The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has kicked off the Mind, Brain, and Consciousness Conference (MBCC 2025), a major four-day international event focusing on consciousness and mental well-being. The event began on June 4 and brings together scientists, spiritual leaders, psychologists, philosophers, and AI experts to discuss how the mind works and how Indian traditions can support mental health.
The conference is organised by the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications (IKSMHA) Center at IIT Mandi. It aims to combine ancient Indian wisdom with modern science through talks, research presentations, workshops, and cultural events.
Collaboration with Art of Living
A key highlight of the event is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Mandi and the Art of Living Foundation. This agreement will support joint research in consciousness and mental health.
Spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the conference online. He said, “Science now agrees that spirituality plays a vital role in understanding the mind. Happiness is linked to consciousness and can be improved through meditation, sattvic food, and breathing practices like pranayama.”
Professor Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi, said consciousness is central to both science and self-awareness. “Without consciousness, the body is nothing. This conference opens new doors for education and innovation based on Indian knowledge systems,” he said.
Professor Arnav Bhavsar, head of the IKSMHA Center, spoke about upcoming projects like a sleep research lab and partnerships with organizations such as DRDO and the Ministry of AYUSH.
Well-known Indologist Acharya Shrivatsa Goswami called the conference a “yagya of knowledge,” led by students and inspired by consciousness.
What’s Happening at MBCC 2025?
MBCC 2025 features over 110 paper presentations and 60 poster sessions covering topics like brain scans, artificial intelligence and consciousness, Ayurvedic psychiatry, and reincarnation studies.
The event includes:
- 4 keynote speeches
- 3 plenary sessions
- 6 invited talks by top scholars
- 2 panel discussions on Indian Knowledge Systems and cognition
Participants can also join two hands-on workshops — one on storytelling in Indian tradition and another on sattvic cooking for better mental and physical health.
Evenings at the conference are filled with music, dance, and storytelling that explore India’s spiritual and cultural links to consciousness.
As the conference runs until June 7, upcoming sessions will explore yoga and mental health, meditation and brain therapies, AI and consciousness, and deep Indian philosophical ideas about the mind.
MBCC 2025 is a major step in IIT Mandi’s journey to become a global leader in combining science with traditional knowledge to better understand the mind and promote holistic well-being.
