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Two important concepts in Buddhism are: (1) to know the way things really are and (2) a quote from Buddha, " All I have done is to discover the laws of nature". Buddhists strongly believe in an analytical approach to find the truth. The Dalai Lama has since 1960 studied Western science meeting many of the most prominent Western scientists in the USA and Europe. The Dalai Lama became extremely impressed by the progress made in science in the last 400 years, and the contribution science had made to make a high standard of living in the West and Japan and by the contribution it can make to solve the poverty problem. The Dalai Lama studied all types of disciplines, especially physics. Physicists hold different views of the future of the science of the mind. The "two-world physicists" believe that physics cannot develop theories that explain how the mind works and explain concepts like responsibility, happiness and decency. The "Mathematics- Physicists" believe that everything including the processes of the mind can be expressed in mathematics. The "Universe Physicists" view is that physics can make great progress in understanding how the mind works but that it requires additional methods of analysis and is not limited to mathematics.
Buddhists have for more than 2500 years investigated how the mind works, not by brain scans but by intensive training of the mind to enable people to observe the processes in their minds. Their theories are based on logic and on those investigations.
Buddhists like scientists believe in cause and effect as a universal principle. This in Buddhism referred to as "dependent origination ". The world is constituted of dependently originating processes that give rise to dependently originated consequences according to the laws of causality. That also applies to each of us, what we do and think in our own lives affects everything we're connected to. A consequence of this view is that nothing exists on its own, that is independent of causes and conditions. That is why this concept is also referred to in Buddhism as "emptiness" (empty of inherent existence). Many people think or would like to think that they are independent. That according to Buddhism is a dangerous illusion that leads to ego-centeredness.
The meaning of the title of this book, "The universe in a single atom" refers to this connectedness. The thoughts and physical conditions of all of us are influenced by and influences external processes and we are therefore an integral part of the universe.
Chester Barnard, the author of "The Functions of the Executive" wrote in 1939 that people in an organisation function as iron particles in a magnetic field. Even though you cannot see anything the purpose and values of the organisation influence all members of the organisation. The values and traditions of the company are reflected in the minds of each of its members. By studying the processes in the mind of one member of an organisation you can get a picture of the mind of the organisation as a whole. The universe and the atom are in a similar relationship. A bridge between "dependent origination" and physics on this point is quantum theory. In quantum theory the observer does not play a purely passive role. Whether an electron behaves as a particle or a wave depends on the experiment being done. It is the observer who decides on what sort of experiment to do.
The Dalai Lama and the "Universe Physicists" believe that very important progress will be made in this century in knowledge of how the mind works and that collaboration between Buddhist and Western theories will be very productive. Several of the "universe physicists" have published relevant books- David Bohm, was Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of London and worked with Albert Einstein And Niels Bohr, Piet Hut, professor of astro-physics and interdisciplinary studies at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton, Arthur Zajonc, professor physics from Amherst College and B. Alan Wallace.
The Dalai Lama is very concerned that scientific knowledge is developing much more rapidly than the moral standards that should direct its use. He refers specifically to genetic engineering of foodstuffs, gene therapy, and genetic manipulation at the level of human embryos, cloning and therapeutic cloning, The Dalai Lame believes that a "moral compass" should be developed, not in isolation by government departments, business, scientists or spiritual leaders, but that it is of such importance that it should involve active participation by all of these groups and by the pubic at large. Who will take up this challenge?
