Understanding the Contemporaneity of Acharya Nagarjuna's Philosophy in Global Context

Theme: Understanding the Contemporaneity of Acharya Nagarjuna's Philosophy in Global Context
Type: Global Seminar
Institution: Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies,
Nagarjuna University
Location: Guntur, AP (India)
Date: 28.–30.1.2014

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Acharya Nagarjuna's Contemporary Philosophy represents something of a watershed not only in the history of Indian philosophy, but in the history of philosophy as a whole. The Madhyamika school of Buddhism found by Nagarjuna had a deep impact on all the schools of Indian philosophy. It serves as a platform for interdisciplinary academic pursuits. Nagarjuna's central concept of the emptiness of all things had fundamental implications for Indian philosophical models of causation, substance ontology, epistemology, language, ethics and theories of world-liberating salvation. It further proved seminal even for Buddhist philosophies in India, Tibet, China and Japan very different from Nagarjuna's own.

Nagarjuna did believe that doubt should not be haphazard, it requires a method. This idea that doubt should be methodical, an idea born in early Buddhism, was a revolutionary innovation for philosophy in India Nagarjuna's Contemporary philosophy can be seen as an attempt to deconstruct all systems of thought which analyzed the world in terms of fixed substances and essences. Nagarjuna appears as a reformer, primarily as a Buddhist reformer to be sure. Nagarjuna's theory seems to require us to abandon the whole scheme of values as an illusion. A pair of religious and ethical treatises were addressed to the King Gautamiputra, entitled, To a Good Friend (Suhrekha) and Precious Garland (Ratnavali). Nagarjuna condemns nihilism by saying that negation leads to hell, affirmation leads to heaven and non-dual truth which transcends affirmation and negation, good and evil, heaven and hell is called Liberation by the wisdom. The good or evil of one affects the whole, which leads to have debates on Nagarjuna's logic and language, ethics and culture, metaphysics and epistemology, mind and consciousness, society and politics, environment and ecology, technology and policies in particular and Buddhism in general.

During the couple of decades, this new concept of Acharya Nagarjuna's Contemporary Philosophy was widely appreciated by the renowned scholars in various intellectual forums throughout the world. It is destined to defuse the confusion in interpreting the teachings of the Buddha. Once popularized and accepted, it would pave the way in promoting peace and harmony in the Contemporary world. So the objective of the seminar is to bring together the intellectuals in the field of ancient Indian culture, Philosophy, Buddhism...etc to discuss upon the contributions of Buddhism in general and Acharya Nagarjuna in particular in a Global context.

Sub Themes

1. Language and Methodology
- Interpretation and comparisons
- Interdependence and cause & effect
- Methodological consideration and Negation

2. Epistemological and Metaphysical Analysis
- Mind, cognition and intention
- The middle way of idealism and realism
- Epistemic reason and experience

3. Ethical and Cultural Practices
- Literature, culture and values
- Relation and understanding
- Duty and responsibility

4. Social, Economical and Political Philosophy
- Socially engaged Buddhism
- Comparative reflections on social, economic and political thought
- History and civilization

5. Contemporary issues and application
- Human rights and gender problems
- Society and human identity
- War and peace in the broader concern

7. Scientific Technology
- Environmental and bio-medical
- Ecology and Information technology
- Technology and policies

Location

Acharya Nagarjuna University is located 18 kms from the south of Vijayawada and 15 kms from the north of Guntur in the coastal area of Andhra Pradesh. Vijayawada and Guntur are well connected by rail and road from all places of India. Both the cities are roughly 280 kms
from Hyderabad and 400 kms from Chennai. Vijayawada Airport (Gannavaram Airport) is about 35 KM from the University. Reception counters will be put up at railway stations of Vijayawada and Guntur. Both the Cities are assumed importance as business, culture and education centers. Famous places of Buddhist, religious, archaeological and tourist interests are also located in these cities.


Contact:

Dr. L. Udaya Kumar
Center for Mahayana Buddhist Studies
Acharya Nagarjuna University
Nagarjuna Nagar
Guntur, AP - 522510
India
Mobile: +91 9849614426
Email: [email protected]
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