University for Life and Peace and Germany’s University of Passau Co-host International Symposium on Spiritual Ecology
Spirituality and Ecology in Resonance: Cross-Cultural Dialogue Sparks a New Paradigm for Sustainable Transformation
As the climate crisis intensifies and technological or institutional reforms struggle to meet the challenge, the University for Life & Peace (ULP) and Germany’s University of Passau have turned to spirituality as a starting point—seeking a path to sustainability that resonates deeply between the human spirit and the natural world. Co-organized by the two institutions, the international symposium “Spiritual Ecology: New Ways Toward an All-Encompassing Transformation” was held from June 4 to 5 at the Arts Education and Visual Literacy Studio on the Passau campus. The event featured thought-provoking interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars from fields including neuroscience, religious philosophy, geography, engineering, arts education, and sustainable development.
Crossing the Boundary Between Perception and Thought: Redefining Awareness and Action
The symposium centered on spiritual ecology, an emerging perspective that bridges humanity’s inner awareness with our relationship to the natural world. As Vice President of the University of Passau, Werner Gamerith noted in his opening remarks: “Sustainability is not merely a matter of technology or institutional reform—it ultimately concerns how we perceive the world and how we choose to act within it.”
Professor Michael von Brück, a scholar of religious philosophy at the University of Munich and moderator of the symposium, remarked, “Spiritual ecology is about integrating the full spectrum of human consciousness—bringing together perception, emotion, motivation, and social relationships.” He emphasized that across cultures, the term spirituality is often associated with concepts such as breath, qi, or spirit—signifying both an inward dimension of the self and its interconnectedness with the world.
Ecological Transformation in Academia: Passau University’s Sustainability in Action
Professor Gamerith highlighted the University of Passau as a living example of how sustainability extends beyond classroom theory and into daily life. He outlined concrete initiatives such as the car-free campus, eco-friendly spatial planning, and the student-led Sustainability Week, noting that environmentally conscious campus design is not just a matter of spatial engineering but also a reflection of educational philosophy. He added that the lens of spiritual ecology can foster transformative education—encouraging students to reconsider their relationship with themselves and the world around them.
Lisa Woldrich, a PhD candidate at the University of Passau, offered insights from a geographical perspective, drawing on the spiritual wisdom embedded in Indigenous knowledge systems. She shared examples of how Native American communities have taken legal action to protect the rights of rivers—illustrating how spiritual ecology can be translated into concrete, actionable practice.
Renowned neuroscientist Ernst Pöppel gave a talk titled “The Aesthetic Foundations of Knowledge”, drawing on neurological processes to propose that “cognition and art are, at their core, spiritual expressions—cognition is not merely about receiving data, but about creating meaning.” He invoked Eastern philosophies—particularly the concept of qi in Confucianism and Daoism, and spiritual breath in Indian thought—as a counterpoint to Western rationalism, suggesting that these traditions can complement and enrich each other in the construction of spiritual ecology.
The second day of the symposium shifted focus toward the practical applications and cultural dimensions of spiritual ecology. Professor Christine Schmitt of the University of Passau presented on the theme “Sacred Forests,” exploring how environmental conservation can be integrated with spiritual experience. Arts educator Bärbel Lutz-Sterzenbach emphasized that art is not merely a tool for expression, but a vital medium for awakening spiritual perception.
Spiritual Ecology: A Sustainability Lab for East-West Convergence
The symposium concluded with a dynamic closing session moderated by sustainability educator Alexander Benz, centering on the question: How can the concept of spiritual ecology be institutionally integrated at the University of Passau? This final discussion brought the symposium to a meaningful close, highlighting actionable insights and paving the way for future initiatives.
From the Chinese philosophy of Chi to Indigenous landscape-based spirituality, and from European theological ethics to the interpretive vocabulary bridging engineering and the arts, the symposium stood out as a global collaborative field for the cultivation of spiritual resources. Dharma Master Hsin Tao, founder of the University for Life & Peace, emphasized that what humanity truly needs is a deeper and more integrated vision of life—a cognitive revolution that recognizes humans and nature as one interdependent living entity.
