buddhist Studies at the Asia-Africa-Institute, Dept. of Indian and Tibetan Studies. The ceremonial conferment is held on 27 June 2009 at the Bavarian Academy of Science. The Prize carries a purse of EUR 25.000.
We would like to congratulate!
Symposium: Peace in the Traditions of India and Tibet
The symposium "Peace in the Buddhist Traditions of India and Tibet" aims at defining the concept of peace within one of the significant religious traditions in Asia. Buddhism is represented in popular literature as the religion of peace par excellence, an image the 14th Dalai Lama, its best-known living representative, has helped to project. The focus will mainly be on the period from its beginnings in India in the 5th century BC up to its flowering in Tibet (from the 7th century AD on). The writings of diverse Buddhist traditions in India and Tibet, the biographies of spiritual and political leaders, and the rules which influenced religious and social life will form the basis for a first analysis and discussion among participating scholars.
Sponsored by:
Applying for a Center for Buddhist Studies Fellowship
The Center is now accepting applications for the next round of Center for Buddhist Studies fellowships. The Center offers fellowships for up to a maximum of twenty-four months to support MA and doctoral students doing research in Buddhist studies and other fields related to Buddhism. Candidates of all faculties are welcome to apply. The application deadline for Fall 2009 is 15 May 2009.
International Symposium on Buddhism and Human Rights
On 21/22 November 2008 the International Symposium on Buddhism and Human Rights: Theory - Practice - Outlook has taken place at the Asien-Afrika-Institut of Hamburg University. Interdisciplinary in design, the symposium brought together participants from various fields of research. The symposium was an academic initiative of the Center for Buddhist Studies, organised by Dr. Carmen Meinert and Dr. Hans-Bernd Zöllner in cooperation with the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI), Essen and the project "Humanism in the Era of Globalization" (KWI) that aimed to encourage scholarly research and discussion about the above topic through diverse perspectives. More...
2009 Public Lectures: Morality, an Internal or External Factor?
Talks and discussions by distinguished scholars in the fields of Buddhism, Neuroscience, Education, Confucianism, Psychology, Philosophy, World Ethos, Sociobiology, and Law. More... Flyer
Buddhist Studies Lecture Series Online
From the winter term of 1996/7 to the winter term of 2005/6, the University of Hamburg conducted a non-curricular study program titled “Buddhism in Past and Present.” The lectures were delivered not only by teaching staff and other affiliated persons of the University of Hamburg but also by scholars from other German and European universities and representatives of various living Buddhist traditions as well. The lectures covered a broad range of topics: the historical development of Buddhism from the beginning up to the teachings of Japanese Zen and various contemporary forms of Buddhism; Buddhist ethics; women in Buddhism; meditation; and violence and non-violence from a Buddhist perspective.
The digitization of the lectures was made possible through the support of an anonymous sponsor, whom we would like to thank for this generous contribution.
Click here to view transcripts of the lectures.
Karl H. Ditze Prize 2008
This year’s Karl H. Ditze Prize for outstanding graduate work has been awarded to four young scholars, including two graduates from the Asia-Africa Institute who have been doing research in the field of Buddhist Studies: Michaela Mross for her M.A. thesis and Dorji Wangchuk for his Ph.D. thesis. Michaela Mross is a graduate in Japanese and Chinese studies. In her M.A. thesis she worked on the Rakan Kôshiki, a basic liturgical text of the Japanese school of Soto Zen. Currently she is working on her doctoral thesis under a DAAD scholarship at the renowned Komazawa University in Tokyo. Dorji Wangchuk, who also received his M.A. at the Asia-Africa Institute, specializes in the Indo-Tibetan traditions of Buddhism. His doctoral dissertation focuses on bodhicitta, a soteriological concept of fundamental importance within Mahayana Buddhism. This work reaches out in new directions, both text-historically and methodologically. Dr. Wangchuk is currently teaching and doing research in the field of Tibetan Studies at the Asien-Afrika Institut.
The Karl H. Ditze Prize carries a purse of EUR 3.000 for doctoral work, and EUR 2.000 for master’s level.
We would like to congratulate these fine alumni for their achievements.
2008 Numata Professors in Buddhist Studies
In 2008 two well-known scholars taught and did research as Numata Professors in Buddhist Studies at the Asien-Afrika-Institut.
Our Lectures within the General Lecture Series of the University
2008/9 Public Lectures: Buddhism and Its Social Force
Buddhism and Peace
More...
Buddhism and the Hospice Movement
More...
