DHARAMSHALA, India - Today [Dec. 17, 2011] the Dalai Lama inaugurated a three-day international conference on "Cosmology and Consciousness." It brought together Tibetan Buddhist scholars and top scientists to explore ways to promote the integration of spiritual values and scientific investigations.
The conference is an initiative of the Science for Monastics Program under the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA), which has taught science to Tibetan monastics since 2001 under the Dalai Lama's inspiration. The Sager Science Leadership Institute, Emory University, and John Templeton Foundation are part of this initiative.
This conference opens up the dialogue to the Tibetan monastic community in an unprecedented way. In addition to the panelists, 18 Tibetan scholars from 13 monasteries and nunneries will be engaged in the dialogue with scientists for the first time.
“It is not only the vision of...the Dalai Lama, but the need of the time for Tibetans, and particularly Tibetan Buddhist monastics, to become conversant with modern science,” said Geshe Lhakdor, the director of LTWA.
“Monastics studying modern science is a historic step in the history of monastic education and Tibetan Buddhism. Through becoming well-versed in traditional philosophical studies and modern science, it is our hope that monks and nuns can make a significant contribution to the betterment of the physical and mental health of people everywhere,” he said. More
