Program for the IAAS Conference - 2006-12-10

THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE ISKCON ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (IAAS)

KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS AT THE BORDERS: NEW CHALLENGES IN RELATION TO ACADEMIA

16-18 DECEMBER 2006 RADHADESH, BELGIUM

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Dec 16

9:00: Breakfast
10:00-1:00: Welcome Address and Introductions
1:00: Lunch
2:30-5:45: Panel #1
6:30: Dinner

Dec 17

9:00: Breakfast
10:00-1:00: Panel #2
1:00: Lunch
2:30-4:00: Key Note Speaker: Garuda Prabhu (ACBSP). Title of Lecture: "ISKCON Academy and the Devotee Scholar: Offering the Gifts of the Caitanya School to the Vaishnava and Scholarly Communities"
4:14-5:45: Presentation of Rasa-Lila Dance in
Manipura & Bhajans dedicated to HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja
6:30: Dinner
7:30: Bhajans continuation

Dec 18

9:00: Breakfast
10:00-12:30: Panel #3
1:00: Lunch
2:30-5:30: Future Directions and the IAAS, follwed by Closing Remarks
6:30: Dinner

First session:
Round table introductions: the purpose of this seminar is for the participants to introduce themselves. Please come prepared with a short presentation of your plans, goals, accomplishments, failures, experiences in ISKCON and academia, and any other relevant information. It is a chance for us to get to know each other on a personal and professional level.

The exact amount of time allocated to each presenation will depend on the total number of particpants who attend. If anyone would like to have more time in order to represent an organization or group, please contact Drutakarma dasa (Drutakarma.ACBSP@pamho.net) who will be chairing the introductory session. If you wish to use slides, a digital projector will be available but you will need to give your presentation files to Drutakarma dasa at least 2 hours before the beginning of the session and preferably sooner.

Panels:
Panels will consist of 3 or 4 speakers on one topic, presenting back-to-back for 20 minutes each, followed by a discussion among panelists and audience. The chairs should be contacted if digital projectors, etc. are required:

(1) Mythology, Hermeneutics and the Bhagavata Purana. We will examine the issues involved in interpreting the Bhagavatam from the perspective of traditional Vaisnava hermeneutics, and discuss some of the issues that arise in the context contemporary academics.
i. Rembert Lutjeharms
ii. Isvara Krsna das (HDG, Israel)
iii. Jan Olof Bengtsson
iv. Janakirama das
chair: Shaunaka Rishi das

(2) Krishna Consciousness at the Borders. What are the experiences of devotees serving at the borders between ISKCON and academia; what are the strategies and means they have used; what are their ideas about developing Gaudiya-Vaisnava views in academics; and how are they using their academic skills within ISKCON?
i. Garuda das
ii. Drutakarma das
iii. Carana Renu dasi
iv. Rasamandala das
v. Shaunaka Rishi das
chair: Rasasthali dasi

(3) Research Panel. This will be an opportunity for devotees to present a recent piece of scholarship, such as their book, an
article, etc.
i. Krsna-ksetra das
ii. Radhika-Ramana das
iii. Gopala Hari das
iv. Pranava das
v. Isvara Krsna das (SRS, Hungary)
chair: Janakirama das

Final session:
The final session will include a short presentation about the IAAS by Carana Renu dasi, followed by a roundtable discussion on future directions and plans for the next conference. We will finish with the closing remarks by senior members.


IAAS Oganizers:
Janakirama dasa
Drutakarama das
Carana Renu dasi
Rasasthali dasi
Pranava dasa

The following text is a reproduction of an invitation letter,
followed by accommodation and travel information.

You are cordially invited to attend and take part in the first ISKCON Academy of Arts and Sciences conference, to be held at Radhadesh, December 16-18, 2006. The theme of this conference is Krishna Consciousness at the Borders: New Challenges in Relationship to Academia. The ISKCON Academy is an organization of ISKCON scholars, and attendance at the conference is by invitation only.

