The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

 

 

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Though so well-written and polished that it's impossible these are the words of H.H. himself, I have no reason to suspect the spirit and intention behind the words isn't truly his own. This is a great read, and I think that the Dalai Lama had only the best of intentions in producing this work.

It starts out very endearingly, relating his early life and introduction to science through Heinrich Harrer and eventually many eminent scientists, after he fled Tibet in 1959. These encounters are presented in a very charming and humorous way and the Dalai Lama's humility shines as he makes every effort to take his background in Buddhist philosophy and somehow use it to grasp genetics, cosmology, quantum physics, neuroscience and more. If only every non-scientist took such an active interest!

The problem though, for me, is that this lack of real scientific training becomes evident as the Dalai Lama begins to present his own arguments. There are frequent calls for rational inquiry, comparison of disparate claims mediated by valid evidence, etc., but when it comes down to it he seems incapable of following these principles. As an example, the thorny issue of human cloning comes up, and H.H. mentions his own profound disgust when first becoming aware of the implications - and then goes on to recommend our 'innate sense of disgust' as valid criteria for deciding what's right and wrong, as these extremely complex issues begin to pile up around us. This might even be a good criteria in this particular situation - but then, there are a lot of people who think they feel an 'innate disgust' at Islam, or Christianity, and that doesn't prove it's 'wrong.' Possibly the most irritating for me was when he went on to claim that if we use genetic engineering to enhance people (which will undoubtedly be a costly process, at least at first), then we risk turning an 'inequality of circumstance (relative wealth) into an inequality of nature' (relatively superior genomes). Definitely a legitimate concern - but has it not occurred to him that the system of reincarnate lamas (tulkus) in Tibet is probably the closest extant example of exactly such a system? That he himself has lived 95% of his life in egregious wealth and privilege (relative to the average Tibetan, anyway) precisely because most Tibetans believe that he (and other 'tulkus' - there are hundreds, if not thousands of reincarnate lama lineages) somehow has an inherently superior nature or karmic conditions (what could be considered the Tibetan Buddhist version of genetics). A lot of the other arguments, regarding karma, reincarnation, etc., basically hover around the idea, 'Science hasn't proved them wrong yet, so we're going to continue believing them.' His 'support' for reincarnation comes in the form of relying on the testimony of a 4-year-old girl in India who claims to remember her past lives. "Such phenomena cannot be easily ignored" he says - and yet the Tibetan Buddhists 'easily ignore' the many other facets of Indian religion that don't accord with their views - things like the supremacy of Shiva (not Buddha!), or Vishnu incarnating in the world, and so on. In another book (Consciousness at the Crossroads), an open-minded neuroscientist actually suggests a very simple experiment that could prove or disprove reincarnation - "Let's see how much science/neuroscience the 15th Dalai Lama can remember from this life, where you've been exposed to so much scientific training!" No one seems eager to take him up on any experiment so clear and reasonable.

None of this is to say H.H. is a bad guy - actually I think he is making an incredible contribution to the world. That doesn't change the fact that when he argues here against science or presents his views on issues such as genetic engineering, he rarely avoids hypocrisy or ostrichism.

The major exception to this is the research he has greatly helped to facilitate in beginning the scientific study of meditation and long-term meditators - this is the one area of Buddhism I know of that is being vindicated by true empirical/rational inquiry (as he recommends), and this contribution alone is very meaningful.

Recommended, but don't expect science to 'converge' with Tibetan Buddhism and support the reincarnation of high lamas any time soon.

"The Tibetan book of the Dead"
This is only "full length" copy on the market today. Well written and researched and absolutely astounding in what is revealed. A must have for the spiritual Seeker. John O.

The Dalai Lama reveals how, in his travels and discussions with scientists, he has discovered that base science is putting proof to things Buddhists have believed for centuries. The interconnectedness of nature, the value of empirical proof, and the incomprehensible vastness of the universe are presented from the context of the Buddhist philosophy. Inspiring and engaging proof that science and spirituality need not be mutually exclusive, nor need they be necessarily in opposition of one another; rather, they can operate in parallel to reveal the whole truth of our human existence.

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