Home > Karsai Gábor

Gábor Karsai

Teacher and Rector at Dharma Gate Buddhist College
(History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Consciousness, Process Philosophy, Philosophy of Nature, Metaphysics)

Philosophy

I have always been a great seeker, wishing to reach understanding. I studied philosophy, Ancient Greek, and Latin at the University of Szeged when I realized that some of my questions required further answers through other methods and in other places. This led me to apply to the College in 1995. I soon started teaching philosophy and Ancient Greek, while also studying philosophy and Indology at ELTE University. At the College, starting in 1998, László Fórizs and I began researching Whitehead’s process philosophy, translating his major work Process and Reality into Hungarian (2001). I founded an association, became a department head at the College, researched the transcendence of experience in the phenomenological philosophy doctoral program at ELTE, and was elected rector of the College in 2005.

Leadership

In 2008, a radical shift occurred in my life: after leaving the College, I became a senior executive and CEO, driven by the realization, feeling, and motivation to apply my “practical philosophy” in real-world conditions. I led Hungarian companies as well as international organizations in Iceland, Switzerland, and Taiwan, including a Hungarian cultural center, a monastery renovated into a retreat center, a global leadership platform, a European educational foundation, and a Buddhist world organization. In 2018, after returning to Hungary, I was invited to return to the College as rector.

Leadership Philosophy

In 2005/2006 and 2019/2020, I successfully led smooth accreditations at the College with my colleagues, and I am proud to say that two of the four accreditations so far occurred under my leadership. Both in teaching and leadership, my fundamental principle is based on a “practical philosophy” that encourages understanding-creation, extensive collaborative thinking, and cooperation involving all stakeholders. Since 2021, I have also been leading the Mind & Life Europe organization alongside the College, paving the way for the College’s planned entry into the European scene. I consider myself a practicing Buddhist, philosopher, and bridge-building manager. For me, the spiritual and material, the theoretical and practical, are not separate. I experience the deepest Buddhist practice in diligent work: managing individual and collective problems, situations, and solving tasks often in changing circumstances. As Whitehead put it: “Philosophy may not neglect the multifariousness of the world — the fairies dance, and Christ is nailed to the cross.” In Buddhism, the practices of muditā (sympathetic joy) and karunā (compassion) have developed for these two aspects.

Date of Birth: 1974

I pursued my studies in multiple institutions and locations simultaneously:

Degrees:

• 1994–1997 – Latin Language Elective Program, József Attila Egyetem (JATE), Bölcsészet-tudományi Kar (József Attila University (JATE), Faculty of Humanities), Szeged.

• 1994–1998 – Ancient Greek Language and Literature Program, József Attila Egyetem (JATE), Bölcsészet-tudományi Kar (József Attila University (JATE), Faculty of Humanities), Szeged.

• 1996–2001 – Philosophy Program, Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE), Bölcsészet-tudományi Kar, (Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Faculty of Humanities), Budapest.

Studies Without a Degree:

• 1992–1994 – Law Program, József Attila Egyetem (JATE), Jogtudományi Kar (József Attila University (JATE), Faculty of Law), Szeged.

• 1995–1997 – Buddhist Teacher Program (Classical Chinese and Sanskrit Specialization), Dharma Gate Buddhist College (TKBF), Budapest.

• 1997–2001 – Indology Program, Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE), Bölcsészet-tudományi Kar (Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Faculty of Humanities), Budapest (Absolutorium).

Ph.D. Studies:

• 2001–2004 – Philosophy Doctoral Program, Phenomenology Subprogram, Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE), Bölcsészet-tudományi Kar (Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Faculty of Humanities), Budapest (Absolutorium).

Position:

Dharma Gate Buddhist College, Assistant Professor, Rector (since 2019)

Academic Title:

 

Doctoral Absolutorium, Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE), Bölcsészet-tudományi Kar (ELTE Faculty of Humanities), Philosophy Doctoral Program, 2004

 

Scientific and Professional Organizational Memberships:

  • Member of the Phenomenology Section of the Magyar Filozófiai Társaság (Hungarian Philosophical Society) (1999–2005). I organized a Whitehead Symposium in the section on March 7–8, 2002, with the participation of John B. Cobb, Jr. (Claremont School of Theology) and Leslie Muray (Curray College).
  • Founding member of the International Process Network, member of the Board of Directors, and secretary (2001–2008).
  • Founding member and president of the Magyar és Közép-Európai Whitehead Egyesület (Hungarian and Central European Whitehead Association) (2002–2008).
  • Member of the Elijah Interfaith Institute (since 2014), Board Member (since 2015).
  • Member of Mind & Life Europe (since 2016), Director (since 2021).

