Centre for Comparative Religions and Civilizations hosts special lecture and guided Vipassana Meditation Session at Central University of Jammu

JAMMU: A special academic lecture and meditation session was successfully organized today by the Centre for Comparative Religions and Civilizations (CCRC) under the guidance of Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor at Central University of Jammu. The programme aimed at fostering experiential and scholarly understanding of Buddhist philosophy, particularly the Vipassana practice, in the context of mental well-being and contemporary life challenges.

The programme was chaired by Prof. Niranjna Bhandari, Director of the Department, whose guidance and academic leadership guided the event. The programme was convened by Dr. Vikas Singh, Associate Professor, while coordination responsibilities were efficiently managed by Dr. Ashwani Kumar and Dr. G. V. Snigdha Raj. Their collective efforts ensured the smooth organization and successful execution of the programme. The session was moderated by Sachin Bauriyan (PhD Scholar, CCRC), Rishita Manhas (PhD Scholar), and Ankit Kushwaha (PhD Scholar), who maintained the academic flow of the programme and facilitated interaction between the speaker and the participants.

The Chief Guest and Speaker of the programme was Bhante Nibbaan Pathika Ji, who delivered an enlightening lecture on Vipassana meditation and its relevance in achieving mental peace amid the pressures of modern, stressful lifestyles. In his address, Bhante Ji emphasised mindfulness, self-awareness, and inner discipline as essential tools for maintaining psychological balance and ethical living.

A key highlight of the programme was a one-hour guided Vipassana meditation session, conducted by Bhante Nibbaan Pathika Ji. The meditation experience enabled participants to engage with the lecture's principles, offering them a rare opportunity to experience calm, introspection, and mental clarity firsthand. The session was deeply appreciated by the participants for its experiential and therapeutic value.

The programme witnessed active participation from a large number of research scholars and students of the department, as well as participants from outside the department, reflecting broad academic interest and interdisciplinary engagement. The interactive discussion following the lecture further enriched the programme, as participants shared reflections and sought guidance on integrating meditation practices into their everyday lives.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing sincere gratitude to the Chief Guest, the Chairperson, the organizing team, and all participants for contributing to the success of the programme. Overall, the lecture and meditation session proved to be academically enriching, experientially meaningful, and well-aligned with the Centre’s objective of promoting comparative, experiential, and holistic approaches to the study of religions and civilizations.