Venerable Xian Yue, Steering Director of the University for Life & Peace, remarked that spiritual ecology is not a rejection of modern technology, but rather a vital foundation that infuses contemporary civilization with soul and ethics. Through this dialogue of intellect and spirit, a vision of the future may already be taking shape—one in which humanity and nature are deeply intertwined, journeying together toward peace and sustainability.
Crossing the Boundary Between Perception and Thought: Redefining Awareness and Action
The symposium centered on spiritual ecology, an emerging perspective that bridges humanity’s inner awareness with our relationship to the natural world. As Vice President of the University of Passau, Werner Gamerith noted in his opening remarks: “Sustainability is not merely a matter of technology or institutional reform—it ultimately concerns how we perceive the world and how we choose to act within it.”
Professor Michael von Brück, a scholar of religious philosophy at the University of Munich and moderator of the symposium, remarked, “Spiritual ecology is about integrating the full spectrum of human consciousness—bringing together perception, emotion, motivation, and social relationships.” He emphasized that across cultures, the term spirituality is often associated with concepts such as breath, qi, or spirit—signifying both an inward dimension of the self and its interconnectedness with the world.
Ecological Transformation in Academia: Passau University’s Sustainability in Action
Professor Gamerith highlighted the University of Passau as a living example of how sustainability extends beyond classroom theory and into daily life. He outlined concrete initiatives such as the car-free campus, eco-friendly spatial planning, and the student-led Sustainability Week, noting that environmentally conscious campus design is not just a matter of spatial engineering but also a reflection of educational philosophy. He added that the lens of spiritual ecology can foster transformative education—encouraging students to reconsider their relationship with themselves and the world around them.
Lisa Woldrich, a PhD candidate at the University of Passau, offered insights from a geographical perspective, drawing on the spiritual wisdom embedded in Indigenous knowledge systems. She shared examples of how Native American communities have taken legal action to protect the rights of rivers—illustrating how spiritual ecology can be translated into concrete, actionable practice.
Renowned neuroscientist Ernst Pöppel gave a talk titled “The Aesthetic Foundations of Knowledge”, drawing on neurological processes to propose that “cognition and art are, at their core, spiritual expressions—cognition is not merely about receiving data, but about creating meaning.” He invoked Eastern philosophies—particularly the concept of qi in Confucianism and Daoism, and spiritual breath in Indian thought—as a counterpoint to Western rationalism, suggesting that these traditions can complement and enrich each other in the construction of spiritual ecology.
The second day of the symposium shifted focus toward the practical applications and cultural dimensions of spiritual ecology. Professor Christine Schmitt of the University of Passau presented on the theme “Sacred Forests,” exploring how environmental conservation can be integrated with spiritual experience. Arts educator Bärbel Lutz-Sterzenbach emphasized that art is not merely a tool for expression, but a vital medium for awakening spiritual perception.
Spiritual Ecology: A Sustainability Lab for East-West Convergence
The symposium concluded with a dynamic closing session moderated by sustainability educator Alexander Benz, centering on the question: How can the concept of spiritual ecology be institutionally integrated at the University of Passau? This final discussion brought the symposium to a meaningful close, highlighting actionable insights and paving the way for future initiatives.
From the Chinese philosophy of Chi to Indigenous landscape-based spirituality, and from European theological ethics to the interpretive vocabulary bridging engineering and the arts, the symposium stood out as a global collaborative field for the cultivation of spiritual resources. Dharma Master Hsin Tao, founder of the University for Life & Peace, emphasized that what humanity truly needs is a deeper and more integrated vision of life—a cognitive revolution that recognizes humans and nature as one interdependent living entity.
Venerable Xian Yue, Steering Director of the University for Life & Peace, remarked that spiritual ecology is not a rejection of modern technology, but rather a vital foundation that infuses contemporary civilization with soul and ethics. Through this dialogue of intellect and spirit, a vision of the future may already be taking shape—one in which humanity and nature are deeply intertwined, journeying together toward peace and sustainability.