Participation in the International Academic World:
Between 1998 and 2005, I was a participant and partly an organizer of major international Whitehead conferences:

  • Delivered a lecture titled “Whitehead and Plato: Theories of Perception and Becoming” at the 3rd International Whitehead Conference (Silver Anniversary of the Center for Process Studies), Claremont, California, August 4–9, 1998.
  • Delivered a lecture titled “Consciousness” at the Transpersonal Psychology Conference, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, April 26–28, 2002.
  • Delivered a lecture titled “Who am I? A Whiteheadian Interpretation of Subject, Ego, and Personality” at the 1st Annual Meeting of the Whitehead Psychology Network, Fontareches, France, May 22–23, 2002.
  • Delivered a lecture titled “Perspectives on the Philosophy of History: Hegel, Marx, Burckhardt, and Whitehead” at the Whitehead and China in the New Millennium: 4th International Whitehead Conference, Normal University, Beijing, China, June 17–21, 2002.
  • Delivered a lecture titled “Whitehead and Lévinas: Toward a Process Phenomenology” at the HIARPT’s (The Highlands Institute of American Religious and Philosophical Thought) 4th International Conference on Philosophical Theology, Dobogókő, August 4–9, 2003.
  • Delivered a lecture titled “Transcendence and Metaphysics: The Encounter of Phenomenology and Process Philosophy” at the Process Thought and East Asian Culture: 5th International Whitehead Conference, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea, May 24–29, 2004.
  • I was the organizer of the Whitehead Section at the HIARPT’s 4th International Conference on Philosophical Theology, Dobogókő, August 4–9, 2003.
  • I was the organizer and leader of the Whitehead and Philosophy Section at the 5th International Whitehead Conference (Process Thought and East Asian Culture), Seoul, South Korea, May 24–29, 2004.

Teaching Work:

• From 1996 to 2008, and then again from 2019 onwards, I have been a teacher at Dharma Gate Buddhist College. I primarily taught the history of philosophy and thematic philosophical subjects such as metaphysics, philosophy of nature, epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, logic, philosophy of science, process philosophy, and phenomenology. Additionally, I conducted special courses such as Engaged Buddhism and Buddhism and Ecology.

Scientific Research Work:

• A. N. Whitehead’s Philosophy – Studied A. N. Whitehead’s philosophy, including the translation of his work Process and Reality, supported by the Országos Tudományos Kutatási Alap (OTKA) (National Scientific Research Fund (OTKA), 1997–2000 (supervised by László Fórizs).

• Process Philosophy and its Applications – Individual research program at the Center for Process Studies, Claremont, 1999–2000.

• Tulsīdas: Kavita-vālī – Processing the manuscripts of Kavita-vālī by Tulsīdas and preparing a critical edition, Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem, Összehasonlító Indoeurópai Nyelvtudományi Tanszék (Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Comparative Indo-European Linguistics), supported by the National Scientific Research Fund (OTKA), 2001–2005 (supervised by Imre Bangha).

• Tudat, elme, szubjektum, én (Consciousness, Mind, Subject, Self) – Research program at the East-West Research Institute at Dharma Gate Buddhist College, Mind Research Group, 2005–2007.

Habilitation:

 

• I successfully completed my habilitation in 2005 with the dissertation titled “Tapasztalás és transzcendencia” (Experience and Transcendence) as part of the internal habilitation process at Dharma Gate Buddhist College, which awarded me the rank of university professor.

 

Director-General/Rectorial Work (2005–2007, 2019–Present):

From 2005 to 2007, I was the Director-General/Rector of Dharma Gate Buddhist College. Under my leadership, the College successfully underwent its second-round accreditation, transitioned to the Bologna system (3-year BA + 2-year MA), and obtained the necessary professional establishment and launch permits in 2006. We established the country’s first MA program with an official launch permit.

Since 2019, I have again been the Rector of Dharma Gate Buddhist College. Under my leadership, the College successfully completed its fourth-round accreditation based on the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) in 2019/2020.