Over the last few years an increasing number of devotees have pursued various forms of systematic education within academic contexts, and there are now a number of ISKCON projects with such scholarly or scientific orientation. For some time a number of us have felt the need to create relationships among devotees engaged in academic work.  We use the word “academic” in a broad sense to include the various sciences, the humanities, theology, Indology, etc. 

In light of a need to create networks of communication between devotee scholars, we would like to bring together devotees who are actively involved in higher educational pursuits, to discuss our work, to get a sense of our roots, to deepen our understanding of education and its role in ISKCON, and to discern where we are headed both individually and collectively.  Most of all, we would like to create an opportunity to establish a sense of camaraderie among like-minded devotees.

ISKCON Academy is not meant to replace any other academic group within ISKCON, but strives to facilitate communication among devotees from various groups and projects, and independent devotee scholars, now and in the future. At present there is no other organization performing this much needed function.

A preliminary meeting was held in Mayapur in 2005 at the time of the annual Gaura Purnima festival. A number of scholars from around the world participated in that meeting, including senior ISKCON scholars such as Ravindra Svarupa Dasa, Krishna Ksetra Dasa, Drutakarma Dasa, and Brahmatirtha Dasa, and many younger ISKCON scholars such as Carana Renu Dasi, Janakirama Dasa, Pranava Dasa and others. At this meeting the groundwork was laid for a more formal association called the ISKCON Academy.

The IA is an ISKCON friendly yet independent and autonomous academic organization open to scholars who are members of ISKCON in good standing. Membership is by invitation only. This invitation to attend the conference is also an invitation for you to join the IA.

If you feel there is a scholar who is a member in good standing of ISKCON who would like to attend, then please inform us so that we can consider sending an invitation. A scholar should have a degree or be in a degree program or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of scholarship and ability to interact with the academic world. 

If there is a paper or panel you would like to contribute to this conference, or the ISKCON Academy, then please do contact an organizer. 

We begin our Radhadesh conference on December 16th with introductions by all attendees, who will briefly describe their past, present and future activities. The rest of the meeting will be devoted to talks, panels, and discussions exploring various issues related to ISKCON devotees engaged in academic work. There will be a conference registration fee of 20 Euros, payable at the conference.

For accommodation information, see the information below.  We are looking forward to meeting you in Radhadesh. Please send your intention to attend the conference to Rasasthali dasi, batycka@ccmp.ox.ac.uk 

Carana Renu dasi, Carana.Renu.DAS@pamho.net

Janaki Rama dasa, jonathan.edelmann@theology.ox.ac.uk

Drutakarma dasa, drutakarma.ACBSP@pamho.net

Pranava dasa, pranava@pamho.net
Rasasthali dasi, batycka@ccmp.ox.ac.uk

ACCOMMODATION

Conference attendees are responsible for making their own room reservations at the Radhadesh Guest House. We assume that most attendees from outside Europe will be arriving on December 15, and will be staying for the nights of December 15, 16, 17 and 18. However some attendees from Europe may be staying for three nights, December 16, 17, and 18. Find below the contact information for the Radhadesh Guesthouse along with prices for accommodation
and prasadam. Because of limited space, we can offer only shared rooms in the Radhadesh Guesthouse, with no more than 4 persons per room. Depending on the number of attendees, you should expect that you will be sharing your room with two or maximum three other devotees.  Those desiring assured single rooms or double rooms can consider booking accommodation at a nearby hotel (contact information below).

Prasadam: 8 euros per day per person (3 meals) -  served for the attendees in a special location reserved for them.

Rooms: We have been given special conference rates. Prices below are not for each night, but for all nights together.

3 nights in a 4 pers. room: 35.50 euros per person (for all 3 nights)
3 nights in dormitory: 23 euros per person (for all 3 nights)

4 nights in a 4 pers. room: 47.50 euros per person (for all 4 nights)
4 nights in dormitory: 28 euros per person (for all 4 nights)

For bookings contact:

Rasa Parayana das
Radhadesh Guesthouse
Tel/fax: 0032 (0)86 38-71-31
e-mail: radhadesh.guesthouse@pamho.net

Be sure to say that you are coming for the ISKCON Academy Conference. Payment for your room and prasadam can be made at the guesthouse on arrival. Please book as early as you can.

