Tibetan monks, nuns take lessons in science

Monks and nuns from Tibetan monasteries took lessons in science at the Thekcehn Choeling temple at McLeodganj in Dharamsala yesterday.

The Science for Monks and Nuns Initiative was introduced in Tibetan monasteries in-exile under the guidance of the Dalai Lama. Its aim is to nurture leaders in the Tibetan monastic community who can actively engage with science through learning and dialogue.

The programme provides monks and nuns with training and research opportunities to deepen their understanding of science while enriching the dialogue between science and spirituality.

Earlier, the Dalai Lama had stated that the last few decades had witnessed tremendous advances in scientific understanding of the human brain and body as a whole. With the advent of new genetics, neuroscience’s knowledge of the workings of biological organisms is now brought to the subtlest level of individual genes. This has resulted in unforeseen technological possibilities of even manipulating the very codes of life, thereby giving rise to the likelihood of creating entirely new realities for humanity as a whole.

Today, the question of science’s interface with wider humanity was no longer a matter of academic interest alone; this question must assume a sense of urgency for all those concerned about the fate of human existence, he had said. Meanwhile, the silver jubilee celebrations of the the event were held yesterday.

Chief guest Kyabje Samdhong Rinpoche, special guest speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Bobby Sager, chair of the SFM, Chief Supreme Justice Commissioner Yeshi Wangmo, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang and Kalon Changra Tharlam Dolma attended the event.

The speakers applauded the initiative for imparting scientific knowledge to Tibetan monks and nuns under the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. “It is the Dalai Lama’s farsighted vision of benefiting humanity, particularly his aspiration to forge a meaningful bridge between Tibetan Buddhist practices and modern science,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of harnessing the benefits of modern education alongside traditional Tibetan education.

Himachal Tribune