The New Physics and Cosmology Dialogues with the Dalai Lama [Hardcover]

Arthur Zajonc (Editor), Zara Houshmand (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0195159942 | ISBN-13: 978-0195159943

What happens when the Dalai Lama meets with leading physicists and a historian? This book is the carefully edited record of the fascinating discussions at a Mind and Life conference in which five leading physicists and a historian (David Finkelstein, George Greenstein, Piet Hut, Arthur Zajonc, Anton Zeilinger, and Tu Weiming) discussed with the Dalai Lama current thought in theoretical quantum physics, in the context of Buddhist philosophy. A contribution to the science-religion interface, and a useful explanation of our basic understanding of quantum reality, couched at a level that intelligent readers without a deep involvement in science can grasp. In the tradition of other popular books on resonances between modern quantum physics and Zen or Buddhist mystical traditions--notably The Dancing Wu Li Masters and The Tao of Physics, this book gives a clear and useful update of the genuine correspondences between these two rather disparate approaches to understanding the nature of reality.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur Zajonc is at Amherst College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195159942
• ISBN-13: 978-0195159943
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Combining Modern Physics with Buddhism, July 25, 2004

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Physics and Cosmology Dialogues with the Dalai Lama (Hardcover)

Edited by Arthur Zajonc, this slim volume is a series of discussions between five leading physicists and a historian have with the Dalai Lama. It's an attempt to bring together: Quantum theory, Doctrines, Religion - World Religions, Religion, Buddhism - General, and Cosmology.

It is surprising to see how close the relationship might be. Back in 1962, Murray Gell-Mann began to fit the known elemental particles into a series of eight 'families.' Gell-Mann called this beautiful symmetry the 'Eightfold Way' after the Buddha's 'Eightfold path to truth.' This correlation or merger seems to have continued.

In this book, the discussions are far ranging over the nature of matter itself, the experimental evidence, and the nature of the mind and its logic. It is not intended to be a textbook on modern particle physics, but it almost is. Well worth reading.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is more about Modern Physics than Buddhism, July 15, 2006

By 

Neal J. King (Munich, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Physics and Cosmology Dialogues with the Dalai Lama (Hardcover)

Although he does say a few things about Buddhist philosophy, the actual role of the Dalai Lama in these discussions turned out to be acting as the perfect "straight man" for a presentation of some of the bizarreness of modern physics: intelligent but not indoctrinated into the belief that everything "scientific" is necessarily correct.

Most of the material is more-or-less orthodox Quantum Mechanics. Some of the more far-out concepts, as Finkelstein admitted, may not last as long as the end of next week.