This ebook licensed to Ho HaiHo HaiHo HaiHo Hai. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this ebook is illegal. the new physics and cosmology 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 previous books in the mind and life series Gentle Bridges: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Brain Science and Buddhism Edited by Jeremy W. Hayward and Francisco J. Varela Consciousness at the Crossroads: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Brain Science and Buddhism Edited by Zara Houshmand, Robert G. Livingston, and B. Alan Wallace Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Mindfulness, Emotions, and Health Edited by Daniel Goleman Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying: An Exploration of Consciousness with the Dalai Lama Edited by Francisco J. Varela Visions of Compassion: Western Scientists and Tibetan Buddhists Examine Human Nature Edited by Richard J. Davidson and Anne Harrington Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them? A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama Edited by Daniel Goleman 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 the new physics and cosmology Dialogues with the Dalai Lama Edited and narrated by Arthur Zajonc with the assistance of Zara Houshmand with contributions by David Finkelstein, George Greenstein, Piet Hut, Tu Weiming, Anton Zeilinger, B. Alan Wallace, and Thupten Jinpa 1 2004 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 1 Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi São Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Copyright © 2004 by The Mind and Life Institute Published by Oxford University Press, Inc., 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bstan-’dzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV, 1935– The new physics and cosmology : dialogues with the Dalai Lama / edited and narrated by Arthur Zajonc with the assistance of Zara Houshmand ; with contributions by David Finkelstein . . . [et al.]. p. cm. ISBN 0-19-515994-2 1. Physics—Religious aspects—Buddhism. 2. Quantum theory—Religious aspects— Buddhism. 3. Buddhism—Doctrines. I. Zajonc, Arthur. II. Houshmand, Zara. III. Title. BQ4570.P45B77 2003 294.3'375—dc21 2003048684 For further information concerning the Mind and Life Institute, send an email to info@MindandLife.org or visit the following websites: www.MindandLife.org www.InvestigatingtheMind.org 987654321 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 acknowledgments Over the years, Mind and Life Conferences have been supported by the generosity of many individuals and organizations. Founders Without the initial interest and continuous participation and support of our Honorary Chairman, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Mind and Life Institute would never have been formed, nor would it continue to flourish. It is truly extraordinary for a world religious leader and statesman to be so open to scientific findings and so willing to devote his time to creating and guiding a meaningful dialogue between science and Buddhism. Over the past fifteen years His Holiness has spent more personal time in Mind and Life dialogues than with any other non-Tibetan group in the world, and for this we are humbled, eternally grateful, and dedicate our work to his vision of seeing the richness of science and Buddhism linked in dialogue and sci- entific research collaboration, for the benefit of all beings. Francisco J. Varela was our founding scientist, and we miss him enor- mously. Both a world-renowned scientist and a very serious practitioner of Buddhism, Francisco actually lived full time at the intersection of cognitive science and Buddhism, and was convinced that a deep and meaningful col- laboration between science and Buddhism would be extremely beneficial for both systems, and for humanity itself. The direction he charted for the 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 Mind and Life Institute has been bold and imaginative, while at the same time respectful of the requirements of scientific rigor and Buddhist sensi- tivity. Above all, in this high-velocity world, he put aside time to cultivate the work of the Institute in a careful, logical, and scientifically incremen- tal fashion. We continue on the road he set us upon. R. Adam Engle is the entrepreneur who, upon hearing that His Holiness was interested in a dialogue between Buddhism and science, seized the op- portunity and supplied the persistent effort and ingenuity to put the pieces in place for the work of the Institute to blossom and move forward. Patrons Barry and Connie Hershey of the Hershey Family Foundation have been our most loyal and steadfast patrons since 1990. Their generous support has not only guaranteed the continuity of the conferences, but it has also breathed life into the Mind and Life Institute itself. Since 1990, Daniel Goleman has given generously of his time, energy, and spirit. He has prepared Healing Emotions and Destructive Emotions without compensation, as offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Mind and Life Institute, who receive all the royalties from their publi- cation. We gratefully thank and acknowledge very generous multi-year support from Klaus Hebben, Tussi and John Kluge, Charlene Engelhard and the Charles Engelhard Foundation, Bennett and Fredericka Foster Shapiro, and the Sager Family Foundation. This critical, sustaining support enables the Mind and Life Institute