8th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference 2024

23-25 August 2024
Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Theme DDC 2024: Cosmology in Dharma and Dhamma

Cosmology as a discipline can be viewed from two different paradigms – Western and Indian. In the western paradigm the study of cosmology is a study of the Cosmos – the order of the universe, observed and analysed through a logical and scientific methodology. The Indic paradigm of cosmology is typically different. The Dharmic cosmology is unique in its function and it shapes the Indian mind and Indic cultures. It liberates those who understand it from the fear of death and the sense that life is brief and meaningless. The roots of that cosmology can be found in the Vedas and it was further developed or explicited in many texts such as the Hindu Itihasas, Brahmanas and Puranas, the Buddhist Nikayas and Sutras, the Tantras of both traditions as well as the Jain Karikas and Sutras.

In Association with

Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Entry
By Invitation and Registration

Dates
23-25 August 2024

Location
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Speakers
Spiritual, Academic and Professional

About the Conference

Dharma Dhamma Conference is an initiative of India Foundation, aimed to focus on the essential identity between the Dharma-Dhamma viewpoints because these thoughts are as relevant today as they have been over millennia exemplified by the abiding continuum of Hindu and Buddhist Civilizations. The aim of this annual conference is to facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas and foster harmony between the two ancient Civilizations, so that Dharma-Dhamma becomes a veritable celebration of freedom. It is all the more essential in view of the forces released by Globalization today, to integrate the Orient through the common factor of Dharma-Dhamma link provided by centuries of cultural and civilisational interconnectedness.

India Foundation, in collaboration with Gujarat University, Ahmedabad is organizing the 8th International Dharma Dhamma Conference in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The theme of the conference is 'Cosmology in Dharma and Dhamma'. The Conference aims to bring together religious, political, and thought leaders from Dharma-Dhamma traditions to ponder over building a philosophical framework for the emerging new world order. The conference will have plenary Sessions to debate and discuss various sub-themes of the conference along with paper presentation sessions where researchers from India and abroad will get an opportunity to present their papers. More than 300 Delegates from 18 Countries will participate in 8th International Dharma Dhamma Conference 2024.

Conference Speakers

Inaugural Session

Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar

Hon'ble Vice President of India

Shri Acharya Devvrat

Hon'ble Governor of Gujarat

Shri Bhupendra Patel

Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat

Shri Amit Shah

Hon'ble Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Government of India

Ministers' Session

Shri Pema Khandu

Chief Minister, Arunachal Pradesh

Mr. Tshering

Home Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan

Mr. Vidura Wickramanayaka

Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka

Mr Badri Prasad Pandey

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal

Shri Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel

Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education; Higher & Technical Education; Law & Justice, Government of Gujarat

Keynote Session - S. R. Bhatt Memorial Lecture

Swami Shri Govinda Dev Giri Ji Maharaj

Treasurer, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust

Swami Brahmaviharidas

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayake Thero

President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka

Plenary Session

Swami Mitrananda

Spiritual Teacher, Chinmaya Mission, Chennai, India

Bhaddanta Vasatthabivamsa

Secretary-General, State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Ma Soe Yein Taik Thit Monastery, Mandalay, Myanmar

Ven. Lama Rinpochy Ngodup Dorji

Chair, Longchenpa Centre, Bhutan

Lama Yonten Lodoi Gelong

Chairman, Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists, Russia

Prof. (Dr.) Jagbir Singh

Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India

Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi

Vice-Chancellor, Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, India

Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten

Former Vice Chancellor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi , India

Prof Arvind Sharma

Birks Professor in Comparative Religion, School of Religious Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Dr Tsui Yan Ting Jennifer

President, Zen Academy of China and President, Rotary Club of Beijing Dynasty, China

Dr. Supachai Veerapuchong

Secretary-General of the BodhiGayāVijālaya 980 Institute, Thailand

Prof. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi

Vice Chancellor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, India

Prof. Juan Arnau

Professor of Philosophy, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

Rev. Professor Naresh Man Bajracharya

Founding Chair, Central Department of Buddhist Studies, Tribhuvan University and Founding President, Nepal Traditional Buddhist Association, Nepal

Dr. Anna V. Chelnokova

Associate Professor, The Head of the Department, Department of Indian Philology, St Petersburg University, Russia

Prof. Balaganapathi Devarakonda

Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi, India

Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay

Senior Scientist, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan

Prof. Kusum Jain

Prof of Philosophy (Retd.), University of Rajasthan, India

Dr. Jijith Nadumuri Ravi

Former Scientist, ISRO and Author, India

Dan Rodgers

Engineer and Scholar of Samkhya Cosmology for Scientific Applications, USA

Prof. Kashinath Nyaupane

Chair Professor (Indian Knowledge System) and Director (Publications), Central Sanskrit University, Nepal

Prof. H.H. Mahinda Herath

Head, Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Mr. HWANG Soonil

Dean, College of Buddhism, Director, EBTI & Culture Content; Advisor, International Relations, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea

Dr Oscar Pujol

Director, Cervantes Institute, Spain

Dr Vedika Hurdoyal

Associate Professor & Head, Department of Indian Philosophy, School of Indological Studies, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Mauritius

Prof. Geo Lyong Lee

Former President of Korean Society for Indian Studies, South Korea

Vatsana DOUANGMALASY

Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Faculty of Social Sciences, National University of Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR

Prof. Yu-chen Li

Professor, Graduate Institute of Religious Studies, National Cheng Chi University, Taipei, Taiwan

Mr. Luvsandorj Tseetsee

Director, Mongolian Buddhist University, Gandentegchenlin Monastery, Mongolia

Shri Bhagyesh Jha

Chairman, Gujarat Sahitya Academy, India

Prof Jata Shankar

President, All Indian Philosophy Association (ABDP), India

Prof. Baidyanath Labh

Vice Chancellor, Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies, India

Prof. Shriprakash Singh

Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi; Director, South Campus, University of Delhi, India

Ven. Khenpo Choten Dorji

Secretary, Council for Administration and Development Affairs, Central Monastic Body of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Bhutan

Ven. Hak Sienghai

Executive Director, Buddhism for Education of Cambodia (BEC), Cambodia

Ven. Phra Phrom Dr. Shakyavongvisuthi

Phrom & Abbot of Wat Bowonnivesitha Royal temple, Bangkok, Thailand

Organising Committee