4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF YOUNG BUDDHIST SCHOLARS THEME: THE BUDDHA’S MIDDLE PATH FOR TODAY’S GENERATION Following His Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha delivered His first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma), at Sarnath, to the five ascetics. The Middle Path (Majjhimāpaṭipadā) fundamentally represents the Buddha's radical rejection of dualistic thinking that characterises much of human cognition and philosophical discourse.

At the First Sermon at Sarnath (also known by various names like Sarangnath, Isipatana/ Rishipattana, Deer Park, Migadaya/ Mrigadava), the Buddha explicitly articulated this rejection by steering a course between the extreme of severe asceticism, which he had personally practised and found futile, and the extreme of indulgent sensuality, which binds beings to suffering.

Central to this teaching was the articulation of the Four Noble Truths (Cattāri Ariyasaccāni) and Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga), which emphasises the importance of wisdom (Praññā), ethical conduct (Śīla), the principle of impermanence (Anicca), the doctrine of Dependent Origination (Paṭiccasamuppāda), and the essence of compassion (Karuṇā).

These foundational concepts significantly shaped Buddhist thought across Asia and beyond. The five ascetics later played a crucial role in the formation of the monastic community, tasked with the preservation and dissemination of the Dhamma. Sarnath emerged as a significant pilgrimage and learning centre, particularly during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, whose Lion Capital now serves as India’s national emblem.

A new generation stands on the cusp of transformation, and this conference seeks to elevate the voices of youth as they engage with the Buddha's original message. In contemporary society, young individuals face numerous challenges, including anxiety, identity crisis, climate-related concerns, and social fragmentation. In this context, the Buddha’s Middle Path presents a relevant and practical framework for achieving inner balance, ethical living, and compassionate action. This engagement is envisioned as a pathway towards liberation, resilience, and compassionate action in an increasingly complex world that is in dire need of the Buddha’s Middle Path.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST CONFEDERATION

The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is a Buddhist umbrella body that serves as a common platform for Buddhists worldwide. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India, under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Established under the patronage of the supreme Buddhist religious hierarchy in 2011, it currently has a global membership of over 300 organizations, both monastic and lay, that include world bodies, national and regional federations, monasteries, international organizations and institutions. United by the motto, “Collective Wisdom, United Voice”, IBC aims to make Buddhist values and principles a part of the global discourse by presenting a united Buddhist voice on issues that concern all humanity.

IBC stands for transparency, inclusiveness and a balanced representation of various traditions and emerging Buddhist communities in Africa, the Caribbean and South America.

The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, will be hosting the Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā Celebrations as Dhammacakkappavattana Divas on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, and the 4th International Conference of Young Buddhist Scholars on Thursday, 30 July 2026, at CIHTS, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.