IIT Mandi Signs MoU with Art of Living Foundation to Advance Research in Consciousness and Mental Well-being
Mandi, Himachal Pradesh | June 07th,
2025
The prestigious Mind, Brain, and
Consciousness Conference (MBCC 2025) commenced today at IIT Mandi, bringing together leading
scientists, scholars, thinkers, and spiritual leaders from across the world.
Organized by the Indian Knowledge
System and Mental Health Applications (IKSMHA) Center, this four-day
conference (June 4–7) is an interdisciplinary confluence at the frontier of science, consciousness studies, neuroscience,
mental health, and Indian philosophical wisdom.
The day witnessed the keynote address by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art
of Living Foundation, addressed participants virtually, stating, ““Science
now agrees that spirituality plays a vital role in mind and consciousness.
Happiness is a concept of consciousness, nurtured through meditation, sattvic
food, and pranayama.”
During the occasion, Prof. Laxmidhar
Behera, Director of IIT Mandi and General Chair of MBCC, emphasized that
consciousness is central to both science and self-realization, “Without
consciousness, the body is nothing. MBCC 2025 opens pathways for practical
education, innovation, and interdisciplinary research rooted in Indian
knowledge systems.” Prof. Arnav Bhavsar, Chair of the IKSMHA Center,
shared the center’s mission and achievements, including the establishment of a dedicated sleep research lab and
active collaboration with national institutions like DRDO, AYUSH Ministry,
and others.
Renowned Indologist Acharya
Shrivatsa Goswami called the conference a “yagya of knowledge,” led by students and fueled by the light of
consciousness.
An MoU was also
signed between IIT Mandi and the Art
of Living Foundation, strengthening collaboration in consciousness and
mental well-being research.
What MBCC 2025 Offers
Over Four Days:
·
110+ full paper presentations
·
60+ poster presentations
·
12 thematic special sessions on topics like
cognitive biomarkers, neuroimaging, AI and consciousness, Ayurvedic psychiatry,
reincarnation studies, and more.
·
4 keynote talks and 3 plenary talks by luminaries
including Prof. B. N. Gangadhar,
Prof. Gautam Desiraju, Prof.
Shrinivasa Varakedi, Prof. Nirmalya Chakraborty and HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami.
·
6 invited talks by high-profile national and
international scholars.
·
2 expert panel discussions on IKS, cognition, and civilizational
consciousness.
·
2 immersive workshops by Dharma in Indian Katha Parampara
and Sattvic Cooking for Mental and Physical Health
·
3 cultural evenings showcasing music, dance, and
storytelling traditions connected with Indian consciousness
MBCC 2025 continues through June 7, with sessions on
yoga and mental health, meditation and neurocognitive therapies, AI and
consciousness, and the continuum of consciousness in Indian thought.
For the full schedule and details:
https://iksmha.iitmandi.ac.in/mbcc/2025