Synopsis This publication is a collection of papers presented at the four-day International conference on Mahayana Buddhism history and culture organized by Tibet House at India international centre of New Delhi in November 2005. The inspiration for this conference had come form his Holiness the Dali Lama keenness to promote a scientific and comprehensive study of the various aspects of Mahayana Buddhism including the history, art, literature and symbolism.

Mahayana Buddhism has thriven on logic and analysis profound exercise in Shamatha and Vipashyana and a relentless scientific security and study of the mind. It does not fight shy of the tests of contemporary scientific investigation and sees no reason why open-minded scientific inquiry should ignore the findings that the Mahayana tradition holds dear.