His Holiness the Dalai Lama Encourages Buddhism-Science Dialogues[Monday, 17 May 2010, 12:28 p.m.]

His Holiness he Dalai Lama with University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientist Richard Davidson on Sunday, 16 May 2010. His Holiness is visiting to mark the opening of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, which is directed by Davidson/AP Photo

Madison: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first programme in Madison on Sunday morning
was to participate in a meeting on “Behavioral and Neuro-Scientific
Investigations of Contemplative Practices: Research Update” held at the
Waisman Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His
Holiness’ appearance marked the opening of the Center for Investigating
Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison dedicated to
researching healthy qualities of mind like kindness and compassion.Dr.
Adam Engle of the Mind & Life Institute made a brief welcome
remark. Thereafter, Dr. Richard Davidson of the University of
Wisconsin, who moderated the meeting, gave an introduction.  He first
showed a photo of the late Francesco Valera, (one of the scientists who
had first participated in the Buddhist-Scientist dialogue) who he said
provided vision for the Mind & Life Institute.  Upon seeing this
image, His Holiness remarked that his impression was that while the
photo showed Dr. Valera physically weak he seemed full of spirit, which
showed that he had a healthy mind.Thereafter, Dr. Richardson
and three other scientists, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson of the University
of North Carolina, Dr. Clifford Saron of the University of California,
Davis, and Dr. Antoine Lutz of the University of Wisconsin, would be
presenting recent research findings relating to human emotions.  Four
scholars from the contemplative field, Ven. Matthieu Ricard from
Shechen Monastery, Ms. Sharon Salzberg from Insight Meditation Society,
and Dr. John Dunne from Emory University, commented on the findings and
posed questions.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama shared his thoughts on
the findings and made comments.  He was assisted in this by Dr. Thupten
Jinpa of the Institute of Tibetan Classics.At the conclusion of
the meeting, His Holiness explained his reason for encouraging such a
Buddhist-Scientist dialogue.  He said he had two reasons.  First, he
said human knowledge in terms of matter was at an advanced stage and
western scientists were focusing on matter.  He said he wanted the
scientific research to extend into fields of Buddhist study that had
lots of explanation about mind and emotion. Here His Holiness said he
divided Buddhism into three categories, Buddhist science, Buddhist
philosophy and Buddhist religion. He said Buddhist religion was the
business of Buddhists, but that Buddhist philosophy and science had
universal application.  His Holiness said knowledge of these need to be
made available to a wider audience. Secondly, His Holiness
said that there was the need to change the mindset that felt that
money, gun, and power would bring about happiness.  He felt that there
was the need to develop concern for others and to counter the feelings
of anger, fear and jealousy.  This could be achieved through
compassion.  Therefore, His Holiness felt more research needed to be
conducted on emotional-level problems.His Holiness said
initially in the past when science had not made much advance, people
could only pray to God to resolve problems.  With the advancement of
science and technological development people could find solution
through these. At that stage, praying to god became less and less.  He
said in the 21st century, there is indication that there was limitation
to the ability of science to understand the inner world.His
Holiness said it was because of these reasons that he had been
encouraging the discussion between Buddhists and scientists.  He
expressed his appreciation at the involvement of the experts and
scholars in this. Following this meeting, His Holiness
attended a luncheon reception by the Chancellor of the University of
Wisconsin in Madison, Carolyn Arthur “Biddy” Martin, at her residence. 
At the venue, His Holiness was received by Governor of Wisconsin state,
Jim Doyle and Chancellor Martin. In a brief remark to the
guests at the reception, His Holiness talked about the unique
relationship between India and Tibet and how after coming to India in
1959 he had the opportunity to meet a variety of people, including
scientists. His Holiness talked about the Buddhist-Scientist dialogue,
which he said was focusing on four fields, cosmology, neurobiology,
physics and psychology.Governor Martin spoke next and thanked
His Holiness for visiting Wisconsin and spoke about Dr. Richard
Davidson’s project. He said that meditation would be introduced to
schools in Wisconsin in the fifth grade and that such education would
also be extended to prisoners and veterans from war zones.  He said
these would build upon the research that Dr. Davidson was conducting.