CEO/Executive Director Work (2008–2013):

Between 2008 and 2013, I held senior leadership positions at Bankár Holding Zrt. and its various subsidiaries. As Deputy CEO, my responsibility was to organize the Holding’s cultural and human-related business interests, including entities such as Telki Hospital Ltd. and KOGART House Ltd. (KOGART Holding Zrt., 2009). Later, as CEO of KOGART House Ltd., I was in charge of designing the unified operational concept and image, overseeing the management of the individual subsidiaries, and directly leading them (KOGART House Ltd., Sopronbánfalva Monastery Nonprofit Ltd., World Servers Foundation). One of the notable achievements during this period was the complete renovation of the former Sopronbánfalva Palos-Carmelite Monastery, followed by its successful operation as an international retreat center (2009–2013).

Leadership in International Organizations (2011–Present):

As Director of the Geneva-based World Servers Foundation (2011–2013), my role involved establishing the foundation administratively, organizing its international board, designing its projects, and overseeing its operations. Key projects included the 2012 documentary film R(E)volution, directed by Ben Cole, and the introduction of Sopronbánfalva Monastery as an international retreat center among similar European locations (through programs, conferences, executive retreats, and training). As a result of my work, the foundation established significant collaborations with several international organizations, including UNESCO.

From 2013 to 2016, I continued this work as Director of the Spirit of Humanity Forum, based in Iceland (and a member of the Board of Directors). I expanded international cooperation by organizing the 2nd Spirit of Humanity Forum in Reykjavik in 2014, which included the President of Iceland, government officials, and 250 prominent global leaders from sectors such as economy, politics, culture, education, health, and religious organizations.

Simultaneously, from 2013 to 2016, I served as Secretary-General of the Education 4 Peace Foundation, further deepening this work in the field of children’s physical (e.g., sports) and mental education. This was achieved through cooperation with the highest leadership of several European sports federations (UEFA, FFF, URBSFA, ASF/SFV) and the development of joint programs (e.g., the “Master of Your Emotions” program).

In 2016, I was invited to Taiwan by Master Hsin Tao to serve as the CEO of the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society, an international Buddhist organization he founded. My responsibilities included reorganizing the entire organization, integrating its organizational units (in both IT and structural aspects), harmonizing its budget and financial management, designing its unified international strategy, image, and communication, coordinating its infrastructural development efforts in the Southeast Asia region (especially in Burma), and, where necessary, reviewing previous contracts and developing more cost-effective solutions. I also coordinated the creation of an international team working on the concept of the University for Life and Peace in New York and Northern Burma. I left this role at the end of 2017 for spiritual reasons and returned to Hungary with my family.

Since 2014, I have been a member of the Izrael-based Elijah Interfaith Institute, and since 2015, I have been a Board Member and Strategic Advisor of the Institute, which is one of the leading international organizations in interfaith dialogue.

In 2016, I was invited to join Mind & Life Europe, where I coordinated the team responsible for the organization’s internal transformation. Since 2021, I have been the Director of Mind & Life Europe. Mind & Life Europe is the European branch of the Mind & Life Institute, which was founded in the USA. Its programs focus on deepening the dialogue and connection between contemplative methods (particularly Buddhism) and modern science, positioning it as one of the pioneers of the global mindfulness movement.

Religious and Related Social Activities:

My religious activities are primarily characterized by my representation of interfaith dialogue, also known as ecumenism, as well as my active support for various religious causes (events, real estate acquisition, etc.), overall embodying the concept of karma yoga. In my personal religious practice, I have been engaged in daily meditation since 2013 (occasionally with yoga), mostly in solitude, though at times I have participated in organized retreats (e.g., in 2016–2017 at the Chan Buddhist monastery of the Venerable Hsin Tao Dharma Master in Taiwan) and, more recently, in Vipassana retreats (e.g., with the Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami), which I continue to deepen.

From 1996 to 2008, I was an active member of the Dharma Gate Buddhist Church’s TeKi KaGyü community.

In 2010, with my support and involvement, the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Hungary and his teachings at the Papp László Budapest Sport Arena were realized.

In 2010–2011, I contributed to the acquisition of property for the Dhammadípa (Island of the Dharma) Community of Pál Farkas in Bajnai.

