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46 EASTERN HORIZON | FEATURES

Yet what if there was a different
approach to the world, which didn’t
require planting oneself firmly
in either the science or religion
camp? This was the question posed
by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai
Lama, as he presided over a two
day conference on quantum physics
and Madhyamaka philosophy in
New Delhi in November 2015. And
according to His Holiness, figuring
out a way to reconcile scientific and
religious philosophies may prove
to be essential to the future of our
species.
This intersection of interests was The Dalai Lama weighs in on a
The Dalai Lama at the New Delhi manifest in the diversity of His discussion with Geshe Ngawang
Conference, 2015. Photo: Daniel audience, which was comprised Sangye and Geshe Ngawang Samten
Oberhaus of roughly 150 Tibetan bhikkhus, about Cittramatrin’s view of
academics, and students who had emptiness. Photo: Daniel Oberhaus
“I hope conferences like this can piled into the conference center
address two purposes: extending our at Jawaharlal Nehru University to There are generally considered
knowledge and improving our view listen to the Dalai Lama and a panel to be two main philosophical
of reality so we can better tackle of physicists and monastic scholars schools in Buddhism, known
our disturbing emotions,” the Dalai discuss the intersection of quantum as Mahāyāna and Theravāda.
Lama said, opening the conference physics and Madhyamaka Buddhist Madhyamaka (“one who holds to
on Thursday. “Early in my lifetime, philosophy. the middle” or “the middle way”)
science was employed to further belongs to the Mahāyāna school
material and economic development. As the Dalai Lama noted in his of thought and was developed by
Later in the 20th century, scientists opening remarks at the Delhi Nagarjuna in the second century.
began to see that peace of mind is conference, he was only alerted Although a staggering number of
important for physical health and to the intersection of quantum subtly different interpretations
well-being… As a result of combining science and Madhyamaka, one of the of Nagarjuna’s philosophies have
warm-heartedness with intelligence, main schools of Buddhist thought, emerged in commentaries on his
I hope we’ll be better equipped to about 20 years ago after having work over the years, a core idea
contribute to humanity’s well-being.” a discussion with the late Indian uniting them all is that of emptiness.
nuclear physicist Raja Ramanna.
The Dalai Lama has never been a According to His Holiness, Ramanna In Madhyamaka thought, all things
stranger to science, and throughout had been reading the texts of are empty insofar as they lack any
his tenure as Tibet’s leader in exile Nagarjuna, and he was struck inherent essence or existence.
he has advocated for the collusion by just how much the ideas of This emptiness applies not just
of science and Eastern Philosophy this 2,000 year old Madhyamaka to people and things, but also to
(even Chairman Mao commended philosopher matched his own the analytic categories which are
the Dalai Lama for his “scientific understanding of contemporary used to describe them. According
mind” directly after reminding His quantum physics. to Nagarjuna, this emptiness is
Holiness that “religion is poison”). the product of the dependent