Nalanda Diary

During the last quarter, SBSPCR actively strengthened its academic and experiential learning agenda through seminars, lectures, study visits, and cultural dialogues that bridged classical wisdom with contemporary inquiry. A major highlight was the School’s participation in an International Seminar at Visva-Bharati, Shantiniketan, where faculty and students engaged in scholarly exchanges on Buddhist perspectives on peace, alongside research presentations and intercultural dialogue.

The quarter also featured enriching interactions with eminent scholars and spiritual leaders. These included an academic interaction of the Dean, Professor G. Mishra, with H.E. Khyentse Norbu Rinpoche at Bodh Gaya, and a lecture at the ancient Nālandā Mahāvihāra by Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul on Nāgārjuna’s philosophy. Guest lectures, ICPR Study Circle talks, and a national panel discussion on the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra, organised with the Sangeet Natak Akademi, further reinforced interdisciplinary learning and Nalanda’s holistic intellectual legacy.

Prof Godabarish Mishra

Dean SBSPCR

Key Activities

• October 11, 2025 | Delivered a Plenary talk in the seminar “What is Real and What Evaluates it?” Epistemological Issues and Responses from Across the Philosophical Traditions, Theravada and Mahayana”, Paper presented, “Perceiving to Believing: Ehipassika to Apparantakappana: How is the Real Realised? – Buddhist Interaction with Other Schools on Epistemology”, in Tibet House. New Delhi
• November 6, 2025 | Delivered an online Lecture as a resource person on “Structuring Indian Knowledge Systems”,at UGC-MMTTC, JNU.
• 6-8 November, 2025 | International conference at Gautam Buddha University, Presented Valedictory Presentation: “Prospecting a Darśana-setu: AI through Vedānta-Madhyamika Lens”.
• 21-22 November 2025 | Delivered the Valedictory lecture at the International seminar on “From Compassion to Coexistence: Buddhist Perspectives on World Peace” jointly organised by Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan, and Siddhartha United Social Welfare Mission, Kolkat. Title: Dhamma – the Upholder of World Peace: Middle Path as the Perfection of Wisdom”
• November 28, 2025 | Coordinated International Conference on Insights from Bharatiya-sastra-parampara organised by Nalanda University, Rajgir Bihar.
• November 30, 2025 | Delivered an online lecture on “Advaita-bhakti of Sri Jagannatha Dasa: Gleanings from Sri Krsna-bhakti-lata-phalam.

Ven. Dr Pooja Dabral

Assistant Professor | SBSPCR & SLL/H

Publications

• Dabral, Pooja, chief ed. 2025. “Blaze of Non-dual Bodhicittas: Compendium of Sūtras and Selected Commentaries (A Manual for Study, Reflection and Meditation on Bodhicitta and the Wisdom of Emptiness).” Rev. ed., 8th ed. New Delhi: Tibet House Pub.

Paper Presentations and Talks

• Delivered an invited talk titled “Nalanda and its Global Influence” at the Nalanda Institute, Jakarta on December 10, 2025.
• Presented a Paper titled “Ancient Nalanda and its Masters: Legacy, Global Influence and Revitalisation” at Department of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia, on December 8, 2025.
• Represented Nalanda University at the International UI Global Fair 2025, held at Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, on December 8-9, 2025.
• Presented a paper on “Mind and Mental Transformation: Insights from Sanskrit Nalanda Treatises” at the Conference on Neuroscience of Mental Experience and Psychological Perspectives of Compassion and Altruism: Neuroscience and Psychology (Series-X), held on November 23, 2025, at Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
• Presented a paper titled “Master Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna: Life, Legacy and Enduring Global Influence – A Luminary from Ancient Nalanda” at the Guru Conference on Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna, held at India International Centre, New Delhi, on November 21, 2025.
• Presented a paper titled “Arya Nagarjuna’s Sunyata and Ontological Reality in Quantum Mechanics” at the International Conference on Buddhism and Science, exploring the intersection of Nalanda Philosophy and Quantum Mechanics, held in Mongolia on October 3, 2025.
• Presented a paper on “Nālandā Luminaries and Their Legacies” at an online symposium co-hosted by Jambi University, Indonesia, and Nalanda University, India, on October 31, 2025.
• Served as invited delegate for an institutional visit to Dongguk University, Seoul, on Sept 29, 2025.

