Koyasan, Japan, 3 November 2011 (by Sherab Woeser,
phayul.com) - On a day when the topics of discussion at the Koyasan
University auditorium ranged from the genetic information of cells to
the complex Buddhist ideas of Dharmakaya, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
methodically shared his ideas in drawing closer the two poles of human
intellectual excellence.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets
with scientists during the morning session held in Koyasan University
Auditorium in Koyasan, Japan, on November 3, 2011. Photo/Tenzin
Choejor/OHHDL |
On the last day of his stay at one of Japan’s most
sacred places, Koyasan, the Tibetan spiritual leader held two separate
sessions, one with leading scientists in Japan, carrying out path
breaking research, and the other with some of the most learned Buddhist
teachers at the Koyasan University who have kept alive the centuries old
Shingon esoteric Buddhist tradition.
Joining Haruo Saji, a prominent Japanese physicist,
Natalia Polouliakh, an Associate Researcher at the Tokyo based Sony
Computer Science Laboratories, and Kenichiro Mogi, a Japanese brain
scientist for a discussion between modern science and Buddhist science,
the Tibetan spiritual leader attentively listened to their presentations
and answered queries.
Explaining the Buddhist philosophy of the
non-existence of independent absolute reality, the Dalai Lama argued
that without the concept of interdependency, the nature of time cannot
be pinpointed.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanks
the participants in the morning session at Koyasan University in
Koyasan, Japan, on November 3, 2011. Photo/Kimimasa Mayama |
“If
we introspect, time has no independent identity. Past is memory, future
is yet to come. Therefore, present is very very important,” the Dalai
Lama said.
“Utilise time properly, meaningfully. That is most important”.
Following the discussions that exceeded well beyond its scheduled
time, Haruo Saji thanked the Dalai Lama for sharing his thoughts and
“refined knowledge” with the participants.
“Listening to you, Your Holiness, I feel inspired to carry more work on my field,” Saji said.
Speaking to Phayul after the session, Natalia Polouliakh expressed
her astonishment at the close relation between Buddhist science and
practical biology.
“The Dalai Lama’s talk helped me in connecting the dots that our
feelings of happiness or anger are directly related to our health,”
Polouliakh said.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama with
members of Koyasan University faculty during the afternoon session at
Koyasan University Auditorium in Koyasan, Japan on November 3, 2011.
Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
|
Later in the afternoon, His Holiness met with
members of the Koyasan University faculty lead by the University’s
President. Rev. Fujita Kokan.
Appreciating the “keenness and seriousness” shown by the Japanese
Buddhists, His Holiness mooted the idea of setting up an extensive joint
programme for a comparative study of Japanese and Tibetan Buddhists
texts and scriptures.
“Since you all are very interested, we must start some programme
involving detailed and extensive discussion and study of texts and
scriptures among few of the professors from your university and Tibetans
from India,” the Dalai Lama said.
“You must translate your seriousness into a long-term action that
can benefit the generations to come,” the Tibetan spiritual leader
advised.
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| The audience shows their
appreciation for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Koyasan
University in Koyasan, Japan, on November 3, 2011. Photo/Kimimisa Mayama |
His Holiness noted that although
Tibetans have suffered great hardships and lived as refugees for the
past more than six decades with no religious freedom inside Tibet, the
Tibetan community has been able to successfully keep their centuries-old
knowledge “intact”.
Highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge amongst the
traditionally Buddhist countries in Asia, the Dalai Lama envisaged an
important role for China, with its 1.3 billion people, in building a
“happy world” in the future
“By building healthy Buddhist countries we can build a healthy Asia
and a healthy Asia will lead to a healthy and happy world,” the Dalai
Lama said.
Accepting an invitation from the University to visit Koyasan again,
His Holiness said to a thunderous applause, “I have received genuine
love, kindness, and compassion from you all. I will come again.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Sendai, one of the areas worst hit by the March tsunami tomorrow.