In 2010, I contributed to the development of the concept for TEDx Danubia and the establishment of the event series.

In 2011, I created and organized the “Sopronbánfalvi Ökumenikus Vallási Fesztivált”” (Sopronbánfalva Ecumenical Religious Festival), and the conference Világvallások a társadalomtudományok tükrében” (World Religions in the Reflection of Social Sciences) with participation from Dr. Asztrik Várszegi and Prof. Dr. Elemér Hankiss.

From 2016 to 2019, I was a member of the Higher Education Committee of the Dharma Gate Buddhist Church, and from 2018 to 2019, I served as its president.

Ultimately, I include the participation in the creation of the KOGART Holding concept and the vision for the Sopronbánfalva Monastery, the activities of the World Servers Foundation, especially the management of the Spirit of Humanity Forum, my contributions to the projects of the Education 4 Peace Foundation, the leadership of the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society, the support of the Elijah Interfaith Institute, and my involvement in Mind & Life Europe, along with the support of many other smaller and larger projects, in this context.

In recognition of my various activities supporting Hungarian and international Buddhism, I was awarded the honorary title of Dharma Teacher by the Dharma Gate Buddhist Church in 2018.

 

 

  • Russian: Basic level “C” type language exam, 1990.
  • English: Intermediate level “A” (1992) and “B” (1991, together “C”) type language exams.
  • Latin: Optional Latin language course, József Attila University (JATE), Faculty of Humanities, Szeged, 1994–1997 (diploma).
  • Ancient Greek: Ancient Greek Language and Literature program, József Attila University (JATE), Faculty of Humanities, Szeged, 1994–1998 (diploma).
  • Sanskrit: Indology program, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Faculty of Humanities, Budapest, 1996–2001 (absolutorium).
  • Hindi: Indology program, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Faculty of Humanities, Budapest, 1996–2001 (absolutorium).
  • Through my work in the scientific, professional, domestic economic, and international nonprofit sectors, as well as my leadership roles, I have acquired advanced proficiency in English, both in writing (in the academic and communication fields) and at the level of negotiation and presentation skills.

Studies:

  • “Egy lehetséges ontológiai etika vázlata,” in: Különbség, Szeged, 1994.
  • “A. N. Whitehead és a szerveződés filozófiája,” in: Pro Philosophia Füzetek 15–16/1998, pp. 77–109.
  • “The Concept of Creator God in the Rig Veda – A Whiteheadian Interpretation.” Member Paper of the Center for Process Studies, 23:1/Summer 2000.
  • “The Poet of Cinema: Andrei Tarkovsky,” in: Creative Transformation, 9:3/Spring 2000, pp. 14–18. “Andrei Tarkovsky: Cinema’s Poet,” in: Media Development (Journal of the World Association for Christian Communication), 3/2002, pp. 44–48.
  • “Filozófia és ökológia,” in: Ökotáj 31–32/2003, pp. 76–86.
  • “Whitehead észleléselmélete,” in: Folyamat és kaland – Tanulmányok Whitehead filozófiájának köréből (edited by Ella Csikós and Gábor Karsai), Veszprém: Veszprémi Humán Tudományokért Alapítvány, 2005, pp. 43–107.
  • “Intencionalitás, prehenzió, konstitúció,” in: Folyamat és kaland – Tanulmányok Whitehead filozófiájának köréből (edited by Ella Csikós and Gábor Karsai), Veszprém: Veszprémi Humán Tudományokért Alapítvány, 2005, pp. 161–185.
  • “Folyamat és transzcendencia,” in: Folyamat és kaland – Tanulmányok Whitehead filozófiájának köréből (edited by Ella Csikós and Gábor Karsai), Veszprém: Veszprémi Humán Tudományokért Alapítvány, 2005, pp. 235–268.

Book Reviews:

  • “John B. Cobb, Jr., Transforming Christianity and the World: A Way beyond Absolutism and Relativism,” in: Creative Transformation, 9:2/Winter 2000, pp. 22–23.