MEA’s PP&R – Nalanda Interface,

Strengthening Civilizational Diplomacy

7–8 November 2025 | Nalanda University hosted senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, PP&R Division, marking a significant engagement aligning academic scholarship with India’s foreign policy vision. On 7 November, Joint Secretary Ms. Aparna Ray and Ms. Varuni B.R. visited the University for discussions on international outreach, global partnerships, and civilizational research, reaffirming MEA’s institutional support to Nalanda’s global role. Building on this engagement, Nalanda University organised a day-long workshop on “Ancient Roots of Indian Foreign Policy” on 8 November, where MEA officials, scholars, faculty, and students examined India’s Shāstra Paramparā, maritime traditions, and cultural diplomacy. Together, these engagements highlighted Nalanda University’s emergence as a key knowledge partner in advancing India’s civilizational and diplomatic discourse, reinforcing its position within the country’s educational and foreign policy ecosystem.

• December 7, 2025 | Delivered the Valedictory Address titled “Civilizational Experiments in Dharma: Schooling Man to be Human” at the Bhubaneswar IIT at the National Workshop on Dharma in Text and Context: Theory, Practice, and Historical Insights
• December 10, 2025 | Delivered an Endowment lecture titled “Love as Being Loved: Unfolding a Upaniṣadic World-view: Intervention of Sri Gyanananda Saraswati” on the Centenary of IPC held at IIT Mumbai
• December 17, 2025 | Delivered an online lecture on “Sri Vidyaranya Swami – The Builder of the Empire of Vedanta and Vedantic Empire”, Resource Person in the Refresher Course titled “Indian Knowledge System: Philosophy in NEP-2020”.

International Seminar on Vietnam–India Cultural Heritage in Vietnam

22 December 2025 | The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH–VNUHCM), hosted the international academic seminar “Vietnam–India Cultural Heritage: Connecting the Past and Future Orientations,” in collaboration with Nalanda University.

This landmark event, the first academic programme following the signing of an MoU earlier in 2025, marked the start of a meaningful partnership between the two institutions. Discussions explored future collaborations in the presence of the Hon’ble Vice President, and Dean, SBSPCR, Dr Pranshu and Dr Brenda from Nalanda University.

Panel Chair

• Chaired a panel titled “Ethics and Skill Development Paradigms in Discourse with Rājā Ṛṣabhadeva” as part of the academic seminar “Nālandā Dialogues on Rājā Ṛṣabhadeva’s Tradition: Culture, Civilization, Community,” organized by Labdhi Vikram Jain Seva Trust in collaboration with Nalanda University, held at Nalanda University on November 17, 2025.
• Chaired a panel titled “Vietnamese Masters, Thinkers & Leaders on Ethics and Engaged Buddhism” at the International Conference on India-Vietnam Buddhist Heritage: Retrospect and Prospects, organized by Buddhist Women Research Center, Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute in collaboration with Nalanda University, held on October 11, 2025.

Academic Coordination Activities

• 17 November 2025 | Coordinated the academic seminar “Nālandā Dialogues on Rājā Ṛṣabhadeva’s Tradition: Culture, Civilization, Community” at Nalanda University.
• October–December 2025 | As Faculty-in-Charge, coordinated a Nalanda Debate Society event at the Nalanda Heritage Site on “Tangible Heritage vs Literary Narratives”.
• 14 December 2025 | Coordinated the Sahabhāgitā Educational Tour for students of Kerala Public School, Pilkhi.
• December 2025 | Organised the foundational meeting of the Nalanda University Self-Help Group (NU-SHG) with women from neighbouring villages.

Dr. Brenda Huong Xuan Ly

Assistant Professor | SBSPCR

Academic and Outreach Activities

• 24 October 2025 | Participated in an International Buddhist Dhamma Discussion at Venuvana & led over 40 SBSPCR students in an academic dialogue with renowned Abhidhamma scholar Acariya Sujin Boriharanwanaket, fostering critical engagement with core Abhidhamma concepts.
• 21–22 November 2025 | Coordinated an academic visit to Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan.
• 21–22 November 2025 | During the seminar on International Seminar on “Compassion to Coexistence: Buddhist Perspectives on World Peace”, presented a research paper on the role of women in ecological balance and sustainable development, highlighting indigenous knowledge systems and raising awareness on environmental challenges in Southeast Asia.
• 8–9 December 2025 | Represented Nalanda University at the International UI GLOBE Fair 2025 at Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, engaging with global academic communities.

