Conference Dedicated to Exploring Temporality

How do various cultures conceptualize and experience time? This conference seeks to explore a wide spectrum of temporal frameworks as expressed through religious, philosophical, and socio-cultural traditions. These include, among others, the cyclical rhythms characteristic of Hindu cosmology, the contemplative insights into the illusory nature of time in Buddhism, dialectical approaches that emphasize dynamic balance and continual transformation, Taoist notions rooted in natural flow and spontaneity, and relational or progressive temporalities articulated within the Abrahamic traditions.

We are particularly interested in how these diverse models — whether emphasizing recurrence, transcendence, emergence, or linear progression — inform lived experience, ritual, ethics, and worldview. We also welcome explorations of modern temporalities — such as time conceptualized as externally regulated, goal-oriented, or technologically mediated — alongside more situational, process-oriented, or existential approaches found in traditions that emphasize self-cultivation, ancestral continuity, or non-linear cosmologies.

In an increasingly interconnected world, societies engage with distinct yet overlapping “grammars of time” that shape communication, governance, and the rhythms of everyday life. We invite scholars to examine how these frameworks converge, diverge, and evolve — fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, while also attending to the complexities and tensions that emerge at their intersections.

We invite young researchers and scientists to share their views on any aspect of time by filling out the online application form by October 1.

For more information about applying and publication opportunities, visit the conference website or write to ULconf.asianstudies@gmail.com.

The conference is organized by Kaspars Kļaviņš, Director of the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Latvia.