Translations:

  • Kirk–Raven–Schofield: A preszókratikus filozófusok, Budapest: Atlantisz, 1998 (translated by K. Cziszter and K. Steiger, with G. Karsai contributing to the translation of Heraclitus and the Atomists’ fragments).
  • Marilia Albanese: Észak-India – Kelet olvasztótégelye, Budapest: Gabo, 1999.
  • Mahendravikramavarman: Mester is, „angyal” is (Bhagavadajjukam) – Sanskrit Comedy, Radio Play, Kossuth Radio, 2001 (co-translated with T. Körtvélyesi).
  • Alfred North Whitehead: Folyamat és valóság – kozmológiai értekezés, Budapest: Typotex, 2001 (co-translated with L. Fórizs).
  • Alice A. Bailey: Az intellektustól az intuícióig, Budapest: Édesvíz, 2004.
  • Mayeul de Dreuille: Szent Benedek regulái és az aszketikus hagyományok Ázsiától Nyugatig (translated by Zs. Cseke, with Sanskrit and Pali citations translated by G. Karsai and T. Körtvélyesi) (forthcoming).
  • Antoine Vergote: Bűntudat és vágy: a vallásos szemlélet és torzulásai (translated with the help of Zs. Mohi), Budapest: Semmelweis University Institute of Mental Health, Dialogue Foundation, 2008.
  • Peter J. King: Száz nagy filozófus – A világ legnagyobb gondolkodóinak élete és nézetei, Budapest: Gabo, 2005.

Editorial Work:

  • Magyar Nagylexikon, vol. 14–19, 2002–2004 (Editor-in-chief: Lászlóné Bárány, Orientalist Expert Editor: Gábor Karsai).
  • Általános Kislexikon, vol. 1–2, 2005 (Editor-in-chief: Lászlóné Bárány, Orientalist and Ancient Studies Expert Editor: Gábor Karsai).
  • Folyamat és kaland – Tanulmányok Whitehead filozófiájának köréből (edited by Ella Csikós and Gábor Karsai), Veszprém: Veszprémi Humán Tudományokért Alapítvány, 2005.
  • Nigel Spivey: Világteremtő művészet, Budapest: Gabo, 2006.

Lectures:

  • “The Critique of Abstraction: Conceptual Shifts in the Divine Characteristics of God (from Rig Veda X. 81–82 to Yoga-sutra i. 24–28),” 35th ICANAS (International Congress of Asian and North African Studies) conference, Budapest, July 7–12, 1997 (co-presented with L. Fórizs).
  • “Whitehead and Plato: Theories of Perception and Becoming,” 3rd International Whitehead Conference (Silver Anniversary of the Center for Process Studies), Claremont, California, August 4–9, 1998.
  • “The Concept of Creator God in the Rig Veda: A Whiteheadian Interpretation,” Claremont School of Theology, Seminar of the Center for Process Studies, Claremont, California, April 6, 2000.
  • “The Concept of Nature: Leibnizean Themes in Whitehead’s Philosophy,” Naturkonzepte in der Philosophie des 17. Jahrhunderts, Eötvös University, Budapest, December 7–8, 2001.
  • “Intentionality and Prehension,” Whitehead Symposium, Hungarian Philosophical Society, Phenomenology Section, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, March 8, 2002.
  • “Consciousness,” Transpersonal Psychology Conference, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, April 26–28, 2002.
  • “Who am I? A Whiteheadian Interpretation of Subject, Ego, and Personality,” 1st Annual Meeting of the Whitehead Psychology Network, Fontareches, France, May 22–23, 2002.
  • “Perspectives on the Philosophy of History: Hegel, Marx, Burckhardt, and Whitehead,” Whitehead and China in the New Millennium: 4th International Whitehead Conference, Normal University, Beijing, China, June 17–21, 2002.
  • “Lévinas and Whitehead: Toward a Process Phenomenology,” HIARPT’s (The Highlands Institute of American Religious and Philosophical Thought) 4th International Conference on Philosophical Theology, Dobogókő, August 4–9, 2003.
  • “What is the Middle?” A középút filozófiája Keleten és Nyugaton, mini-conference, Tan Kapuja Buddhist College, Budapest, October 19, 2003.
  • “Intentionality, Transcendence, and Metaphysics: Fundamentals of a Process-Phenomenology,” Hungarian Philosophical Society, Phenomenology Section, May 21, 2004.
  • “Transcendence and Metaphysics: The Encounter of Phenomenology and Process Philosophy,” Process Thought and East Asian Culture: 5th International Whitehead Conference, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea, May 24–29, 2004.