Conversations in Science with Dan Rather and Dalai Lama: Meditation and the Brain • iBiology

00:01:02.23 RATHER: Your Holiness, I very much appreciate you doing this. Thank you.
00:01:06.29 Let's talk science, particularly neuroplasticity.
00:01:13.19 When you first heard scientists were beginning to explore the possibility
00:01:19.26 that the brain could rewire itself,
00:01:23.17 what interested you the most?
00:01:28.00 DALAI LAMA: My interest... I mean, generally, my interest about science,
00:01:33.04 I think I can say, has been since my childhood.
00:01:37.14 I think out of my curiosity.
00:01:39.20 I was always wondering, what was that? What was that? What was that?
00:01:43.09 Useful to expand our knowledge,
00:01:47.00 but also, I think, something very relevant.
00:01:49.21 Now, today, in... in modern science,
00:01:53.09 particularly the science of health, or medical science,
00:01:58.21 now they've begun to realize our emotions are
00:02:02.24 very, very important for our health.
00:02:06.23 Some scientists actually say fear and hatred, these emotions,
00:02:13.23 are actually eating our immune system.
00:02:21.21 On the other hand,
00:02:24.18 a calm mind promotes freshness and compassion, warm-heartedness.
00:02:31.07 Now, these emotions are actually increasing our immune system.
00:02:42.07 SCIENTIST: Next, we're gonna do another block of compassion meditation.
00:02:47.14 DALAI LAMA: In order to know that,
00:02:50.01 meditate on compassion.
00:02:52.05 Then, they found there's a certain area of our brain
00:02:56.12 becoming more active.
00:03:02.07 Similarly, angers, fears,
00:03:06.05 when these emotions develop,
00:03:09.12 a certain area of brain function is becoming more active.
00:03:22.04 Now, through experiment or through investigation,
00:03:26.26 we will find a way to
00:03:30.21 tackle our destructive emotions,
00:03:34.12 and try to reduce these negative emotions,
00:03:37.13 and increase positive emotions.
00:03:40.20 So, that's my main, let's say, wish.
00:03:45.01 How to bring some benefit to the society or to individuals.
00:03:49.16 RATHER: Are you going to take a professorship in science?
00:04:02.02 DALAI LAMA: I'm a believer of rebirth,
00:04:08.02 so I think time for the preparation for next life is also important.
00:04:14.13 Then, of course, sometimes I describe myself
00:04:17.17 as a scientist rather than a religious person.
00:04:21.05 RATHER: They tell me you're studying for a doctorate in quantum physics now
00:04:25.12 -- true?
00:04:27.08 DALAI LAMA: I got some lessons, a few hours,
00:04:32.24 when I listened very carefully
00:04:36.06 when they explained about quantum physics.
00:04:38.17 When I listened, I've got something.
00:04:42.00 But as soon as that lesson finished,
00:04:44.01 nothing left in my mind.
00:04:46.28 So therefore, I have keen interest about that,
00:04:50.05 but, since, hopeless student.
00:04:53.18 RATHER: Believe me, I fully understand.
00:04:55.27 That I can relate to. That I can relate to.
00:04:59.04 Thank you so much, Your Holiness. Thank you.
00:05:01.07 DALAI LAMA: Thank you. RATHER: Thank you. DALAI LAMA: Thank you.
00:05:03.07 RATHER: Thank you so much.
00:05:05.13 DALAI LAMA: I really appreciate it. RATHER: I appreciated it.

This Talk

Speakers: Dalai Lama, Daniel Rather

Audience:

General Public
Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
Student
Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Researcher
Educators

Recorded: June 2008

Talk Overview

The Dalai Lama has always had a keen interest in science. In this interview from 2008, Dan Rather and His Holiness talk science and what we can learn from the practice of meditation.

This interview was filmed in 2008 for a series on the mind and the brain. This video is a collaboration between the Lasker Foundation and iBiology.

Speaker Bio

Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lamas are believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are realized beings, inspired by the wish to attain complete enlightenment, who have vowed to be reborn in the world to help all living beings. Continue Reading

Daniel Rather

Dan Rather

Dan Rather has a resume that reads like a history book. He has interviewed every American president since Eisenhower and personally covered almost every important global dateline of the last 60 years, from the Civil Rights Movement to Vietnam, to Watergate to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Rather helped pioneer the very idea that television… Continue Reading