Invited by the Catholic University of Leuven, the University of Gent and the Flemish Business Ethics Network, Laszlo Zsolnai gave a public lecture on Buddhist economics on October 20, 2004, in Leuven, Belgium. The lecture was opened by Professor M. Vervenne, vice-rector of the Catholic University of Leuven. In his lecture, Laszlo Zsolnai argued that the principles of Buddhist economics could be applied in any economic setting. As an alternative to mainstream Western economics, Buddhist economics is superbly rational, ethical, and ecological. It is an authentic way to reach happiness, peace and permanence.
Luc Van Liedekerke, professor at the Center for Economics and Ethics of the Catholic University of Leuven; Sigrid Hettinga, representing the Bodyshop Benelux; and Marc Bontemps, the director of Ethibel, all reflected on Laszlo Zsolnai’s presentation.
Laszlo Zsolnai’s ideas were well received. The most important Belgian newspapers published reports on the event. De Standard published a long interview with Laszlo Zsolnai entitled “Buddha as Economist.”