Customer Reviews

The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

--I'd like to add another five-star vote for this gentle, insightful book. It's a gift for everyone.

--The Dalai Lama has been interested in science since childhood, and has collaborated with some of the best minds in science and psychology for many years. This book gives some perspectives on that collaboration. The author discusses evolution and consciousness, "karma" and causality, how we may improve reliability in knowledge, how we can manage unprovable concepts we believe to be true, how a refined Awareness can be used to help understand our mind and consciousness, a Buddhist perspective on genetic engineering, and above all else, the benefits of combining Wisdom and Compassion. The author notes that scientists, too, can and should add wisdom and compassion to their knowledge, and suggests they not just let their discoveries be managed by political leaders, lawyers, bureaucrats, financiers, or the media (gulp!). The author also warmly introduces us to his educational background and gives marvelous insights into classical Buddhist and Hindu views of issues that still intrigue Western philosophers and scientists. He also discusses why we may encounter a "dual nature" of truth -- for instance, we are innately comfortable with a classical explanation for everyday events even when we know that we encounter a profoundly non-classical reality at the atomic or psychological level. This book makes a superb addition to all the wonderful books on quantum science, cognitive science, and cosmology.

--In my opinion, BY FAR THE MOST VALUABLE GIFT OF THIS BOOK is the irreplaceably valuable perspective of a credibly Wise Human Being. One significant difference between valid science and spirituality is that science focuses on Knowledge while the spiritual approach seeks Wisdom (which includes compassion and ethics). Both should use integrity to seek truth. Because this latter goal is shared, many scientists (including atheists) respect one such as the Dalai Lama and have been more than eager to share their insights with him (I attended a recent medical conference and more than one leading scientist said that amidst all their years of honor and success in highly competitive and intellectually demanding fields, the chance to discuss their views with the Dalai Lama was the high point of their lives). The Dalai Lama does not have a technical degree, he may not have published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and his knowledge of mathematics is not great, but he provides an irreplaceably valuable perspecitve -- a credibly wise, humble, and compassionate human being who embraces, understands, and appreciates scientific knowledge. It's not always an easy read, sometimes you have to suspend your judgment for a few pages, and you won't agree with everything but it's a remarkable book.

--Those interested in spirituality should also find an appreciation of scientific knowledge will enrich their practices and their understanding. For instance, the author gives the best short technical description I have ever read of the Buddhist concept of Shunyata, often unsatisfactorily translated as Emptiness. Shunyata suggests that nothing has a detectable absolutely independent or unqualified existence, so instead of "things" or "ideas," we experience causally-connected interrelationships between essentially transient events. Giving an entity some artificially conceptual permanence is often useful, but is often done at our peril -- we cannot "possess" something we "desire" any more than we can "possess" a cloud or a fogbank (conceptually realizing this may be easy but integrating it into our lives is difficult). So Buddhist awareness, in addition to being a source of profound spiritual insight, can also add a valuable and cogent perspective to our understanding of Reality.

--I hope this review helps you and that you consider looking into this wonderful book.

I have an extensive background in science including quantum physics at the graduate level. I have also studied world religions for 20 years and I'm currently a coach who uses integral psychology as a model. Integral psychology studies the psyche on every level and draws on the world's wisdom traditions in addition to current psychological, cognitive and neurological research. Given my background, I feel I am in a good postion to give this book a fair and thorough review.

On the plus side, it is obvious that the Dalai Lama is not approaching this topic with an agenda. His genuine humility, sincerity and openness comes through on nearly every page. It is also clear that he is not entrenched in particular religious ideas and openly states that he is willing to abandon them if empirical science proves them "untenable." It is also evident that the Dalai Lama has respect for science, the scientific method and a natural curiosity in this area. He has also more than casually acquainted with numerous famous scientists and has enough scientific background to speak on a variety of intersections between Buddhism and science.

The scope of this book is very broad and touches on many important and relevant questions about the nature of reality, the beginning of the universe, quantum physics, evolution and consciousness. It also addresses ethical issues especially as they relate to genetic research.

For the average layperson, this is an extremely accessible book that does not make a lot of assumptions about Buddhism or scientific knowledge. This is both a strength and a weakness. For people who don't know much about either, it is a great introduction to all of the areas above. For those with more of a background in Buddhism and especially science, it may be a somewhat elementary although thought provoking with respect to the parallels between fundamental ideas in Buddhism and science.

The Dalai Lama offers many good insights on the parallels between emptiness and quantum physics. He makes a good case that Buddhism's notion of emptiness and dependent origination agree with the findings of modern physicists and also goes out of his way to mention other possibilitiess posited by a number of other scientists.

In his origin of the universe discussion, he presents a variety of religious perspectives on creation myths including the dominant ones in Tibetan Buddhism. He is very quick to point out that these obviously need to be revised, but provides insight into deeper layers of meaning within these models. However, it is clear that he is not trying to defend them or find an interpretation that will save them in the face of contradictory facts. This was quite impressive to me and his openness even surprised me.