Dr Pranshu Samdarshi

Assistant Professor | SBSPCR & SHS

Paper Presentations, Talks and Panels

• Presented a paper titled “Rājā Ṛṣabhadeva as an Incarnation of Viṣṇu: A Study of Purāṇic Sources” at the academic seminar Nālandā Dialogues on Rājā Ṛṣabhadeva’s Tradition: Culture, Civilization, Community, organized by Labdhi Vikram Jain Seva Trust in collaboration with Nalanda University, held at Nalanda University on 17 November 2025.
• Participated as a Panelist at the Nalanda Literature Festival 2025 on the theme “Reviving Bihar’s Legacy of Learning through Literature & Heritage”, held at CIMP, Patna, on 30 November 2025.
• Participated as a Panelist in the Nalanda Roundtable Discussion on “Ancient Roots of Indian Foreign Policy”, held at Nalanda University on 7 November 2025.
• Chaired a Panel at the International Conference on India–Vietnam Buddhist Heritage: Retrospect and Prospects, organized by the Buddhist Women Research Center, Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute, in collaboration with Nalanda University, held at Nalanda University on 12 October 2025.
• Served as Moderator for a public session on “Lokasaṃgraha and the Contemporary World” at the conference Dharma and Global Ethics: Insights from Bhāratīya Śāstra Paramparā, held at Nalanda University on 28 November 2025.

Academic Coordination

• Coordinated an educational field trip conducted on Saturday, 16 November 2025, aimed at providing students with experiential learning opportunities connected to their academic curriculum.

Geshe Lungtok Sherap

Teaching Associate | SBSPCR

• Coordinated and Presented Paper “Harmony in Humanity: Buddhist Principles for a United World” at the Valedictory Session, International Seminar on “Compassion to Coexistence: Buddhist Perspectives on World Peace”, Visva-bharati university, Shantiniketan, Kolkata, from 21st to 22nd November 2025.

School Activities

Visit to Shantiniketan for International Seminar

21st -22nd November 2025 | SBSPCR, Nālandā university actively participated with 49 students in the International seminar on “From Compassion to coexistence : Buddhist Perspectives on World Peace” jointly organized by Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan and Siddhartha United Social Welfare Mission, Kolkata. Over the 2-day event, they joined the peace rally, attended inaugural and special sessions led by distinguished scholars and monastics, and engaged deeply with discussions on Buddhist thought and global harmony.

Academic Visit to Ancient Nalanda site for lecture on “Ārya Nāgārjuna’s Catuṣkoṭi and Āryasatyaparīkṣā”

November 12, 2025 | SBSPCR organized an academic visit to the Ancient Nalanda sitefor a lecture titled “Ārya Nāgārjuna’s Catuṣkoṭi and Āryasatyaparīkṣā (Examination of the Four Noble Truths)” delivered by Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director, Tibet House, New Delhi. The lecture provided students with the rare opportunity to engage in discourse along with international scholars and practitioners, enabling a dynamic exchange of perspectives on Arya Nāgārjuna’s philosophical reasoning.

Distinguished lecture by Professor Pradeep Gokhale

November 27, 2025 | SBSPCR invited Prof. Pradeep P. Gokhale to deliver a guest lecture for the Semester III course on Buddhist Logic and Epistemology. Prof. Gokhale, formerly of Savitribai Phule Pune University and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Research Professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, shared valuable insights from his extensive research in Classical Buddhist Philosophy and Logic. He has authored over 130 scholarly articles and held editorial leadership roles in prominent philosophical journals.

ICPR Study Circle Lecture at Nalanda University

November 14, 2025 | SBSPCR hosted an ICPR Study Circle Lecture by Dr. Nirmalya Guha, Associate Professor at IIT (BHU) Varanasi, on “Nāgārjuna’s Polemical Methods and Limits of Philosophical Argumentation.” Dr. Guha presented Nāgārjuna’s tetra-polar philosophical method in accessible language, explaining how the ancient philosopher analyzed problems through four exhaustive options to reveal contradictions & philosophical biases.

November 11, 2025 | Prof. Rakesh Chandra, formerly HOD of Philosophy at University of Lucknow, presented “Some Reflections on Development of Indian Thought – Karl Potter and Sri Aurobindo.” His lecture offered a comparative analysis of Indian philosophical development through Aurobindo’s three-stage model and Potter’s five-stage framework, while exploring the harmonious balance between spirituality and materiality in Indian thought, drawing on P.T. Raju’s insights on spiritual dimensions in human activities.