to pursue its mission with continuity and vision. The Institute has also received generous financial support from the Fet- zer Institute, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Branco Weiss, Stephen Friend, Marilyn and the late Don L. Gevirtz, Michele Grennon, Merck Laboratories, and Joe and Mary Ellyn Sensenbrenner. The research projects of the Mind and Life Institute have received sup- port from various individuals and foundations. Even though this support goes directly to the universities where the research is conducted, the Mind and Life Institute gratefully acknowledges and thanks the following donors for their generosity: The Fetzer Institute, John W. and Tussi Kluge, Char- lene Engelhard and the Charles Engelhard Foundation (UCSF Medical Center), and Edwin and Adrianne Joseph (University of Wisconsin). Finally, we gratefully thank the Sager Family Foundation, which has generously supported the science education of Tibetan monks in India on a multi-year basis. vi acknowledgments 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 On behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and all the other participants over the years, we humbly thank all of these individuals and organizations. Their generosity has had a profound impact on the lives of many people. Scientists and Philosophers We would also like to thank a number of people for their assistance in making the work of the Institute itself a success. Many of these people have assisted the Institute since its inception. First and foremost we thank His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the scientists, philosophers, and Buddhist scholars who have participated in our past meetings, our current meetings, our research projects, our board of directors, and our scientific advisory board: the late Francisco Varela, Richard Davidson, Daniel Goleman, Anne Harrington, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thupten Jinpa, Bennett Shapiro, Alan Wallace, Arthur Zajonc, Paul Ekman, Pier Luigi Luisi, Matthieu Ricard, Evan Thompson, the late Robert Livingston, Newcomb Greenleaf, Jeremy Hayward, Eleanor Rosch, Patricia Churchland, Antonio Damasio, Allan Hobson, Lewis Judd, Larry Squire, Daniel Brown, Clifford Saron, Sharon Salzberg, Lee Yearley, Jerome Engel, Jayne Gackenbach, Joyce McDougall, Charles Taylor, Joan Halifax, Nancy Eisenberg, Robert Frank, Elliott Sober, Ervin Staub, David Finkelstein, George Greenstein, Piet Hut, Tu Weiming, Anton Zeilinger, Owen Flanagan, Mark Greenberg, Jeanne Tsai, Ajahn Maha Somchai Kusalacitto, Michael Merzenich, Steven Chu, Ursula Goodenough, Eric Lander, Michel Bitbol, Phillip Sharp, Jonathan Cohen, John Duncan, David Meyer, Anne Treisman, Ajahn Amaro, Daniel Gilbert, Daniel Kahneman, Dacher Keltner, Georges Dreyfus, Stephen Kosslyn, Marlene Behrmann, Daniel Reisberg, Elaine Scarry, Jerome Kagan, An- toine Lutz, Gregory Simpson, Margaret Kemeny, Sogyal Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, and Rabjam Rinpoche. The Private Office and Tibetan Supporters We thank and acknowledge Tenzin Geyche Tethong, Tenzin N. Taklha, Ven. Lhakdor, and the other wonderful people of the Private Office of His Holiness. We are grateful to Rinchen Dharlo, Dawa Tsering, and Nawang Rapgyal of the Office of Tibet in New York City, and Lodi Gyari Rinpoche of the International Campaign for Tibet for their help over the years. And special thanks to Tenzin Choegyal, Ngari Rinpoche, who is a board mem- ber, a wonderful guide, and a true friend. Acknowledgments vii 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 Other Supporters Our thanks to Kashmir Cottage, Chonor House, Pema Thang Guesthouse and Glenmoor Cottage in India, Maazda Travel in the United States and Middle Path Travel in India, Elaine Jackson, Zara Houshmand, Alan Kelly, Peter Jepson, Pat Rockland, Thupten Chodron, Laurel Chiten, Billie Jo Joy, Nancy Mayer, Patricia Rockwell, George Rosenfeld, Andy Neddermeyer, Kristen Glover, Maclen Marvit, David Marvit, Wendy Miller, Sandra Berman, Will Shattuck, Franz Reichle, Marcel Hoehn, Geshe Sopa and the monks and nuns of Deer Park Buddhist Center, Dwight Kiyono, Eric Jan- ish, Brenden Clarke, Jaclyn Wensink, Josh Dobson, Matt McNeil, Penny and Zorba Paster, Jeffrey Davis, Magnetic Image, Sincerely Yours, Health- Emotions Research Institute-University of Wisconsin; Harvard University’s Mind/Brain/Behavior Interfaculty Initiative, Karen Barkow, John Dowling, Catherine Whalen, Sara Roscoe, David Mayer, Jennifer Shephard, Sydney Prince, Metta McGarvey, Ken Kaiser, Gus Cervini, Marie Seamon, T&C Film, Shambhala Publications, Wisdom Publications, Oxford University Press, Bantam Books, and Snow Lion Publications. Interpreters Finally, our very special thanks go to our interpreters over the years: Geshe Thupten Jinpa, who has interpreted for every meeting; Alan B. Wallace, who has been with us for every meeting but one; and Jose Cabezon, who pitched in for Alan while he was on retreat in 1995. As you can imagine, creating a dialogue and collaboration between Tibetan Buddhists and west- ern scientists is a nonstarter without excellent translation and interpreta- tion. These friends are, quite literally, the best in the world. viii acknowledgments 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 contents The Participants, xi Prelude, 3 1. Experiment and Paradox in Quantum Physics, 11 Presenter: Anton Zeilinger 2. Philosophical Reflections on Quantum Realities, 31 3. Space, Time, and the Quantum, 50 Presenter: David Finkelstein 4. Buddhist Views on Space and Time, 85 5. Quantum Logic Meets Buddhist Logic, 101 6. Participation and Personal Knowledge, 121 Presenter: Tu Weiming 7. The Relation between Scientific Knowledge and Human Experience, 126 Presenter: Arthur Zajonc 8. Investigating the World, Pondering the Mind, 146 9. New Images of the Universe, 163 Presenter: George Greenstein 10. Origins of the Universe and Buddhist Causality, 176 11. Science in Search of a Worldview, 196 Presenter: Piet Hut 12. Knowing and Suffering, 214 Notes, 223 About the Mind and Life Institute, 227 Index, 235 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 [...]