I agree quite a bit with both a Buddhist perspective on reality, consciousness and methodological approach. As a psychology professional, I feel that Buddhism has much to offer on our exploration of consciousness and quite a bit of pages of this book is dedicated to this area. The Buddhists have in a real sense been performing phenomenological reasearch in this area for over two thousand years and I believe they have many useful insights. The Dalai Lama shares the most important of these insights in a simple and easy to understand manner.

Basically everything in this book can be related back to real life as it is lived in the world. There is a strong emphasis on the interconnectedness of everything and the necessity for compassion and a responsible approach to how we use technology and make ethical decisions with respect to the use of technology and areas of inquiry within science.

I rated this book a 4 overall because it not as comprehensive as I would like to see for more advanced readers. A bit more complexity would have been better for even a lay audience. However, people looking for a provocative, fairly simple read might rate it a 5+. It depends upon what you are looking to get out of it.

I am a great admirer of the Dalai Lama for a variety of reasons and I think this book is worth reading just to familiarize yourself with his thinking and general approach to these types of questions. This is truly an inspirational book offered at a bargain price. You can be comfortable reading it whatever your level of expertise and I believe even seasoned scientists will get some important insights from a thoughtful reading of the ideas presented here as viewed through the lens of Tibetan Buddhism.

Many people feel that one of the really important issues facing us all, is whether it is possible to find some middle ground between science and spirituality, or whether they are simply different experiential and philosophical categories that have no business trying to get together.

For over thirty years, the Dalai Lama has been at the forefront of efforts to find a rapprochement between the insights of Buddhism and the discoveries made using the scientific method. His journey has led him to have detailed discussion with some of the finest minds: the late David Bohm, John Eccles and Karl Popper to name just three. This is without doubt the clearest and most accessible of the Dalai Lama's books examining the relationship between contemporary Buddhist thought and Western science.

There are many gems in here, but there are one or two of particular importance. I still hear people translate the term "Karma," as "Fate," or as a law of causality. The author makes it clear that karma means "action," and he clearly differentiates it as the mechanism by which an intentional act will reap certain specific consequences. Karma refers to the intentional acts of sentient beings.

The book is full of such insights. It is an easy read and is both an overview of a number of critical areas in current scientific research and a spiritual interpretation and synthesis. This is not just a book for Buddhists, but for anyone interested in the broader issues of life and the Universe.

Highly recommended.

There are many wonders to be explored in the parallels between Buddhism and scientific inquiry into the nature of reality, life and consciousness. As you read this book, your thoughts ride a rocket of insight into the contentious and often disappointing debate between scientific theory and spirituality that seems to be paralyzing our society today. And yet the text never flaunts a particular conceit or takes on the aggressive, often brutal nature of the debate. While the parallels explored are startling and inspiring, most wonderful of all is the critical mind, engaging personality and boundless curiousity of the Dalai Lama himself, as these qualities radiate from the text.

Reflecting on his theme, the Dalai Lama illuminates at least a view if not a way through the contention and confusion. He writes: "There is more to human existence and to reality itself than current science can ever give us access to.... By the same token, spirituality must be tempered by the insights and discoveries of science. If as spiritual practitioners we ignore the discoveries of science, our practice is also impoverished, as this mind-set can lead to fundamentalism."

It is truly revealing that a man at the heart of a very traditional spiritual philosophy and practice can shed the burden of dogmatic thought for an open dialogue and the exciting and affirming human capacity to seek truth. Between science and spirituality, between the knowable and the unknowable, the critical thinking and spiritual insight of the Dalai Lama inspires the belief that open minds and open dialogue are not beyond either our scientific thought or our spiritual belief. This book is one of the most spiritual testaments while coincidentally being a highly accessible exploration of great scientific advances and current research. It is a book I will return to again and again.

Many have written LONG reviews so I will try my best to contain my impulse to break off into rants.

Pros:
Very well written, great arguments, and very thorough.
The argumentative styling of this book is honest. The reason I choose that specific word is that its so easy to be biased and omit opposing arguments. This book is not written to convince anyone of anything, its merely presents what we know to be 'most likely truths' as well as counter points from different schools of thought and lets the reader make the conclusions. Its not a 'socratic method' of answering a question with a question as much as its a great teachers way of helping you to explore yourself.
This book covers most if not all the bases of modern science and relates it the core teachings of buddhist philosophy. For those that misconstrue buddhism to be a 'hippie religion,' this book should put that view to rest.

Cons:
-Although the aim is to have a mass amount of people read this book, I am quite certain that an average 'layperson' will drop this book in confusion after about 1 page.
-For those of us that have studied genetics, theories on evolution, physics, einstein's theories of relativity, quantum mechanics, mahayana buddhism, or any theory on consciousness, this book serves as an AMAZING 'tie in' to all these in depth subjects. HOWEVER, for a person that has never really studied any of these topics this book will probably confuse them beyond belief.

Summary: Very well rounded and thorough. Amazingly well written with a high dialect. Filled with fantasic insight and wonderful 'middle ground' for a religion that emphasises the 'middle way.' Its almost poetic justice in that sense.
However this book is not an 'intro' book. This is a book you read AFTER you have an understanding of basic genetics, quantum mechanics, and buddhism.

