Center for Study of Religion & Society (CSRS) of India Foundation organised the 2nd International Conference on Dharma- Dhamma in collaboration with the Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies (SUBIS). The Conference was held from 28 February to 2 March, 2014 at the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science & Technology (MAPCOST), Bhopal. The Central Theme of this year’s Conference was Nature, Source and Relevance of Dharma-Dhamma Traditions. The Conference was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess of Bhutan Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck in the august presence of Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, His Excellency the Governor of Madhya Pradesh Shri Ram Naresh Yadav, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Hon’ble Senior Minister, International Economic Cooperation, Govt. of Sri Lanka Honorable Minister of State, Culture and Tourism Shri Surendra Patwa, His Holiness Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyannissara, Chancellor of Sitagu Buddhist Academies, Chairman of the Board of Director, Myanmar, Ven. Samdhong Rinpoche, Chancellor of SUBIS, Ven. Banagla Upatissa Nayaka Thero, President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and various renowned Hindu and Buddhist scholars.
The Conference was attended by more than 200 delegates from 10 countries. The inaugural session of the Conference was also a platform for the announcement of Courses by the SUBIS, which is going to start its courses from the Academic year 2014. The courses were announced by Prof. Shashi Prabha Kumar, Chairperson, Special Center for Sanskrit Studies, Jawahar Lal Nehru University. The first copy of the Course booklet was handed over by Dr. Ashin Nyannissara to Dr. Sarath Amunugama. The Key Note Address was also delivered by Dr. Nyannissara.
Several noted Hindu and Buddhist academicians from USA, Canada, Bangladesh, Nepal, S. Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar and London enlightened the delegates with their thoughts based on years of research and expertise. Paper presentation sessions were conducted on all the three days as parallel sessions where various academicians and students presented their research papers based on 5 different themes -i) Historical Growth of Buddhist Cannons, ii) Hindu and Buddhist Eschatology iii) Faith
and Mindfulness, iv) Hindu-Bauddha Dharma Traditions and v) Yoga, Spirituality and Health Care.
Academicians and students from colleges/institutions in and around Bhopal took active part to make the Conference a huge success.
