MYSTICISM IN WORLD RELIGIONS

A Two-Day International Seminar

Co-convened by Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations,

 Jamia Milia Islamia

And

Gobind Sadan Institute for Advanced Study of Comparative Religions, New Delhi

February 17-18, 2010

Gobind Sadan Institute is very pleased to present a collection from the papers presented at its “Mysticism in World Religions” seminar in February 2010, in conjunction with Jamia Millia Islamia’s Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations under the chairmanship of Dr. Azad Faruqi, Director of the Centre. 

The seminar was inaugurated by Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor, Honorable Najeeb Jung. Ralph Singh, Founding President of Gobind Sadan USA and Chairman of the Committee on Interfaith Education of North American Interfaith Network, gave the keynote speech, emphasizing the practical aspects of mysticism, as taught by Baba Virsa Singh Ji.  He said, “However mysticism is described, or how varied the visions or experiences may be, the purpose is one: to allow human beings to rise above their baser tendencies, join in love, and work together to create a world at peace.” 

The scholars who participated came from India, Russia, United States, Africa, and Turkey. They offered many fascinating perspectives on mysticism and mystics from Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Hinduism, African traditional religions, and Jainism. Pdf files of selected papers are given below:

“The Forgotten Path: Accessing the Mystical Within our Religious Traditions,” by Ralph Singh, Chairman of Committee on Interfaith Education, North American Interfaith Network

“Knowing the Knowable: An Analysis of Mysticism from a Buddhist Perspective,” by Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Diego, and President of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women

“Development of Mystical Philosophy in Islam,” by Dr. I. H. Azad Faruqi, Director, Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations, Jamia Millia Islamia 

“Mysticism in Sikhism,” by Dr. Surjit Kaur Jolly, Principal of Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, University of Delhi

“Mysticism and Spirituality in African Tradition,” Reverend Harvey J. Sindim, Presidential Scholar, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Colgate University

“On a Christian Mysticism of Action: Ignatius Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises,” by Dr. George Gispert-Sauch, S. J., Vidyajyoti College of Theology

“Of Mysticism and Madness: Hindu Women Saints,” by Dr. Vijaya Ramaswamy, Professor of History, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

“The Great Russian Mystic, Saint Sergei Radonisky,” by Ludmila Timofeeva, Coordinator of International Association for Peace through Culture, Moscow, and former Deputy Director and Professor of Russian history, Construction College

“Shaikh Sharfuddin Bu Ali Qalander’s Contribution for Making Panipat a Centre of Sufism during 13th Century,” by Professor S. M. Azizuddin Husain, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Languages, Jamia Millia Islamia

“Sufi Movements in Contemporary Turkey,” Dr. Ali Ihsan Yitik, D. E. U. Faculty of Divinity, Izmir, Turkey

“Sacred Knowledge of Altai,” Dr. Galina Ermolina, Novozibirsk, Russia