Buddhist and Christian Monastic Communities in Germany
More...
2008 Public Lectures: Buddhism in Dialogue with the Natural Sciences
Buddhism and Neuroscience
More...
Buddhism and the stem cell debate
More...
Buddhism and Quantenphysics
More...
2007/8 First Public Lectures with a novel concept
Buddhism Encountering the Natural Sciences
More ...
Greedy for Money or Acting out of Compassion: A Buddhist Look at the Global Economy
More ...
Buddhism and Education: Intercultural Learning from the Point of View of Educational Science
More ...
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Upcoming Events
Lectures in the Summer Term 2010
Buddhism, Ecoethics and Climatic Change: public lectures and discussion
4 May 2010, 6:15 p.m.
Rm. 221. ESA 1 Ost- Asien-Afrika-Institut, Global Climate and Humans - Prof. Dr. Jochem Marotzke, Prof. Dr. Claus Leggewie:
“Weltgesellschaft im globalen Klimawandel”
18 May 2010 6:15 p.m.,
Rm. 221. ESA 1 Ost-Asien-Afrika-Institut, Social Engagement: Eco-oriented Christianity and Buddhism - Dr. Franz Alt: “Der ökologische Jesus - gibt es den ökologischen Buddha?”, Dr. Sabine Löhr-Wienand: “Nirvana kann warten: Umweltschützer auf Buddhas Pfaden”
15 June 2010 6:15 p.m.,
Rm. 221. ESA 1 Ost-Asien-Afrika-Institut, Ecoethics: Buddhisms among themselves
Prof. Dr. Lambert Schmithausen: “Indischer Buddhismus und ökologische Ethik”, Dr. Xue Yu: “Buddhism and Ecoethics in China"
22 June 2010, 6 p.m.,
Rm. 221, Asien-Afrika-Institut, Ostflügel,
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1
Conceiving the Inconceivable:
Reason and Awakening on the Buddhist
Path by Prof. Jay Garfield, lecture
in cooperation with the Tibetisches
Zentrum e.V., Hamburg
Past Events
Lectures in the Winter Term 2009/10
Death and Dying in Buddhism: Viewing Various Buddhist Cultures
with photo exhibition and film series (film schedule PDF)
15 December 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Dr. Rita Langer, University of Bristol: Sri Lanka: Rezitation als „bricolage Technik“: Srilankische und südostasiatische Beerdigungsrezitationen im Vergleich
16 December 2009, 11:00 a.m.
Alsterterrasse 1, Raum 117
guest lecture in the Abteilung für Kultur und Geschichte Indiens
Prof. Dr. Marcus Bingenheimer, Digital Resources for Buddhist Studies
10 December 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Abaton Cinema, Allendeplatz 3
Tibet: The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Way of Life & The Right Liberation
In Cooperation with the Abaton Cinema
8 December 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Prof. em. Dr. Lambert Schmithausen, Universität Hamburg: Indien: Tod und Sterben im frühen Buddhismus und Dr. Martin Delhey: Tod eines Weisen, Tod eines Narren, Helden- oder Verzweiflungstat?: Der Umgang des Buddhismus mit der Selbsttötung
3 December 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Abaton Cinema, Allendeplatz 3
Tibet: Die Reinkarnation des Khensur Rinpoche
In Cooperation with the Abaton Cinema
1 December 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Ingmar Heise (PhD Candidate), University of Bristol: China: Gedenken, Bereuen, Befreien – Öffentliche buddhistische Rituale des Geistermonats in einer südchinesischen Großstadt (mit Filmbeitrag)
26 November 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Abaton Cinema, Allendeplatz 3
Korea: Frühling, Sommer, Herbst, Winter … und Frühling
In Cooperation with the Abaton Cinema
24 November 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Dr. Hans-Bernd Zöllner, Universität Hamburg: Myanmar/Birma: Ein Totenfest für einen Abt (mit Filmbeitrag)
17 November 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1,
Frank Weigelt, M.A., Universität Luzern: Vietnam: Ob das die Ahnen ahnten? Vom Tod und Sterben bei vietnamesischen Buddhisten in der Schweizer Diaspora
10 November 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Abaton Kino (Allendeplatz 3), Dr. Patrice Ladwig und Gregory Kourilsky, Universität Halle und Paris, Vortrag und Film: Laos: Rituelle Praxis, Verdienstübertragung und Essen: Zwei Rituale für die Geister der Toten im laotischen Buddhismus
