His Holiness the Dalai Lama discuss "Mind and Brain" in Niihama city

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Tibet.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

His Holiness the Dalai Lama having a public discussion on 'Mind and Brain' with noted brain scientist Dr Mogi Kenichiro in Niihama, Japan, 9 November 2010. Photo / OHHDL /Taikan Usu

Niihama: His Holiness the Dalai Lama reached Niihama city at Southern island of Shikoku this morning. His Holiness was received by Ven. Saito Ugyen, the Chairman, and the executive members of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama Welcome Committee and the residents of the city and nearby towns at the helipad.
 
Upon reaching the hotel, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was greeted by the local media, and His Holiness expressed his happiness for being able to visit the city again and thanked the organizers for the opportunity to meet the residents of the Island again.
 
His Holiness had a public discussion on "Mind and Brain" with Dr. Mogi Kenichiro, one of the noted young Japanese brain scientists, in which some 400 monks and general public participated at the Corporation Kaikan hall of the city.
 
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that he was happy to have this opportunity to discuss on the scientific and academic aspect of Buddhist teaching with one of the Japanese scientists. He said that just as science tends to investigate and analyze the matter to prove its points, Buddhist teaching also stresses importance of analyzing and debating the teaching before accepting the facts.

"Buddhism can be seen from three perspectives, Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist science and Buddhist religion. Buddhist science deals with the mind training and studying the mind at various levels. Basically it is about how to improve our good human quality, it is a study of and evoking of useful quality of human mind, so that it could be best used for the peace and prosperity of oneself and others." Said His Holiness.
 
Mr. Mogi said he has read some books of His Holiness and was impressed to see the openness of Buddhist toward science and the similarity in investigating the matter.

He said a single neuron has no independent consciousness, interrelatedness of many neuron generates consciousness, this corresponds to the Buddhist theory of interdependent of all matter.
 
His Holiness asked the possibility of surgery wherein a part of the brain responsible for mental afflictions such as anger could be surgically taken out. Scientist Mogi replied that it could be dangerous because that such surgery would harm the other creative aspect of human brain. His Holiness and the Scientist further discussed about the experimenting the state of mind at its various level of consciousness and emotions.
 
His Holiness said that in America, universities like Emory, Wisconsin and Stand fords have started a faculty wherein science and mind are studied and the results have been very good. "Japan, being a Buddhist country, it would be good to start such study at University level, this would help in enhancing better understanding between religion and science to make a collective contribution to the society."
 
As far as experimenting and investigating aspect of Buddhist religion is concerned, His Holiness quoted the Buddha's famous stanza, "My followers here, just like a goldsmith test the quality of gold through burning, cutting and rubbing, you too should put my teaching to similar test. Take not my teaching just out of respect for me."
 
Toward the end of the discussion, His Holiness said, "we need to go to the root of the teaching that Buddha taught some 2500 years ago. Through the period various branches and schools have emerged. These branches and schools are born out of respective individual master's experiences, no doubt they are good. But they are not all. Too much attachment to one's branch and school is not good. The root and the trunk of the teaching is what the Buddha taught - the basic teaching of two truths should have no difference. This we should not forget. Cultural influence is acceptable as far as it don't divert from the real teaching of the Buddha."
 
Appreciating Dr. Mogi's openness and his knowledge and his fluent English, His Holiness urged the young Japanese to learn English so that they could come out and become a contributing member not only of Japanese society but also of international community.
 
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give explanation on 'Heart Sutra' and teaching on 'Understanding the Wisdom of Emptiness to Help Humanities' in the city tomorrow.