For me, science is a method of making something unknown understandable — to oneself and to the society in which one lives. I work on philosophical thinking in ancient India and Tibet. More specifically: in the context of Buddhism.

What fascinates me is investigating how, so long ago, people systematically and methodically addressed questions that still preoccupy us today: the nature of consciousness, the foundations of a good and meaningful life, the reliability of knowledge, and the evaluation of claims to truth in an environment where one discusses with those who think differently. These are the topics I deal with.

In addition, many manuscripts and old block prints have become newly accessible in recent years. Especially those from ethnoculturally Tibetan regions within the People’s Republic of China. Today, they give us access to fundamental works in Sanskrit or Tibetan for the first time. They allow us to discover new thinkers, which is enormously exciting.

However, the task of examining topics from Asian history in the multipolar world of the 21st century with its volatile power constellations also presents us with difficulties. The example of Tibet shows particularly clearly that there are diverging perspectives on history. We do not have to share all of these views, but as scientists we should explain their backgrounds.

Today, we must consider the global context, find new forms of cooperation, and develop a historical understanding that extends beyond Europe. That is why I am also involved in the FWF Cluster of Excellence EurAsian Transformations. Here, I can not only expand my work in an interdisciplinary network— but also communicate my findings beyond the scientific community.

Birgit Kellner is a researcher in Buddhism and director of the Institute for Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. She is a member of the steering committee of the FWF Cluster of Excellence EurAsian Transformations.