8 November 2009, 11:00 a.m.
Abaton Cinema, Allendeplatz 3
Japan: Ososhiki (Funeral)
In Cooperation with the Abaton Cinema
07 November 2009, 8.45 p.m.
Hall J, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Main Building
Dr. Achim Bayer, Tomographie der Achtsamkeit: Buddhismus und Neurobiologie
3 November 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Prof. Dr. Jörg Quenzer, Universität Hamburg: Japan: Leben und Tod im Traum - Grenzerfahrungen im Buddhismus des japanischen Mittelalters
28 October 2009, 8:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Uni Hamburg ESA Hörsaal B, Edmund Siemers Allee 1
Psychoanalyse und Buddhismus - Gedanken zum analytischen und meditativen Weg,
Herr Prof. Ralf Zwiebel DPV Psychoanalytiker aus Kassel hält einen Vortrag
über die Zusammenhänge von Psychoanalyse und Buddhismus.
27 October 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Uni Hamburg, Hörsaal A, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1
Hirnforschung und Meditation im Dialog
Prof. Wolf Singer, Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Frankfurt/M.
und Dr. Matthieu Ricard, Mönch und Autor, Nepal
Organizer: Forum Humanum
25 October 2009, 11:00 a.m.
Abaton Cinema, Allendeplatz 3
Nepal: Verabschiedung der Toten – Rituale der Newars in Bhaktapur
In cooperation with the Abaton Cinema
20 October 2009, 6 – 8 p.m.
ESA Ost Raum 221, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Dr. Johanna Buß, Universität Wien: Trauer- und Totenrituale in den Weltreligionen
12 - 16 October 2009
Workshop Meditation in Early Buddhism I
PD Dr Bhikkhu Anālayo
8 July 2009, 4:15 p.m.
ESA Ost Room 120, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Hartmann, University of Munich, Book Cult or Text Cult? Evolutionary Strategies in Mahayana-Sutras
24 June 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Hörsaal C, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, University Main Building
Zen Buddhism and Nationalism: Aspects of a Contemporary Debate (in German)
Prof. Dr. B. Jörg Quenzer, Asien-Afrika-Institut
Organizer: Centre for Religion and Society
24 June 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Asien-Afrika-Institut, Dept. for Indian and Tibetan Studies, Edmund- Siemers-Allee 1 (Ostfluegel), Rm 123
Péter-Daniel Szántó (Balliol College, Oxford University, England)
A Sanskrit Manuscript of the Anāvilatantra – Biography of a 'Spurious' Tantric Buddhist Scripture
18 - 20 June 2009
International Symposium:
Peace in the Buddhist Traditions of India and Tibet
18 June 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Asien-Afrika-Institut, Edmund- Siemers-Allee 1 (ESA-O), Rm 221
Prof. em. Lambert Schmithausen,
Buddhism ― a Religion of Peace?
within the International Symposium 'Peace in the Traditions of India and Tibet'
9 June 2009, 6 p.m.
Lecture Room C, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, University Main Building
Lecture "Darwin, Evolution Theory and Buddhism"
Prof. em. Dr. Lambert Schmithausen
Summer Term 2009
Lecture Series
Morality, an internal or external factor?
Talks and discussions by distinguished scholars in the fields of Buddhism, Neuroscience, Education, Confucianism, Psychology, Philosophy, World Ethos, Sociobiology, and Law
26 May 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Prof. em. Dr. J. Brosseder (Köln), Prof. Dr. M. Wuketits (Wien), Prof. Dr. Dr. K. Kühl (Tübingen), Prof. em. Dr. L. Schmithausen (Hamburg)
Morality, an internal or external factor?
Christian Theology/Buddhism, Sociobiology and Law in Discussion
19 May 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Prof. Dr. M. Friedrich, Prof. Dr. K. Pawlik, Prof. Dr. M. Pauen (Berlin)
Morality, an internal or external factor?
Confucianism/Buddhism, Psychology, and Western Philosophy in Discussion
29 April 2009, 4:15 p.m.
AAI, Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1 (ESA-O), Rm 120
Prof. Dr. Junko Matsumura (International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies, Tokyo)
Two Apocryphal Jaataka Stories in Sri Lanka: On their connections to Northern Buddhist versions with special reference to the Tamamushinozushi of Japan
14 April 2009, 6:15 p.m.
Prof. em. Dr. L. Schmithausen, Dr. sc. M. Christen (Zürich), Prof. Dr. W. Weisse
Morality, an internal or external factor?
Buddhism, Neurobiology and Social- and Educational Sciences in Discussion