Cosmology and Consciousness III conference begins [Monday, November 03, 2014 19:24] By Phuntsok Yangchen TCV, November 3, 2014 Phayul Photo: Kunsang Gashon DHARAMSHALA, November 3: Tibetan Buddhist scholars, scientists and students from various parts of the world today gathered at Tibetan Children’s Village Auditorium for a three day meeting on ‘Cosmology and Consciousness III- Harmony and Happiness’. Organized by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives under its Science for Monks program, the conference was also attended by Tibetan MPs, monks, nuns, college students, students from TCV, Dharamshala; TCV Suja, Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institute and College for Higher Tibetan Studies. Ngodup Tsering, Minister of Education, Tibetan government in exile presided over the opening ceremony of the conference as the Chief Guest. Addressing at the conference, Ngodup Tsering commended the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives’ initiative and extended his support. Ngodup, however, wished he could see more of Tibetan science scholars in such conferences in the future. “The education story of exile community is concerned, it has been one of the greatest or the biggest success story of the Tibetan Diaspora, however, even you look at the speakers here on the bench, I would definitely have wished Tibetan scientists or science researchers or whatever to be speaking not only as a Buddhist scholars but as a science student or scholar. So, it shows that we still have to work little harder,” said Ngodup Tsering. Citing a survey done by Department of Education in 2013, he said that only 20 percent of Tibetan students pursued for Science stream in schools for their Class 11 and 12, urging students to opt for science for their class 11 and 12. “We really have to work little harder to have more science students in the future. Therefore, our emphasis has been also in the schools through the counselors that we should have more science students at least to the equal ratio of students opting for Arts and Commerce. So, I thought I should convey this message to our students when they are selecting or electing their streams when they are in 11th grade,” added thenewly appointed minister in the current Tibetan cabinet headed by Dr. Lobsang Samgay. Some of the speakers and panelists at the conference are- AK Mukhopahdyay, MD, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India; Emiliana Simon Thomas, PhD, Greater Good Science Center- UC Berkeley, USA; Geshe Lhakdor, Director of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives; Lodoe Sangpo, Gaden Jangtse Monastery; Marieke Van Vugt, PhD, University of Groningen, Netherlands; Sangeetha Menon, PhD, (National Institute of Advanced Studies, India) and Siling Rinpoche, Sera Mey Monastery. Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, said practical implementation of wisdom in daily lives is important. “I trust that the purpose of both science and Buddhism is to enrich and make life meaingful. This is possible only if the truth and wisdom obtained from them are lived and practiced. How can we do this is the real issue at hand. This is much more than something to just talk about.” The conference organizers are trying to explore the important Buddhist concept of interdependence and connections to physical and biological systems in and out of balance. Geshe Lhakdor said his institution will not only seek to focus on sharing knowledge but also contribute towards happier life through such projects. Dr. Sangeetha Menon from the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bangalore, India, said that human existence is experienced in the form of an agentive self of the action, not just for that moment, but for all moments that preceded and are yet to come. “Such continuity is definitely influenced and customized by the culture and the life style we adopt so as to present our personal identities. Yet there are universal and trans-cultural factors in experiences, such as our notion of overall well-being.” Students attending the conference said in unison that it was a new experience for them and wished they had such events in all schools. Tenzin Dolma, a Tibetan student from Chennai, said, “I did not expect this when I registered for the conference, and this first session today itself was a great experience and I hope there is more to come later in the next two days.” The first conference Cosmology and Consciousness- a Dialogue,’ a dialogue between Buddhist Scholars and Scientists on Mind and Matter’ was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Dharamshala in 2011 and the second conference ‘Knowing and Action’ was held at the Songtsen Library in Dehradun last year.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:07:37 +0000
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