The summit will bring together over 200 delegates and 800 participants, including monastic leaders, scholars, and policymakers from multiple countries. The IBC stated the gathering aims to examine contemporary global issues through the framework of the Buddhadharma.




Summit Theme and Sessions

The summit is organized under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence.” This theme builds on the IBC’s guiding motto and is intended to consolidate a unified Buddhist approach to global discourse. The program is structured into five core sessions, each designed to translate Buddhist principles into practical engagement:

Collective Wisdom and United Voice for Social Harmony: This session will explore how Buddhist teachings can contribute to conflict resolution and social cohesion.

Entrepreneurship and Right Livelihood in Buddha Dhamma: Discussions will focus on ethical economic models and business practices grounded in Buddhist ethics.

Scientific Research, Healthcare, Medicine, and Sustainable Living: Panels will examine the intersection of Buddhist practices with modern science, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

Learning in the Light of Buddha Dhamma: This segment will address Buddhist approaches to education and pedagogy.

Sangha Dynamics through Roles, Rituals, and Practice: The session will consider the evolving role of monastic communities in contemporary society.


IBC’s Adoption of NORBU AI

A key presentation at the summit will be a live demonstration of NORBU AI (Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding - https://norbu-ai.og). The IBC has formally adopted this language-learning model as a global initiative, naming it “Kalyan Mitra” (Spiritual Friend). Trained on a corpus of Buddhist texts in multiple languages, the system is designed to provide responses grounded in traditional teachings. The IBC states that NORBU is part of a strategy to engage younger, tech-literate audiences and support the study of Dharma through digital means.


India’s Buddhist Diplomacy and the IBC’s Role

The summit is a component of India's broader use of cultural and soft power diplomacy. The IBC, headquartered in New Delhi, functions as the primary instrument for this outreach. By positioning India as the cradle of Buddhism and a neutral convening power for the global Buddhist community, the government leverages the religion's historical legacy for diplomatic engagement, particularly across Asia. The confederation’s activities — including this summit and the management of major Buddhist pilgrimage sites — are viewed as efforts to strengthen India's cultural ties and leadership within the Buddhist world.

The inaugural Global Buddhist Summit was held in April 2023. The upcoming event will also feature exhibitions on Buddhist relics and India's cultural outreach, alongside addresses from figures such as former Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.