The Universe in a Single Atom
abracad, · Categories: books, buddhism, reviews, science and spirituality
How Science and Spirituality Can Serve Our World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
First published in 2005 this fascinating account of Buddhism (or more generally Spirituality) meets science has particular relevance in 2009 as we commemorate Darwin's 200th birthday and are reminded of the vigorous scientific vs. Spiritual debate prompted by the theory of evolution.
As anyone who's ever taken the trouble to truly contemplate the basic tenets of the world's major faiths will testify, at root all religions describe the same basic truths. However, over the centuries, science has often appeared to be in conflict with scripture.
Written with the humility that is characteristic of this truly compassionate soul The Universe in a Single Atom presents an exploration of the frontiers of scientific knowledge and thoughtfully considers how these developments might interact with the ancient religion/philosophy of Buddhism, even being mutually beneficial to each other.
The Dalai Lama has a long-held fascination with the whole spectrum of scientific research and has met with many eminent scientists throughout his long life, including the regular hosting of Mind and Life conferences at his residence at Dharmsala. The book presents a refreshing openness to the enormous contributions to human wellbeing that have been made by science, while recognizing the at least equally enormous raft of questions that science is not equipped to address.
Key to His Holiness's viewpoint is the phenomenon of consciousness, that which makes us aware of both our environment and internal feelings. A fundamental difference between science and Buddhism (ie Spirituality) is that science focuses upon what separates the living from the non-living while the Buddhist interest lies in what makes sentience (ie awareness).
The question of consciousness is one of the few remaining areas that science struggles to satisfactorily explain. It's not for the want of trying, and indeed modern scanning techniques can accurately map certain mental functions/states to particular areas of the brain. However, just knowing that a certain region is active when we're doing math doesn't begin to describe the experience. According to the Dalai Lama the 3rd person scientific method of instruments and measurements needs to be blended with the 1st person experiential emphasis of Buddhist practice to promote progress in both disciplines.
Despite centuries of hostility between religion and science, and in particular the now-superseded classical physics, the cutting edge of modern scientific theory - in the form of relativity and quantum physics - actually suggests a reality very much in line with traditional Spiritual teachings. This book draws frequent parallels between traditional Buddhist scripture and the often bizarre consequences of contemporary science.
Towards the end the book turns its attention to the topical but thorny issue of genetics. From genetically modified food and DNA mapping, to the promise and threat of stem cell technology, and the possibility of human cloning. His Holiness acknowledges the huge potentials as well as the considerable dangers created by this rapidly developing field. Such capabilities may be likened to a genie in a bottle; once the cork is removed the genie - good or bad - can never be returned. A plea is made for widely-inclusive ethical debate to take place alongside the scientific development. In this way we can best ensure progress is guided by the collective intelligence rather than brilliant, but potentially misguided, individual whim. Thus we might all enjoy the benefits of research but safeguard ourselves from irreversible disaster.
Taking the ocean as a metaphor for reality, science has been remarkably successful in understanding the behavior of the visible surface. But by its own admissions, eg the Heisenberg uncertainty principle of quantum physics, there are limitations to scientific knowledge. It's as though, like the ocean, there's a whole range of hidden depths that we cannot perceive, but which largely are inconsequential to daily life. In the everyday sensory world we inhabit science has split the atom, put men on the moon and found cures for all manner of diseases. The hidden depths don't really touch perceived reality. But when we turn our consciousness to consider the bigger questions we cannot help realize the hidden layers of reality that stand beyond the reach of scientific inquiry.
The Universe in a Single Atom doesn't provide cut and dried answers to life's great questions, nor does it pretend to. But it does shake the conscientious reader from apathy and provides significant stimulus for them to further their own individual journey for answers. The Dalai Lama suggests that not only is this a journey to be made out of curiosity, but one that needs to be made out of responsibility for the very survival of life on this planet.
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