Dharamshala: Hundreds of young Tibetans gathered in Dharamshala, India, the heart of Tibet in Exile with Tibetan astrologists, philosophers and western scientists for a special conference to discuss "Body, Mind and Life."
The 3-day conference on 'Body, Mind and Life' is being held at the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute (Tibetan: Men-Tse-Khang) based in Dharamshala, India, where 20 scholars will share their visual ideas on five topics, each of which will be discussed from the view points of Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan medical tradition, Tibetan Astro-Science and modern science.
The conference is being organised by Tibetan: Men-Tse-Khang from 26-28 June and aims to contribute to the physical and mental well-being of human beings by integrating the essence of both oriental and occidental cultures.
Dr Arun Kapur, Executive Director of Vasant Valley School, New Delhi and a well-known educationist in India was the chief guest. Over 30 senior officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, including Justice Commissioners Ngawang Thupten, as well as representatives from Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamshala, were attended the conference inauguration.
Addressing the conference, Dr Arun Kapur praised His Holiness the Dalai Lama. "Wisdom and courage," Dr Arun said for him "it is the life story" of His Holiness. He said, he would say His Holiness is "an icon of what a human being should aim to be. He represents the greatest goal, we can inspire in a quest, actualizing our highest potential. He is a true teacher, because, his daily life manifests his life philosophy. "
Dr Arun said whenever he met with His Holiness, "one to one," he said His Holiness the Dalai Lama's "clarity of thought and sense of humor that enable quips and repartee with kindness that first laughs at himself in a position of detachment. His compassion laughs with you, but not at you. He is always inclusive and expansive, mostly very human, he is the Buddha."
"I also want to take this opportunity to say thanks on behalf of all of us who live in this time and walk this earth at the same time as a living master and we are grateful that we are able to learn from this living master and it is because of his vision and wisdom that we are all here and having said that I would now like to begin with sharing with you, my thought on education and the mind, body and life.
Dr Arun thanked the organizing committee of the Mind, body and life conference and the young students who have chosen to become doctors, people who will bring peace, happiness and calmness into the lives of the patients they come in touch with. "I'd like to thank you to make this choice. It is a tough course to follow to become a doctor, but thank you on behalf of many of your future patients. It is because of you that I am here and a warm good morning to you."
"I cannot put into words how privileged I feel to be standing here in front of you today. As I look into the crowd, I see people from all over the world, a room full of doctors of professors, of scholars, of monks, many who've come from different walks of life. But today, when Sikyong has given us all a common platform to engage in this mind, body, life debate."
"I am sure this conference will sow the seeds for us understanding ourselves and those around us better. We will see what factors are responsible for causing disturbances within the body, mind and life and how we can maintain and restore balance to each of these individually, as well as in relation to each other," said Dr Arun.
"We live in tough times, surrounded by tough realities. Conferences such as this are not only a perfect platform to address the burning issues, they are essential to us in understanding our individual natures, human nature, equipping us with the tools required to achieve a sense of truth, honor and respect in a society and world filled with ethical degradation," he further added.
"I thank all the speakers for taking their time to come to this remote town. I know you have competing claims on your time. We have a few Tibetans who would be able to make presentation from the view point of modern science, but right from beginning we have made concerted efforts to identity non-Tibetan presenters with view to have multiplier effects, both Men-Tse-Khang and the concerned presenters," said Tashi Tsering Phuri, the director of Men-Tse-Khang.
"On several occasion, His Holiness has mentioned that the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and the Tibetan medical tradition are two areas which we can share with others for the benefit of humanity," said Tsering Phuri.
Tsering Phuri said that "His Holiness has taken some bold steps, and today, even the conservative scholars from the Tibetan monastic institutions widely appreciate the value of His Holiness' initiative to discuss with scholars, contemplatives, scientists, and philosophers."
Geshe Tenpa Tashi, the Organizing Committee has explained the importance of the conference and Sonam Dolkar the the Organizing Committee offered the words of thanks.
The five main themes namely, 'The General Concept of Body, Mind and Life', 'Seeds of Body, Mind and Life', 'Relationship between Body, Mind and Life', 'Factors Responsible for the Disturbance of the Body, Mind and Life' and 'Maintaining and Restoring Body, Mind and Life'.
The speakers including scholars from America, Buddhist scholars from all the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon tradition. Five Tibetan doctors (Menrampa) and five Tibetan Astrologers (Tsirampa) will also speak on Tibetan Medicine and Tibetan Astrology. A nun from Dolmaling Nunnery will speak during the conference.