I am generally not impressed by theologians who discuss science (or conversely scientists who discuss theology), because usually these written discussions contain a major propaganda component. On one hand you have those would discredit science and replace it with a biased system full of pious presuppositions, and on the other hand those who would dismiss religion as not supported by the "facts" and thus irrelevant (and perhaps caused by a defective "god gene" that worked to make Pleistocene tribes more cohesive, but has little relation to the modern world.)

I have to say in this context that I am most definitely impressed with the Dalai Lama's new book "The Universe in a Single Atom." This was written by a "simple monk" who has more understanding (despite his admitted failings in mathematics) of the basic questions than many theologians or scientists. I may disagree with him in some parts of his arguments (especially in regard to some of his doubts about evolution), but I can not deny his basic openness and willingness to adapt his views as our understanding of the universe and life expands. I only wish there were more like him! Science and religion probably should function as separate Magisteria (as argued by Stephan J. Gould), but they can have points of contact as long as one does not try to consume the other. The Dalai Lama states that some claims of religion (he speaks for Buddhism specifically) may have to be abandoned because of some modern findings of empirical science. At the same time he feels that science should not dismiss religion as irreverent to human endeavor. Science has little to tell us about how to live and religion has little to tell us about the exact details of the structure and development of the universe.

This is simply speaking one of those rarities, a good book written by a "personality." But what a remarkable personality! His understanding of the basic structure of philosophical and scientific arguments is astounding for a person who lived the early years of their life mostly in the remote mountain country of Tibet. He articulates difficult concepts of space, time, physical law and biological science very well, while always prefacing his remarks with a humble phrase such as "As I understand it". After a big dose of arid pronouncements by arrogant "personalities" in both Magisteria this is like a refreshing rain shower!

I recommend that anyone interested in the intersection between religion and science read this book. It is a major positive antidote for the "Conflict between Religion and Science" that seems to be the main media event of the day. Not everyone is an unreasoning self-seeker.

While Western religious thought seems to hold strictly to scriptural authority, and likewise Western science seems to hold to the belief that testing results that provide repeatedly the same outcome becomes "proof," on the other hand "in Buddhism scriptural authority cannot outweigh an understanding based on reason and experience." At this point in the Dalai Lama's discussion of science and spirituality he seems to draw parallels between Buddhist philosophy and Western religious thought and Western scientific methods. Although the Western traditions separate spirituality and science while the Buddhist tradition encompasses both spirituality and science, however, Western and Eastern traditions are searching for similar answers to similar questions. The Dalai Lama eloquently explains his views of Buddhism that embraces what it means to live in a multi-faceted world consciousness. ... A very good read.

No doubt, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the great spiritual leaders of our time and he embodies what is a truely authentic human being is.

"Universe in a Single Atom" challenges our perceptions of reality and he makes the most puzzling questions that we pose, easier to understand and his answer is not grounded in particular theology, rather it is a fact of reality. It is mind boggling to read this precious book provided to our humanity by a "simple monk" from Tibet. This book also shows how boundless his wisdom is! and his wisdom is shining through each and every sentence!

He exemplifies the fact that we can come out of our dogmatism and embrace reality no matter who provided the fact. Such an act not only enrich our own pratice of a particular religion, but also helps in expanding one's wisdom, knowledge, and so on.

This book also gives a good and presious perspective why our religous and scientific community should cool down from ignorant conflict and pursue the common goal of happier world and happier self.

I recommend everyone give a try to read it, you will loose nothing, but most likely you will gain a lot.

In short, this book makes it clear that HIS ONLY AGENDA is help others through his own spiritual experience if there are people who are ready to listen.

This book is an outstanding commentary on how science and spirituality are once again coming together in search of answers to some of the most basic questions we humans pose. Quetions raging from the origins of the universe to the depths of human consiouness.

Having always had a curiousity with science the Dalai Lama has literally travelled the world and talked to the the most renowned researchers (actually if he wasn't the Dalai Lama I would have gotten the impression he was name dropping just out of ego!). He has been searching for how these two diciplines, which can be rather hostile to one another, can actually come together for the betterment of all mankind. Now there's a refreshing concept!

He is very blunt in the limitations of both diciplines. When he feels science needs to change how it looks at things, he says so. He does the same for Buddhism. Several times ancient Buddhist beliefs are basically dismissed because they are obviously incorrect.

The best qualtity to this book was the open-mindedness that the Dalai Lama brought to the table. He is one simply in search of the thruth, whatever that truth may be.

For those of us trying to make sense of the world and our place in it, the Dalai Lama has given us a precious gift with this book. I truly hope that non-buddhists will read this because there is so much to learn from this great teacher. The audio book is read eloquently by Richard Gere. I would say that I prefer the audio book on this one because I felt as if I was attending a course on these subjects. This book is simply a must for those who want answers to the big questions. If you saw movie "What the Bleep?" and were intrigued by the scientific and spiritual questions raised in it, then this book is the next step. Namaste and Thank you to his holiness for his insights.