Author: Swami Sarvabhutananda
Eminent Contributors/
Publisher: Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 469
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788187332541
Description
This volume consists of fifteen papers and the discussions thereon at the fourth biennial International Seminar on Consciousness held at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, in January 2008. The participants included not only philosophers and scientists but also mystics. Their illuminating paper will be read with profit and pleasure by scholars and lay persons alike. It is hoped that this volume will be as well received as the three earlier volumes.
A Profound Backgrounder:
Sri Ramakrishna showed through his own experience that consciousness as cit or caitanya is one and undivided, and it is transcendent consciousness that has become immanent consciousness. In order to realize Brahman as transcendent consciousness it is at first necessary to negate the world as neti, neti, ‘not this’ not this’. But after realizing transcendent consciousness, one comes back to the world and sees that Brahman itself has become the whole universe. Sri Ramakrishna gives an example to illustrate this point: a person who wants to reach the roof of a house at first leaves behind the steps of the staircase one after the other. But after reaching the roof when he comes down, he finds that the steps of the staircase are also made of the same material as the roof.
Contents
Publisher’s Note
INAGURAL SESSION
Welcome Address
SWAMISARVABHUTANANDA
Inaugural Address
SWAMI PRABHANANDA
Keynote Address
PROFESSOR P. N. TANDON
Presidential Address
PROFESSOR N. MUKUNDA
Brief Report on Progress till now
PROFESSOR DEBABRATA SEN SHARMA
Vote of Thanks
PROFESSOR SAROJ GHOSE
FIRST ACADEMIC SESSION
Knowledge and Consciousness: An Integral Approach
SWAMI BHAJANANANDA
The Veil of Avidya
PROFESSOR ULRICH MOHRHOFF
SECOND ACADEMIC SESSION
Ethics, Meditation and Development of Consciousness
PROFESSOR JONATHAN SHEAR
From Yogic Integration and Control to Metaphysical Holism
PROFESSOR STEPHEN PHILLIPS
THIRD ACADEMIC SESSION
Study of Consciousness from the Point of View of Visistadvaita Philosophy
PROFESSOR M.A. LAKSHMITHATHACHAR
Persistent Puzzles of Consciousness: What is it? Where is it?
PROFESSOR SANGEETHA MENON
FOURTH ACADEMIC SESSION
Consciousness Science: An Eclectic Perspective
PROFESSOR L. CLARK JOHNSON
Consciousness and Mental States According to Abhidharma and Pramana Texts
LAMA DOBOOM TULKU RINPOCHE
FIFTH ACADEMIC SESSION
Consciousness: Dominant Metaphors and Research Methods
PROFESSOR AMITA CHATTERJEE
Consciousness in Cognitive Science
PROFESSOR NARAYANAN SRINIVASAN
SIXTH ACADEMIC SESSION
Molecules that are involved in Cellular Consciousness
PROFESSOR SAMIR BHATTACHARYA
Coma, Sleep and Consciousness: A Neurologist’s View
PROFESSOR DAVID BATES
SEVENTH ACADEMIC SESSION
Geometry of Brain Function and Consciousness
PROFESSOR SISIR ROY
Play of Unconscious: Classical Yoga and Jungian Analytical Psychology
PROFESSOR AUDRIUS BEINORIUS
EIGHTH ACADEMIC SESSION
Images, Reflections and Suggestions for Interdisciplinary Dialogue
PROFESSOR N. MUKUNDA
DISCUSSION
Discussions on the Paper of Swami Bhajanananda
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Ulrich Mohrhoff
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Jonathan Shear
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Stephen Phillips
Discussions on the Paper of Professor M. A. Laksmithathachar
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Sangeetha Menon
Discussions on the Paper of Professor L. Clark Johnson
Discussions on the Paper of Lama Doboom Tulku Rinpoche
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Amita Chatterjee
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Narayana Srinivasan
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Samir Bhattacharya
Discussions on the Paper of Professor David Bates
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Sisir Roy
Discussions on the Paper of Professor Audrius Beinorius
Discussions on the Paper of Professor N. Mukunda
VALEDICTORY SESSION
Concluding Address
SWAMI SARVABHUTANANDA
Summing-up of the Proceedings
DR B.P. CHATTERJEE
Panel Discussion:
Swami Bhajanananda
Professor N. Mukunda
Professor Ulrich Mohrhoff
Professor David Bates
Professor Narayanan Srinivasan
Professor P. K. Mukhopadhyay
Presidential Address
PROFESSOR J. N. MOHANTY
Vote of Thanks
PROFESSOR A. K. SHARMA
APPENDIX
Consciousness and the New Math
PROFESSOR RALPH ABRAHAM
THE CONTRIBUTORS