| National Conference
on Yoga and Indian Approaches to Psychology Pondicherry 29 September - 1 October 2002 |
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IntroductionAcademic Psychology in India is based almost exclusively on the European tradition. The reductionist and physicalist foundation of modem, as yet largely Western science, is, however, not adequate to deal with the complexity and multidimensional nature of the human psyche. It stresses the most outward and mechanical parts of human nature and neglects our higher faculties, our more subtle and intimate experiences, the meaning and in a way the very essence of human existence. There are post-modern approaches to psychology that are more open in this respect, but they don't offer as yet a comprehensive framework for the whole of psychology. The Indian tradition, on the other hand, with its emphasis on integrality and on consciousness as the primary reality, can provide a coherent and appropriate foundation for a truly integral psychology. Its wealth of inner disciplines offers, moreover, not only invaluable tools for psychotherapy education, management and social work, but also opens the possibility of developing rigorous methods to arrive at valid, detailed and reliable knowledge of subjective reality. We hope that this conference will become turning point in the development of a new approach to psychology, which will carry in itself the very best of what modern psychology and the Indian tradition have to offer. It seems the right time for a breakthrough, for the world is in desperate need of a more integral, more spiritually focussed psychology and it is India that can provide the lead in its development. Objectives of the conference
The structure of the conferenceTo achieve the objectives described above, there will be plenary, concurrent and, in case of sufficient interest, poster sessions. Each of these sessions will be devoted to one of the main objectives, The plenary sessions will have invited speakers only. The concurrent and poster sessions will work out the different issues in further detail. The highlights of the concurrent and poster sessions will be reported to all the participants during the last plenary session, after which there will be occasion to discuss concrete plans and projects for the follow-up of the conference. Topics of the concurrent sessions
Submission of papersParticipants are requested to submit papers on any of the listed topics. To ensure consistent high quality of all the presentations, participants will be requested to submit either the full text or a detailed outline of their proposed paper well in advance and not later than August 1. The outlines and papers will be screened on their quality and relevance to the theme of the conference. The speakers thus selected will be notified before September 1. At the same time their write-ups will be made available on a website so as to enable all the participants of the conference to inform themselves beforehand about the issues of their interest. Depending on the availability of funds, authors of selected papers may get refund of TA/DA as per Government rules. Organisational supportThis conference is organised by the Pondicherry Psychology Association in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology National Academy of Psychology Consciousness Research Group, Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Advisory Committee
Organising Committee
Address for correspondence
VenuePondicherry is the place where for forty years Sri Aurobindo did his tapasya. In one of his own observations about this period he says, "I am concerned with the earth, not with worlds beyond for their own sake; it is a terrestrial realisation that I seek and not a flight to distant summits." The ashram where Sri Aurobindo and his spiritual companion, the Mother, lived and worked for the transformation of our collective consciousnesness, still carries a strong spiritual atmosphere. Sri Aurobindo called Yoga, "nothing but practical psychology" and it cannot be by chance that Pondicherry was chosen as the place for this conference. May we all draw inspiration from the special surrounding in which the National Conference on Yoga and Indian Approaches to Psychology is held. Pondicherry is situated on the Coromandal Coast about 160 kms from Chennai. Every hour there are buses from Chennai to Pondicherry; the trip takes 3-4 hours. The venue for the conference is the Conference Hall of the Pondicherry State Co-operative Union, 62 Suffren Street, Pondicherry 605001. The Ashram Guest house in which rooms for the delegates have been reserved is situated just opposite this building. Smoking and drinking are not allowed in this guesthouse. The rooms will have single, double and triple occupancy. You can also make your own arrangement in one of the many hotels in Pondicherry, eg: Surguru, tel (413) 339022 or Jayaram, tel (413) 227191. (Please indicate on the registration form whether you want to make use of the Ashram guesthouse or not.) WebsiteA special website will be opened for this conference with additional information and programme updates on http://www.saecs.org.in/. Selected abstracts and full papers will be made available on this site from September 1 onwards. General Information
National Conference on Yoga and Indian Approaches to Psychology Pondicherry 29 Sept.-1 Oct., 2002 |