Mysore, February 12th to 17th, 2007
SPECIAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOP ON
CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, AND WELL-BEING
Preamble
Consciousness has gained significance as an important subject of scientific inquiry in medicine, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology and biology in the past few decades. Fundamental issues such as the relation of body and mind, the relation of mind and matter and whether consciousness is a priori or a posteriori have been taken up with new vigour. In this context Yoga, Vedānta, Buddhism, and other spiritual traditions have been studied in the West as consciousness disciplines or as spiritual psychologies. Transpersonal Psychology emerged in late 60s as an offshoot of such an approach and it is an attempt to retain the scientific temper and address the issues primarily related to the nature of consciousness and reality, spirituality, and self. It concerns itself with wide ranging topics that include meta-needs, ultimate values, unitive consciousness, peak experiences, mystical experiences, transcendence of the self, cosmic awareness, and so on.
Another very recent development in psychology discipline, which is less than a decade old, is the emergence of Positive Psychology. The key meta-concepts of positive psychology are character strengths and virtues; happiness and well-being; and optimal human functioning. In the context of positive psychology spirituality is studied for its importance in the development of character and virtues, leading a meaningful life and in enhancing the sense of well-being.
Need for this workshop and Objectives
Both of the above, transpersonal psychology and positive psychology, have much in common with Indian spiritual traditions - ancient, medieval and modern. These traditions have addressed all the themes that form the subject matter of the two psychologies. Unfortunately, however, within Indian cultural context the ritualistic aspect of those traditions has gained upper hand and their central concerns have been relegated to the background. Thus, those traditions have been practised as religious faiths, rather than as psychologies meant for human development and enhancement of well-being. Consequently academia has neglected them. Hence, there is a necessity to appreciate and study the Indian traditions from a psychological perspective, which can help to integrate indigenous insights into mainstream teaching, research and application.
With the above perspective a workshop is proposed that will sensitize the students, faculty and practitioners to the critical issues involved in studying spiritual traditions. It is intended to bring the latest developments in the field of transpersonal and positive psychology and the insights of Indian wisdom traditions together and to explore ways of integrating them. It may also open up creative vistas for research in other related disciplines.
Major themes to be covered
(a) Recent developments in consciousness studies; (b) Parapsychology and anamolous phenomena; (c) Ethno medicine and Shamanism; (d) Dimensions of self and spirituality; (e) Dimensions of self and well-being; (f) Indian spiritual traditions (Vedanta, Yoga, Jainism, and Buddhism), Christianity and Sufism and their relation to well-being; (g) Integral psychology; (h) Bioenergetics; (i) Spiritual science and its limits; (j) Human science and transpersonal research methods; and others.
Confirmed
Prof. Stanley Krippner, Saybrook Institute, San Francisco, USA
Prof. Harris Friedman, University of Florida, Gainsville, USA
Prof. Steve Pitzker, Saybrook Institute, San Francisco, USA
Prof. Girishwar Misra ,University of Delhi, Delhi
Dr. Matthijs Cornellisen, Indian Psychology Institute, Pondicherry
Others resources persons ( to be invited) .
Workshop Fee
Rs. 1,500/= (This does not include accommodation charges for out station participants)
Accommodation
For outstation participants accommodation will be arranged in guest houses or youth hostel, as per the tariff, on request, at their own cost, on first come first serve basis.
Food
Participants have to make their own arrangements for Breakfast
and Dinner
Tea and Lunch will be served during the workshop
Travel Arrangements
Participants
have to make their own travel arrangements.
Registration: Through payment of DD, Payable to The Registrar, University of Mysore, Mysore.
Last Date for Registration – January 25, 2007
For further details contact –
Prof. S. K. Kiran Kumar, Co-ordinator and Chairman, DOS in Psychology
Phone: 2419748/2419742
E-mail: kikusk@gmail.com
kiku@psychology.uni-mysore.ac.in