Fourth International Vajrayāna Buddhism Conference

31st May 2022 Off By admin

Concept note

The forthcoming International Conference on Vajrayāna Buddhism in Thimphu, Bhutan, will be hosted at Zhichenkhar from 1st to 4th October, 2022. The Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies (CBS) and the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan will organize this conference in close collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India.

The theme for this year’s conference will be “Modernity of Buddhism” which is a very broad theme to enable diverse contribution. Papers, panel discussions, and practice workshops are invited on topics that address the ways in which Vajrayāna Buddhism has developed across time and geographies and the ways in which its philosophy and practices can actively contribute to global wellbeing and transformation, as the world emerges from the pandemic. The conference will examine the ways in which Vajrayāna Buddhism continues to creatively adapt to the modern world.

Topics to be discussed in this conference can include the following although participants are welcome to contribute papers that are broadly aligned to the conference theme:

  • Mindful awareness as the foundation of the Buddhist path, and a way to bridge ancient wisdom and modern psychology.
  • Contemporary interface of Vajrayāna Buddhism with neuroscience and Western psychology.
  • The threefold wisdom of listening, reflection, and practice in Buddhism: the preservation of traditions, the clarification of their meaning, and their reactualization by each new generation.
  • Women and yoginis in Buddhism.
  • Buddhism in the digital age: possibilities of transmission and challenges of distraction.
  • Distinctions and commonalities between monastic and lay Buddhism.
  • Global adaptations and evolving forms of Vajrayāna Buddhism in the West.
  • Translation, translators and publications of Buddhist texts in many languages.
  • Redefining values and priorities in a frantic world: the power of Buddhist reflections on living, growing, aging, dying, and beyond.
  • Forms of dissolution including Rainbow Body.
  • Connectivity, compassion, and social engagement in Buddhism.
  • Learning “how to be” for a truly sustainable civilization: Rediscovering the Buddhist virtues of contentment of the joy of “simply being”.
  • Tantric Visions.
  • Understanding the Prophetic Buddhist Literature.
  • Buddhist Epistemologies.
  • Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen characteristics.
  • Asian Vajrayāna traditions.
  • Comparative studies in philosophy and esoteric practices.
  • Behavioural regimens such as diet, exercise and medicine in Buddhist practices.
  • Biography based lifestyle studies of Buddhist relevant to today.
  • Energetic movement and breathing practices in Buddhism.
  • Aspects of the sixfold Naro-yogas.
  • Inner fire or tummo, and comparisons and interfaces with other analogous practices.
  • Nature and Buddhism.
  • Visual arts and paintings.
  • The sociology and economy of Buddhism and Buddhist institutions.
  • Art and architecture.

Registration

  1. The registration of foreign participants was closed on 15 August 2022.
  2. Local participants can register through this link until 20 September 2022.

Abstract

  1. The content of the paper must be within the theme elucidated in the concept note.
  2. It must be an original work, not published elsewhere to not run into any copyright issues.
  3. Abstract may include title, author names with professional affiliation, background, and references (in APA style).
  4. The abstract may be written in either Dzongkha, Chokey, or English, and be no longer than 300 words. Papers may similarly be in those languages. Other languages cannot be accepted sheerly due to operational and translation costs, not for any intrinsic reasons.
  5. Abstract must be submitted through this link.
  6. The last date for abstract submission is 31 July 2022. The earlier an abstract is submitted, the earlier the decision to accept or not will be confirmed to speakers.
  7. A review team consisting of not less than three members will review the abstracts.
  8. Notification of either acceptance or rejection of abstracts will be made via email by 15 August 2022.
  9. Abstracts of all accepted papers will be included within the abstract book which will be distributed to all registered conference participants.

Paper

  1. Presenting authors should submit the full paper in APA style.
  2. The deadline for a draft paper submission is 15 September 2022.
  3. Failure to submit the draft paper on time, submission of incomplete paper, or major digression of the paper from the approved abstract may result in cancellation of your presentation.
  4. The final paper of your presentation must be submitted within three months after the conference for publication of the conference proceedings.
  5. The editors have the right to reject your paper for publication if the final paper has not met the required standards of an academic paper.

Visa

  1. Participants will be invited as official guests of the Centre, and the Centre will facilitate free Bhutanese visa to attend the conference.
  2. Nationals of India, Bangladesh, and Maldives do not require visa. They will be issued entry permit at the port of entry. Entry permit application, which will be facilitated by the Centre, must be submitted along with a copy of your passport.
  3. The maximum visa duration granted for participants of conference and paper presenters is 14 days including the four days of conference. The 14 days will also include the day of arrival and departure.
  4. No route permit will be issued. Route permit is required to travel beyond Paro and Thimphu. Your visa will allow you to go to Paro and Thimphu freely. In case of group trip to Punakha arranged by the Centre, the organizer will make route permits.
  5. The following are the list of documents to be submitted for processing your visa:
    • Passport copy (with a validity of at least six months)
    • Filled-in visa application form
    • Recent passport size photograph
  1. The above documents should be in pdf and the passport size photograph in jpeg. Their size should not exceed 2 mb.
  2. The visa application form can be downloaded from this website.
  3. The deadline for submission of the visa application is 20 August 2022.
  4. A one-time visa fee of USD 40 is compulsory for all participants applying for official Bhutanese visa.
  5. The Department of Immigration will start processing the visa only after receiving the visa fee. Therefore, the Centre will make this payment in advance on behalf of a guest. USD 40 must be refunded to the Centre once the guest arrives.
  6. Participants are not allowed to bring any dependents with you.
  7. Soft copy of your visa clearance shall be sent to you via email.
  8. At the point of entry to Bhutan, you will be required to show your visa clearance letter. Therefore, participants must carry a hard copy of the visa clearance at your point of entry.

Logistics for speakers

  1. Speakers, who contribute papers, shall be provided with accommodation, meals, and local transportation during the conference. Participants will not be provided with similar local hospitality, with the exception of visa, lunch and refreshments during the conference.
  2. If you arrive early or extend your stay (but within the approved visa duration), you must make your own local arrangements.

Non-speaker participants

  1. All participants have to submit a copy of your Curriculum Vitae along with the visa application form. Visa processing will start only after we receive your CV.
  2. The Centre will refuse to process your visa if the organizing committee is convinced that your primary purpose of coming to Bhutan is not to attend the conference.
  3. Non-speaker participants will have to make arrangements for accommodation, food, and local transport on your own.

Meals during conference

  1. All participants will be provided with lunch during the conference, including tea and coffee at regular breaks.
  2. There will be a welcome dinner possibly hosted by the Prime Minister on the evening of September 30 to foreign participants and local invitees.

COVID-19

  1. As per the current Test-and-Go protocol, all incoming travelers must undertake RT-PCR test at the point of entry and follow a mandatory observation of 24 hours in a hotel or home (separate room) until the RT-PCR test result is declared.
  2. If a visitor does not provide proof of full vaccination (unless below five years of age) or evidence of COVID-19 infection in the last six months, an individual shall undergo 5-day home or facility quarantine. For more information on test-and-go system, click here.
  3. The above conditions may change on 23 September when Bhutan reopens its international border to tourists.

If you have any further queries, you can write to us at vaj.conference22@gmail.com

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