... These two events — a Tibetan opera and a rainbow — were the bookends to a remarkable set of conversations that my colleagues and I were privileged to have with the Dalai Lama about the new physics and cosmology This book is the record of those conversations 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 The new physics and cosmology of the twentieth century are replete with understandings of our universe that challenge... encouragement and blessing to each and all Five days later, following the close of our meetings with the Dalai Lama, we were all gathered — scientists, philosophers, monks, and friends — on the balcony of the small monastery that is part of the Dalai Lama s compound Again the sky was gray and rainy As we talked, the heavens brightened and a full, glorious rainbow arched between the mountains and us These two... to join the throng With only a few monks, trying helplessly to protect him from the drizzle, the Dalai Lama made his way down the long stairway, bowing to all around him and grasping outstretched hands in both of his, his face bright with the infectious smile known around the world For the next week he would be discussing quantum physics and cosmology with us, but this morning he was here at the 3 Children’s... thinking Even the long history of the physical universe has been the subject of Buddhist reflection, leading to remarkable views not unlike those being advanced today by cosmologists In these dialogues, the reader has the rare opportunity of learning about the new physics and cosmology together with one of Asia’s deepest philosophical thinkers We quickly discovered that although the Dalai Lama lacked... each other When the two waves meet, they extinguish each other You can see this in water waves At the other extreme, if they happen to be oscillating the same way, the two waves then reinforce each other The two slits allow two possible paths for the light The waves going through each slit have to travel slightly different distances to reach the same point on the screen The different path lengths and. .. attempted to understand more fully the paradoxical features of the new physics and cosmology The Dalai Lama was a full participant in our conversations Indeed, by the end of our time together, Austrian physicist Anton Zeilinger went so far as to speak appreciatively of the Dalai Lama as a genuine scientific collaborator and to invite him to his Innsbruck laboratory During June 1998, Anton and I enjoyed a... replacing them with accounts that shun such pictures In addition, both quantum theory and relativity grant a new prominence to the observer It is hard to overestimate the significance of these developments The ramifications of twentieth-century discoveries for physics and cosmology have been enormous, changing our very notions of space and time, the ultimate nature of matter, and the evolution of the universe... philosophy and a Ph.D in religious studies, both from Cambridge University Since 1985 he has been a principal English translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has translated and edited several books by the Dalai Lama, including The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus (Boston: Wisdom, 1996) and Ethics for the New Millennium (New York: Riverhead, 1999) His most recent works are (with. .. of the mind A single mechanistic paradigm and its associated materialistic metaphysics came to dominate Western thinking With the opening of the twentieth century, the theories of quantum mechanics and relativity would make incomparable demands on our conception of the universe We are still struggling to grasp their full implications They challenge the simple mechanistic accounts of matter and the. .. electrons from the metal surface anton zeilinger: So, there was an interesting situation in physics We had two pictures of light: the wave picture and the particle picture For a long time the question was how to understand the two dalai lama: Do the photon particles actually displace the electrons like two billiard balls? Or, since they are different types of particles, can the displacement occur without . 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 the new physics and cosmology Dialogues with the Dalai Lama Edited and narrated by Arthur Zajonc with the assistance of Zara Houshmand with contributions by David. illegal. the new physics and cosmology 27C80E6D-6BA0-4D0B-BE5A-C3C2704E6E59 previous books in the mind and life series Gentle Bridges: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Brain Science and Buddhism Edited. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and all the other participants over the years, we humbly thank all of these individuals and organizations. Their generosity has had a profound impact on the lives of