Mysticism in World Religions

February 17-18, 2010

Photo gallery

A Two-Day International Seminar co-convened by Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Gobind Sadan Institute for Advanced Study of Comparative Religions, New Delhi

Defining Mysticism

Honorable Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia: “Only the Pure can Search for the Mystery”
Dr. Syed Ausaf Ali, Founder Member, Hamdard University: “Can Mysticism be Described?”
Ralph Singh, Chair, Committee on Interfaith Education, North American Interfaith Network:
“The Forgotten Path: Accessing the Mystical Within our Religious Traditions”

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

Traditions of Mysticism

Acharya Shri Vats Gosami, Vrindaban, Vaishnavite scholar: “Mysticism in Vaishnava Tradition”

Dr. Samani Chaitanya Pajna, Associate Professor, Department of Jainology and Comparative Religions and Philosophy, Jain Vishva Bharati University: “Mystical Elements of Jain Religion”

Dr. Amarjeev Lochan, Professor of History and Culture of India, University of Delhi, President of South and Southeast Asian Association for the Study of Culture and Religion:  “Mysticism in Buddhist Architecture”

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

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

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

Mystical Practices

Professor Madhu Khanna, Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations, Jamia Millia Islamia: “Alternate States of Consciousness in Tantric Worship: Theory and Practice”

Samani Aagam Prajna, Assistant Professor, Department of Jainology and Comparative Religions and Philosophy, Jain Vishva Bharati University: “Mystical Powers in Jainism”

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

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

The Impacts of Individual Mystics

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

Dr. Neela Bhattacharya Saxena, Associate Professor of English, Nassau Community College: “Concept of Khuddah and Brahman in Mystical Poetry of Nasrul Islam”

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

Dr. Rai Singh, IAS, President of Baba Virsa Singh Ji Maharaj Memorial Trust: “Baba Virsa Singh Ji and Indian Governance”

Mysticism in the World

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

Mary Pat Fisher, Director of International Communications, Gobind Sadan, and author of Living Religions:  “Practical Application of Mysticism in the Lives of Saints and Prophets”