GESHE NGAWANG SAMTEN
Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi
Geshe Ngawang Samten (b. 1956) is presently the Vice Chancellor of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, and has been Professor of Indian Buddhist Philosophy at the University. He is educated both in the modern system as well as in the Buddhist and Tibetan Studies in the monastic mode. He has such important publications to his credit, as a definitive critical edition of Ratnavali with commentary, Abhidhammathasamgaho; Sanskrit and Tibetan versions of the Pindikrita and the Pancakrama of Nagarjuna; Manjusri, an illustrated monograph on Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings. He has been Visiting Professor in various universities and colleges in USA and Australia. He has also been instrumental in promoting Buddhist Studies in India. He has formulated university syllabi on Buddhist philosophy and researches. He is on numerous academic bodies, universities and expert committees of the ministries of the Government of India. In 2008, he was decorated with Padma Shri by the President of India in recognition of his distinguished services in the fields of education and literature.
SESSION 1E: Public Lecture and Cultural Event
Ram Ramaswamy, JNU, New Delhi
Buddhism and science
Buddhism and science have striking similarities, particularly with respect to their approach to search deeper reality. Buddhism, especially in the tradition of ancient Nalanda, has a rich system of wide range of analytical philosophy, which has a strong practice of logic and epistemology as instruments for investigation and analysis. Indian philosophy in general and Buddhism in particular, explored the reality of the external world, which is inextricably associated with the inner world, the system of mind. There have been occasional dialogues between science and Buddhism in the past. However, since over three decades, interaction between Buddhism and Science has been going on intensively on regular basis with the initiatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Leading scientists in the fields of physics, neuroscience, astronomy, psychology, cognitive science and clinical research have participated and many researches have shown ground breaking results. Some of the major findings in the field of neuroscience exploring into the system of the mind and emotions have changed the principles of science. Researches on emotions have become an area of great interest in the domain of science and based on these findings, practices such as Mindfulness, Regulation of Emotions and Social Emotional Learnings are being practiced widely in schools, public domain and clinical services