Dharamshala: - Yesterday, Nov 3, 2011, The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama seamlessly brought science and spirituality together in a two-part discussion at the Koyasan University. Engaging him in an expansive discussion from cellular genetics to "the truth body" (Dharmakaya), was Haruo Saji, a leadingJapan physicist along with Natalia Polouliakh, Associate Researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratories and Kenichiro Mogi, a Japanese brain scientist. All three are engrossed in revolutionary research in the field of science.
The three persons of science were highly inspired by the Tibetan Spiritual Leader's keen insights in connecting modern science with the science of Buddhism. Echoing the cause-effect cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy, the Dalai Lama explained that without interdependency, the nature of time cannot be pinpointed, reports Phayul. "If we introspect, time has no independent identity. Past is memory, the future is yet to come, therefore the present is very, very important", His Holiness imparted.
Natalia Polouliakh, expressing her surprise at the congruence between Buddhist science and biology, told Tibetan reporters, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama's talk helped me in connecting the dots that our feelings of happiness or anger and directly related to our heath".
In the second session, the Dalai Lama held a discussion with minds of an opposite orientation- some of the most learned Buddhist teachers at Koyasan university, who preserve and propagate the tradition of age-old Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. Having already drawn parallels to science, the audience benefited from a more acute understanding of religious philosophies.
After completing the discussion, His Holiness met the President and his faculty at Koyasan University, and suggested that they set up an extensive joint programme where Tibetans from India and professors from the university could come together to conduct comparative studies of Japanese and Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.
He expressed the importance of sustaining the culture and tradition of Buddhism in the modern world, interjecting that it is the preservation of this knowledge that has kept the hope and spirit alive amongst six decades of Tibetans- under Chinese repression and exiled, alike.
Despite Chinese repression, the Tibetan Spiritual Head in exile places a large amount of importance in China's billions in building a "happy world".
In his opinion, "By building healthy, Buddhist countries we can build a healthy Asia and a healthy Asia will lead to a healthy and happy world".
Leaving a thoroughly impressed audience at Koyasan, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his gratitude at the "genuine love, kindness and compassion" that he had received from them over his 3 days in Koyasan, concluding with the promise to return.
Tomorrow, His Holiness is scheduled to visit the tsunami-ravaged area of Sendai to offer his prayers and condolences to the affected persons.
