報恩講セミナー Hōonkō Seminar
Fri Nov 28 – Sun Nov 30, 2025 (Starting Fri Nov 28, 2:00 pm)
(Time Plan: Fri Nov 28: 2:00 – 6:15 pm, Sat Nov 29: 9:00 – 12:30 am; Sun Nov 30: 9:00 am – 1:15 pm)
Event language: English
Organisation: EKŌ-Gemeinschaft der Europäischen Shin-Buddhisten e.V.

Speakers: Rev. Dr. Jérôme Ducor (Shingyoji and University of Geneva, Switzerland) | Rev. Dr. Enrique Galván-Álvarez (Jodo Shinshu UK & Jinenkō, International University of La Rioja, Spain)
Theme: “Listening to the Vow: Transmission Past, Present and Futur“

General Description:
In this year’s seminar we will be addressing the transmission of the Jōdo Shinshū teaching in an European context. Focusing on “listening to the Vow” as the core of this transmission, we will discuss how we came to hear the teaching ourselves, the challenges we face when sharing it in our different countries and our thoughts and aspirations for the future of Shinran Shōnin’s legacy in our continent.
Key to our discussions will be the metaphors of ‘transplanting’, as a way to talk about how a doctrine from a different culture, time and place can be transmitted in different circumstances, and ‘hearing through’, as a way of becoming aware of the prior knowledge, assumptions and points of reference we all bring to our encounter with Jōdo Shinshū.
Through these metaphors we will discuss issues of learning Buddhism from a different culture, translation to various languages and teaching in ways that speak to our local cultures. By doing so, we hope to deepen our appreciation of Amida’s Vow, which is the core of the life of the Nenbutsu, as a compass that can guide us both individually and collectively. From this standpoint, we will also look at the future and offer our reflection on how to face the challenges ahead of us. We invite active participation and look forward to your input.

Those who wish to have meals with other participants for lunch on Nov 29 should inform us by Nov 24, 2025 and pay additionally €15 for lunch box.
Information & registration: nottelmann [AT] eko-haus.de