Bhaktivedanta Institute: Science and Spiritual Quest

[suchandra 1]

3rd All India Students’ Conference

22-23 December 2007

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh – 517501, INDIA

First Prize: Gold medal, Cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- (Rs. ten thousand only) and two Publications of The Bhaktivedanta Institute (winner's choice). Essay to be published in Tattva-Jijnasa, the annual students' magazine of the Bhaktivedanta Institute.

 

Second Prize: Silver medal, Cash prize of Rs. 6,000/- (Rs. six thousand only) and one Publication of the Bhaktivedanta Institute (winner's choice).

 

Third Prize: Bronze medal, Cash prize of Rs. 4,000/- (Rs. four thousand only) and one publication of the Bhaktivedanta Institute (winner's choice).

 

 

Topics

 

Philosophy of Science and Spirituality

Modern scientific approaches involve hypothesis and subsequent derivation of mathematical laws based on experimentation, observation and inference of matter and its interaction with energy. Scientific paradigms are based on observation of natural events and subsequent development of theories to understand various phenomena. Spirituality on the other hand involves experimentation of the conscious self through a set of principles to realize the self and its relationship with the divine. The spiritual paradigms involve an assimilation of theories based on religious and scriptural injunctions. The theme explores the philosophical approaches in both Science and Spirituality and thereby paves the way to the synthesis of science and spirituality from a conceptual view point.

 

Scientific Exploration of God

Does God exist at all? What is the scientific basis for God’s existence? How to explore and understand the conception of God through a mature scientific methodology? The theme involves fascinating examples that contribute to the solutions of the above questions on understanding God.

 

Logical and Mathematical Approach to the Ultimate Reality

Many scientists, philosophers and religious leaders agree that the consciousness is one of the important attributes of the Ultimate Reality. The theme involves deliberations on logical and mathematical approaches to prove the existence of the Supreme Conscious Being.

 

Modeling Nature and Biological Systems

To a large extent, with the help of mathematical laws, modern science has enabled the basic understanding of the functioning of various events in nature. There has been a significant emphasis to regard that nature can be completely understood by a set of comprehendible mathematical laws. The session explores the inherent difficulties associated with understanding nature through mathematical laws and reductionism.

 

Biotechnology: Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives

 

Research and Development in the field of Biotechnology have given a ray of hope for the synthesis of science and spirituality due to the involvement of ethical issues in decision making. Despite rapid advances in Biotechnology and Biology, basic questions such as The Origin of Life, What is Life? Emergence of Information in Biological systems, Aging and Death yet remain unanswered. The session aims to explore answers to the above fundamental questions from both spiritual and scientific perspectives.

 

Machines, Mind and Consciousness

What is the difference between a Machine and a Conscious Being? What are the different competent theories to understand Brain, Mind, Consciousness and their linkages? Can Brain be regarded as a Machine? How spirituality helps to understand and solve paradoxes related to Machines, Mind and Consciousness? The topic involves mind boggling answers to the above questions from a scientifically connected spiritual forefront.

 

Life and Its Origin

What is Life and What is matter? Is DNA Life? Can Life be made from Chemicals? What is the Origin of Life? How much probability is there for self-evolution of proteins and macromolecules? The theme puts forth the basic limitations of scientific understanding towards Life and Its Origin and propounds the basis of anti-material characteristics of life.

 

Concept of Space and Time

 

How are Space and Time defined? Is space dimension influenced by time dimension? What is the basic limitation of the Big Bang Theory as far as space-time conception is considered? How does one understand the purpose of meaning of time dimension? The theme puts forth a summary of concepts that evolved on space–time and their convergence towards philosophy and spirituality.

 

Spirituality and Health

Recent developments in medicinal sciences stress the importance of spirituality in improving physical and mental health through yoga and meditation. Numerous cases have been reported in which through the continued practice of spirituality, even incurable ailments from the point of medical sciences have been found cured. The session assimilates the effects of spirituality on physical and mental well-being of the self, the society, the nation and the world.

 

Science, Ethics and Spirituality

 

The twentieth century witnessed a society dominated with scientific thoughts with less regard to ethical principles. Continuing interdisciplinary research to understand fundamentals of Nature indicate a strong emphasis towards philosophy and its inclusion in understanding fundamental axioms. As rightly pointed out by Einstein “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”, the topic outlines the development of ethical frameworks for an appropriate synthesis of science and spirituality to serve the humanity in a better way.

 

Vedanta and Science

 

Vedanta has contributed significantly in the fields of Astrology, Medicine, Scientific Measurements and above all, the Social Sciences. The theme presents the contributions of Vedanta towards integrated human and social developments and expounds the message of the Vedanta that the study of the matter and its interactions is equally important to understand the finer concepts of spirituality. It further conveys that the Vedanta is a competent platform for the synthesis of science and spirituality.

Vision for Materially and Spiritually Developed India

 

India is a country with rich spiritual and philosophical heritage. The country has been blessed with the ideologies of many prominent personalities such as Sankaracharya, Ramanujan, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Tagore, Prabhupada, Bose and Raman who brought renaissance in spiritual and scientific thought. Nonetheless, existing trends in the country stress less on spiritual principles in education as well as in professional systems. The topic is devoted for getting the views of the three best students from India to highlight a Vision for a materially and spiritually developed India, emphasizing a balanced approach by blending science and spirituality.

 

Role of science in inter-faith dialogue

 

Science involves experimentation, observation and inference to deduce a hypothesis. An inter-faith dialogue aims to target coherence between different faiths for harmonizing their dependence on one another in the society. Both approaches involve a conceptual similarity to achieve coherence. The theme explores the possible role of science in inter-faith dialogue.

 

BENEFITS

 

§ All short-listed participants can register in free of cost in the 3rd All India Students’ Conference on Science and Spiritual Quest (AISSQ-2007) to be held at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India during 22-23 December 2007

 

§ All short-listed participants can avail 15% discount on the purchase of the Bhaktivedanta Institute's publications.

 

§ All short-listed participants will receive participation certificates.

 

§ All short-listed participants will receive be entitled for free subscription to the Participants will be entitled for a free subscription to the Bhaktivedanta Institute's e-magazine

 

 

Further details

Mr. Varun Agrawal

Bhaktivedanta Institute

RC/8, Raghunathpur, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Manasi</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Manjil</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Building</st1:placetype></st1:place>

Fourth Floor, <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">VIP Road</st1:address></st1:street>, Kolkata – 700 059, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>

Tel/Fax: 033 25009018

Email: essay.aissq@gmail.com

Web: www.binstitute.org/aissq2007