The author asks to what extent a knowledge of the concepts of yoga may prepare the way to a better understanding of Indian archaeology. The yoga at the basis of this study is that which forms the core of the Tantras. In the first chapter the author surveys the system of Tantrik yoga. He then continues with a discussion of the various forms of yantras, that is all the means employed by yogis in their meditational exercises as aids to the (...) concentration of thought. The author provides in-depth studies of ritual objects of the Lamaistic cult in Tibet and Nepal, the sacred cemeteries of Nepal, and pantheons in Java and Bali. (shrink)

불교전통에서 붓다의 일생을 전할 때 빠지지 않고 등장하는 ‘사문유관(四門遊觀)’은 동, 남, 서, 북이라는 4방위와 그에 상응하는 노병사(老病死)와 출가행(出家行)의 네 가지 목격담으로 정형화(dramaturgy)되어 있다. 하지만 붓다에게 있어서 깨달음을 위한 철학적 방황의 직접적인 단초가 된 사문유관의 일화가 왜 동-남-서-북 4방위의 출유(出遊)로 정형화된 것인지 딱히 그 이유를 찾기가 쉽지 않다. 본 논문에서는 사문유관에 정형화된 동-남-서-북의 방위구조와 그에 상응하는 [생]노병사와 출가행의 존재론적 도식은 결국 대승불교의 형이상학적 산물로서 정형화된 것임을 고찰하고 있다. 시선축을 중심점이나 수미산에 고정시켜두고 관찰점을 남쪽에 두고 있는 힌두철학의 Śrī-Yantra나 불교의 아비달마적 세계의 실유론적 (...) 관점과는 달리 사문유관은 붓다의 존재론적 고민과 출가 그리고 견성과 회향의 일생을 동-남-서-북이라는 방위구조에 중층적으로 담아내고 있는데, 이와 같은 사문유관의 방위구조와 도식에 담긴 대승불교의 형이상학적 의미는 5방불 만달라로 대변되는 대승불교의 밀교적 만달라의 색 배치와 방위구조에 나타난 상징성에서도 살펴볼 수 있다. (shrink)

Study and practice of Yantra Yoga accompanied with illustrated patterns.

In the second decade of the new millennium, artificial intelligence (AI) became a catchword among senior politicians and the military officers of India. Indian military officers have raised concerns about the potential use of AI-enabled weapon systems by China and by insurgents supported by Pakistan in the subcontinent. This article portrays the complex interlinkages between AI, strategic planning about future warfare and the role of ethics in India. The article, divided into three sections, deals with the role of AI and (...) ethics in India’s grand strategy, in military strategy and in command culture. Finally, the article also offers some policy recommendations. For cultural reasons, India follows a defensive strategy. India is attempting to integrate the AI weapons within its dharmayuddha (just war) format. Indian military strategy emphasises that on no account should these intelligent machines be autonomous. Atman (self-consciousness) must not be subordinated to yantras (machines). (shrink)

Tripura Upanishad is a minor Shakta or Tantra Upanishad explaining the structure of and meditation on Sri Chakra or Sri Yantra—a diagrammatic representation of the universe through nine interlocking triangles coming out of a central point. To date, there are two English translations of this Upanishad. The first and the earliest, by A G Krishna Warrier done in 1967, is a verse translation and because of the obvious constraints of such translation, fails to explain the intricacies and implied meanings of (...) this cryptic Upanishad. The second translation done many years later, is by Douglas Renfrew Brooks, who has also beautifully translated the commentary on this Upanishad by Bhaskararaya in the book 'The Secret of the Three Cities' published by the University of Chicago Press in 1990. While maintaining a high level of accuracy and bringing out the intricate nuances of this Upanishad, the emphasis of Brooks' translation seems to be more on the geometrical aspects of the Sri Chakra. The present translation emphasises the practice aspect of this Upanishad as derived from Bhaskararaya's commentary. (shrink)

The 4th National Cyber Security Workshop organised by IEEE India Council was held in Mumbai at the sprawling Yantra Park, Thane Campus of Tata Consultancy Services on 11 & 12 November, 2016. This event follows two successful editions of the workshop in Ahmedabad and Bangalore.