‘Modern Science and Buddhism can learn from each other’[Wednesday, 22 December 2010, 11:20 a.m.]

GANGTOK: Inaugurating a three-day conference on International Conference on Science, Spirituality and Education in Sikkim’s capital Gangtok on Monday (20 December), His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said “meetings between the modern science and Buddhist science can be of immense benefit to both the fields, explaining that both the fields can learn from each other.”Over 600 scholars in the field of spirituality and science and dignitaries including Sikkim’s chief minister Dr Pavan Kumar Chamling and King of Sikkim attended the conference being organised by Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.In his address, His Holiness said once one of his friends told him that science is the killer of religion and he thought about it again and again. “The Pali tradition of the Nalanda University followed scepticism – to find the reality. Even Buddha himself told his followers not to follow him just out of faith but through investigation, experiences, logical investigations and reasoning,” he added.  He spoke on secular ethics and warm heartedness for the happiness of the humanity. “Moral ethics in today’s world should be taught through education and scientific method, and through reasoning,” he added.He said world peace can come through our actions but not through prayers only. His Holiness said he has developed interest and curiosity about science and technology since his childhood.  His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he was happy to visit Sikkim remembering his stay in Gangtok on his way to India on the 2500th birth anniversary of the Buddha in 1956. He also said when he was in Lhasa he felt “emotionally Sikkim very close to Lhasa”. Chief Minister Dr Pawan Kumar Chamling said he was pleased over His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s consent to visit Sikkim and for receiving his blessings.