This interdisciplinary summer course explores how artificial intelligence is transforming human life—and how Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice can help us understand and guide these changes. It brings together ethical, philosophical, cognitive, and contemplative perspectives.

Key themes include:

• Buddhist perspectives on human identity and becoming

• Ethics and philosophy of AI

• Technology and human cognition

• Interactions with non-human intelligence

• AI and societal transformation

• Dialogue between Buddhism and transhumanism

• Future of education and human purpose in an AI-driven world

On course days (1-8 July):

• Meditation session (~60 min)

• Buddhist teaching (~60–90 min)

• Two Academic sessions (~90 min)

• Approx. 60 min of reading per day

• Community task: All participants are asked to help out for approx. 45 min

During Summit days (9-12 July):

• Full-day or half-day sessions organized by participating groups.

• Students and early-career researchers

• Scholars in Buddhism, philosophy, or humanities

• Professionals and researchers in AI, technology, or related fields

• Practitioners interested in the intersection of Buddhism and modern technology

Basic familiarity is helpful but not required. The course is designed to be accessible to motivated participants from diverse backgrounds.

What is the level of the course?
Between introductory and intermediate. It is exploratory and interdisciplinary.

• Interactive discussions

• Dialogue and debate (inspired partly by Tibetan debate traditions)

• Short lectures followed by Q&A

• Small group work and collaborative exploration

• Experiential learning through traditional Buddhist methods, self- reflection and meditation

Yes. Daily meditation sessions are part of the program, along with opportunities to integrate learning through practice.
The course bridges academic inquiry and lived contemplative practice.

The programm is a collaboration between

• Dharma Gate Buddhist College

• Rangjung Yeshe Gomde

• Italian Buddhist Union
  Reseach Center

• University of Vienna

• Mind & Life Europe

• Center for Apparent Selves

• Wisdom & AI

• Buddhism & AI initiative

• Bodhi Education Project

Students who want to take this course for credit have to be either - enrolled at Dharma Gate Buddhist College, or - enrolled at another University as a BA, MA or PhD student.

If you are not yet enrolled, you are able to enroll at Dharma Gate Buddhist College to receive a certification of "Micro Credit" for this course.

All on-site participation includes access to the full academic program, community spaces, and shared meals.

As a non-profit initiative, participation is offered on a suggested donation basis.

The course (1-12 July): 360 Euros
The summit (9- 12 July): 108 Euros
Accomodation and Meals: between 25- 90 Euros per day (depending on accomodation)

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Italian Buddhist Union Research Center, we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships, covering food and accommodation in a dormitory (420 Euros) and a very limited number of full scholarships (up to 780 Euros).

We also encourage you to ask your University for scholarship opportunities.

We ask students who need financial support to complete the provided form, indicating how much they can contribute to the course and why they need a scholarship.

General eligibility criteria for scholarship
- Full-time students under the age of 26
- People over the age of 26 who are currently unemployed or have less financial means
- Students from countries with low average income

You are welcome to write an email to mail@gomde.eu.

English.