You are warmly invited.

Dear colleagues, friends, partners and all those interested,

I would like to personally invite you to Living Dharma 2026: A Pathway to Global Citizenship, taking place on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam).

For the past seven years, through the Hindu Seminary and the Chair of Hindu Spirituality and Society, we have been working to advance knowledge, deepen understanding and foster dialogue. In this work, we increasingly see the relevance of Dharma: how can we give meaning to responsibility, connectedness and freedom in our daily and professional lives?

Global citizenship is at the heart of the VU Strategy 2026–2030. VU Amsterdam aims to educate students as global citizens who, drawing on different perspectives, contribute to a healthy, sustainable and just world. Through my work in Hindu spirituality and in my role as Chief Diversity Officer of VU Amsterdam, I see a meaningful connection between this ambition and Dharma: how can we, from our different backgrounds and beliefs, take responsibility for one another and for the world we share?

At Living Dharma 2026, we will explore how Dharmic wisdom can contribute to this understanding of global citizenship and to addressing major societal challenges. We will bring together scholars, professionals and people from diverse communities for reflection, dialogue and connection.

I would be delighted if you could join us. Your experience and perspective would enrich our conversations, and I hope the day will also offer you new insights and meaningful encounters.

Whether Dharma is already part of your life or a new question you are curious to explore, you are warmly welcome. Come with your questions, your hopes and your own way of seeing the world. There is much we can learn from one another.

The programme includes lectures, research presentations, interactive workshops and cultural contributions. We will conclude the day with Naivedyam, a shared meal inspired by sattvic temple-prasad recipes from the Indian subcontinent. Part of the programme will be in English, while several workshops will be held in Dutch.

Participation is free of charge. Please register in advance and indicate your preferred workshop. You can explore the full programme and choose the conversations and activities that speak to you.

In addition, on 19 and 20 October, an international 24-hour online programme will give us the opportunity to learn from perspectives on Dharma from different parts of the world.

For questions, please contact the organising team. I very much hope to welcome you personally on 20 October.