M. Satish Kumar

Abstract: This paper attempts to engage with the key ideas of Buddhist Humanism and its relation to a universalising vision for world peace. Drawing upon ideas from the Saddharmapundarika or the Lotus Sutra, we establish a case for Buddhist humanism that reinforces the significance of the inherent dignity of human beings and the eternal capacity for inner transformation accorded to all through dialogue and empathy. Here the key ideas of humanism of the middle way will be explored.

Short Bio: M. Satish Kumar is a Senior Lecturer & Director of the India Initiative at Queen’s University Belfast. He previously taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and University of Cambridge, UK. He is a Fellow of Royal Commonwealth Society, UK, Fellow of Royal Geographical Society and has recently been nominated as Fellow of Higher Education Academy, UK. He was awarded the Bhoovigyan (Earth Scientist) National Leadership He successfully designed and launched an International Exhibition on Gandhi, King, Ikeda Peacebuilder’s Exhibition for Queen’s, 2005.