On the second day of his Colgate visit, the Dalai Lama was given a glimpse of home when he was treated to a presentation on the constellations of the night sky over Lhaso, Tibet, in the visualization lab of the Robert H.N. Ho Science Center.
His Holiness then participated in “A Dialogue on Science and Religion” in the center’s Meyerhoff Auditorium with faculty panelists Lyle Roelofs, Vic Mansfield, Harvey Sindima, and David Dudrick.
Mansfield, professor of physics and astronomy, presented his new book Tibetan Buddhism and Modern Physics to the Dalai Lama, who had written the book’s foreword.
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| The Dalai Lama enjoys a personalized presentation at the new visualization lab in the Ho Science Center. Next to him is President Rebecca Chopp and Robert H.N. Ho ’56. SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE. (Photo by Susan Kahn) |
Thanking His Holiness for “his tremendous leadership and inspiration,” Mansfield then addressed the central role of causality — cause and effect — in the theory and practice of Buddhism.
Sindima, professor of philosophy and religion, maintained that neither religious nor scientific knowledge is superior over the other and they do not contradict each other.
“Although they are different forms of knowledge, they pursue one goal, namely, understanding one cosmic reality,” he said.
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In the spirit of dialogue, as the Dalai Lama promoted in his talk Tuesday, Dudrick, associate professor of philosophy, discussed ways in which science supports theism and then questioned the idea that contemporary physics lends support to a Buddhist point of view.
Dudrick said that although he does not agree with all of the conclusions the Dalai Lama draws, “He exemplifies the intellectual courage and subtlety that makes possible the constructive engagement of science and religion.”
Roelofs, provost and dean of the faculty, reflected on his personal questions about the relationship between science and religion that have arisen throughout his life as a Christian and a scientist.
The Dalai Lama addressed various points introduced by the panelists and answered some questions with humor, which he has displayed often during his visit.
Through his translator, he said, “Another kind of cop-out response: From the Buddhist point of view, until one has reached such a state that one has actualized the Buddhist omniscient mind, it is impossible to know everything.”
The science center is named in honor of Robert H.N. Ho ’56, whose long-standing relationship with the Dalai Lama helped make the visit possible.