Description

The conference focuses its attention on craving, desire, and addiction, as these are among the most pressing causes of human suffering. By bringing contemplative practitioners and scholars from Buddhist and Christian traditions together with a broad array of scientific researchers in the fields of desire and addiction, hopefully new understandings will arise that may ultimately lead to improved treatment of the root causes of craving and its many manifestations.Venue: His Holiness’s Residence, Dharamsala, HP, IndiaDate: October 28 – November 1, 2013Duration: 10 sessions each approximately 2 hoursLanguages: EnglishDay One – October 28: The Problem of Craving and AddictionMorning Session: Introductory remarksAfternoon sessions: The Role of Craving in the Cycle of Addictive BehaviorDay Two – October 29: Cognitive and Buddhist TheoryMorning session: Brain Generators of Intense Wanting and LikingAfternoon session: Psychology of Desire, Craving, and Action: A Buddhist PerspectiveDay Three – October 30: Biological and Cultural ViewsMorning Session: The Role of Dopamine in the Addicted Human BrainAfternoon Session: Beyond the Individual – The Role of Society and Culture in AddictionDay Four – October 31: Contemplative PerspectivesMorning Session: From Craving to Freedom and Flourishing: Buddhist Perspectives on DesireAfternoon Session: Contemplative Christianity, Desire, and AddictionDay Five – November 1: Into the WorldMorning Session: Application of Contemplative Practices in Treatment of AddictionAfternoon Session: Concluding RemarksParticipantsTENZIN GYATSOHis Holiness the 14th Dalai LamaKENT BERRIDGE, PHDJames Olds Collegiate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology (University of Michigan)SARAH BOWEN, PHDActing Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (University of Washington)RICHARD J. DAVIDSON, PHDWilliam James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and PsychiatryDirector, Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience (University of Wisconsin–Madison)WENDY FARLEY, PHDProfessor – Department of Religion (Emory University)VIBEKE ASMUSSEN FRANK, PHDDeputy Director and Associate Professor – Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research (Aarhus University, Denmark)ROSHI JOAN HALIFAX, PHDFounder, Abbot, and Head Teacher – Upaya Zen CenterTHUPTEN JINPA, PHDAdjunct Professor (McGill University)Chairman – Mind & Life InstituteMARC LEWIS, PHDProfessor – Behavioural Science Institute (Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands)MATTHIEU RICARD, PHDBuddhist Monk – Shechen MonasteryNORA VOLKOW, MDDirector – National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institutes of HealthDIANA CHAPMAN WALSH, PHDPresident Emerita (Wellesley College)Governing Board Member – The Broad Institute of Harvard and MITARTHUR ZAJONC, PHDProfessor Emeritus of Physics (Amherst College)President – Mind & Life Institute