The Buddhist Economics Research Platform is a joint initiative of the Business Ethics Center of the Corvinus University of Budapest and the East-West Research Institute of the Budapest Buddhist University. The Platform aims to connect people and institutes engaged in developing Buddhist economic theory and practice and to spread ideas and working models of Buddhist Economics to the general public.

Ubon Ratchathani University is honored to host the second International Conference of the Buddhist Economics Research Platform.

As Buddhism spreads from Asia into other parts of the world, the incorporation of Buddhist ideals and beliefs into everyday life takes new and varied forms. The challenges that Buddhist practitioners face in different parts of the world are daunting. This conference proposes to continue to build a platform or foundation that explores how to meld knowledge, research and practice to support Buddhists as they face the challenges of today's complex economic landscape.

The first conference of the Buddhist Economics Research Platform was held in Budapest, Hungary in August of 2007 with approximately 50 participants. 95% of the participants were Buddhists living in western societies. The participants were enthusiastic to hold the second conference in a Buddhist culture where they could experience practices that were more a reflection of a Buddhist society.

This conference is therefore an attempt to bring together opposite ends of numerous spectrums: Buddhism in a primarily capitalist, Christian culture and Buddhism in a Buddhist culture that is increasingly capitalist; Western theoreticians working on ways to incorporate theory into culture and Eastern practitioners seeking to build theoretical frameworks from practice; and Eastern and Western religious leaders seeking the best methods to influence their followers.

Earlier in the Week on December 1-3, 2008 There is a conference "Buddhism in the Age of Consumerism" being held at Mahidol University, Salaya Campus. Please watch here for a link if you might be interested in attending that conference as well.