Buddhist Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores Buddhist traditions in all their historical and contemporary richness. This area of research encompasses the history of religions, philosophy, linguistics, philology and other disciplines, with the aim of analysing and understanding the various expressions of Buddhism over the centuries. A fundamental aspect of this field is its comparative and intercultural approach, which highlights both the differences and the commonalities between the various Buddhist traditions, offering a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon.
The Research Centre of the Italian Buddhist Union is committed to raising Buddhist Studies to the same level as other established disciplines within religious studies in Italy. To this end, it promotes the creation of educational programmes, such as degree courses and postgraduate training, and research positions specifically dedicated to this tradition, understood both as a living religion and as a rich heritage of practices and forms of contemplation. A first step in this direction was the funding of research into the textual heritage already present in Italy, such as the meticulous cataloguing of the texts preserved in the Tucci Archive and in the library of the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies.
Furthermore, the Centre for Studies has co-funded scholarships within the Doctoral School of Religious Studies (DREST) at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, for research projects related to Buddhist Studies. The aim is to support the training of scholars and translators with broad and diverse skills, working towards the creation of a language centre entirely dedicated to the Buddhadharma, in collaboration with universities and international institutions already active in the field.