One of the closest hotels to Radhadesh is:

Auberge de la Petite Somme, 10 minutes walk from Radhadesh
Prices: 29 to 40 Euros per person, per night
Rue du Moulin, 2
6940 Durbuy
Tel : +32(0)86 32 21 34
Fax : +32(0)86 32 15 54
lapetitesomme@belgacom.net

[Note: from outside Belgium do not dial the (0).]

For transport from this hotel  to Radhadesh, contact the temple guesthouse at 086/387131 or 086/322927,  or arrange a taxi from the hotel.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE: A registration fee of 20 Euros is payable to the conference organizers at the registration time before the first morning session on December 16.

*****************************************************

TRAVEL

For those staying at the guesthouse, the address of  your destination is:

Radhadesh Guesthouse
Petite Somme 5
6940 SEPTON DURBUY
BELGIUM

*From Airports:

You will be flying into one of the Brussels airports. The guesthouse will
arrange pickup.

For airport pickup please confirm by fax 32 (0) 86 32-29-29 [drop the 0 if dialing from outside Belgium]  or e-mail to radhadesh@pamho.net, when you want to be picked up and where you will be arriving.

***IMPORTANT***
  Please remember that there are *2* airports near Brussels.
One is called 'Brussels Airport'( Zaventem) and is very close to the city centre. The other is called 'Charleroi' *or* 'BRUSSELS SOUTH'. This airport is much further away from Brussels. When you give us details of where you want to be picked up from.

*PLEASE* check which airport you are going to. This is to avoid any
confusion and long waits, which can occur if we get incorrect information.

We have a temple car with 8 passenger places. The prices given are for the trip. The cost is divided amongst the number of passengers.

Please give your flight information: flight number, arrival date, and
departure date.

Sometime there is confusion between between Brussels Airport (Zaventem) & Brussels South (Charleroi). These 2 airports are a long way apart so please confirm which one you are arriving at. Pickup is also available at the train stations at Liege, Marloie, and Barvaux.

Prices - ONE WAY
    *Zaventem              - 60 Euro
    *Charleroi                - 50 Euro
    *Airport Luxembourg  - 70 Euro
    *Liege                     - 25 Euro
    *Marloie                   - 10 Euro
    *Barvaux                  - 5 Euro

By Train:

*From Brussels or from Luxembourg:

(1)   From Brussels there is a train every hour to Arlon-Luxembourg. This train stops in Marloie, which is the station to get off. Price for train from Brussels to Marloie is about 12.5 Euros.

(2)  From Luxembourg you can take the same train direction Brussels and get off in Marloie.

From Marloie you can phone to 086/387131 or 086/322927 and a devotee will pick you up from the train station. Payment 10 Euros for car.

*From Liege:

From Liege there is a train to Barvaux every 2 hours (direction Jemelle). From Barvaux you can phone 086/387131 or 086/322927 to pick you up by car. Payment 4 Euros for car from the station to the guesthouse, price for train from Liege to Barvaux is about 5 Euros.

By Car:

*From Brussels

Take motorway direction Namen-Luxemburg. After Namen take Marche exit. Drive into Marche. In Marche take the N63 - direction Liège (Luik). Exit Somme-Leuze. In Somme-Leuze drive direction Durbuy . Next follow the signs Petite Somme and Château de Petite Somme (Radhadesh) on the left.

*From Maastricht

Follow direction Namen (E40). Turn left at the fork E40
Seraing/Flémalle. Exit Flémalle and drive into Flémalle. After the
roundabout in Flémalle cross the Meuse (river) and follow direction
Marche until you are on the N63, Luik-Marche. On N63 take Somme Leuze exit. Next follow the signs Petite Somme and Château de Petite Somme.

*From Liege

In Liege take the N63 - direction Marche. Exit Somme-Leuze. Next follow the signs Petite Somme and Château de Petite Somme.
 

Archive

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004