The Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre - About us

The Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP) Tokyo, an internationally-renowned research centre, was established in January 1962 by Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist peace activist and President of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a lay Buddhist group. In 1989 it was decided to set up a European branch at Taplow Court, called the Institute of Oriental Philosophy European Centre. Activities of this branch have taken place in the UK, France, Germany and Italy.

In 2007 we created the IOP-UK as a charitable institute to continue and extend the work of the IOPEC in the UK.

The Institute's purpose is to promote academic enquiry into the religious and cultural traditions of Buddhism and those of Asia, and to make Asia's rich spiritual heritage a common resource for people throughout the world.

We aim to study and work towards an accurate understanding of Asian religions, culture and traditions (including their national characteristics); to conduct research into Buddhism of all kinds; and to spread to the world the humanism and pacifism of Buddhism. The Asian religions, culture and traditions referred to above include not only Buddhism, in the forms transmitted to the North and South and also in Tibet, but also Chinese Confucianism and Taoism, Japanese Shintoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and other Asian religions, and indeed the influence that these Asian traditions have had on Western thought and philosophy. In order to develop our studies on Buddhism and its value in the modern world it is a requisite that we also cover the issues of peace, human rights, global environment, economy, society, modern science, education and logic. Our lecture series and future programme of short courses are key to looking at all these areas of research.

In 1991 we held our first series of lectures entitled 'The Wisdom of the East in Modern Society'. In all, twelve lectures were given, including some in Paris and Frankfurt. This was followed in 1994 by the launch of the 'IOP Forum', a series of lectures that continued to examine, via a discursive and inter-disciplinary approach, Asian philosophy and its relevance to contemporary society, culture and science.

In 1995 we established the 'IOP Symposium' the first of which was entitled 'New Religious Movements: Challenge and Response'. Material from this conference has now been published as an academic book by Routledge.

In 1999 our second symposium entitled 'Buddhism Re-presented' discussed the ways in which Buddhism has been represented by various agencies.

We continue to run lectures and conferences and in the near future will be offering courses. Please contact us if you might be interested and wish to be included on our mailing list or you would like to use the Library. We would be very happy to hear from you if you have any suggestions for exchange activities or partnerships and cooperation projects.