TOW #16 The Universe in a Single Atom (Dalai Llama)

The unification of religion and science. Well played, Your Holiness.

In The Universe in a Single Atom, His Holiness the Dalai Llama attempts to draw parallels between scientific and religious inquiry, a matter often regarded as taboo. As the spiritual and political leader of Tibet since the age of sixteen, the Dalai Llama has significant experience with spirituality. As a world leader fascinated by technology his nation lacks, His Holiness has met with leading scientists throughout the twentieth century in order to comprehend the nature of modern scientific discovery. His purpose in this novel is not to argue which approach is correct, instead the Dalai Llama writes to convey the merits of science and spirituality. In recent years, quantum and particle physics has made huge leaps in understanding the machinations of the Universe, while atheist populations are rapidly growing. He writes for an audience that has trouble with this split in the modern world, with a potential focus on those with a basic knowledge of Buddhism and an interest in physics, as these are the Dalai Llama's passions. To break up the tedium of a largely philosophical book, the Dalai Llama inserts many anecdotes and historical stories to create a storyline for the reader to effectively follow through the book. These follow a particular structure that subtly weaves in the philosophy. For example, when describing the Big Bang and creationism, the Dalai Llama explained a presentation at a Mind and Life conference in Dharamsala, where a noted astrophysicist presented a simulation of the development of the Universe after the Big Bang, according to modern quantum mechanics. The Dalai Llama concedes that "It was a fascinating sight, a real spectacle" (74). This conference then transitions into the Dalai Llama's own interpretation of the scientific Big Bang, and finally transitions into the Buddhist ideas regarding creation. Instead of personal anecdotes, he recounts the myth of creation and then presents the 14 "unanswered questions," such as "Are the self and the universe eternal?" Finally, he proposes a compromise of sorts, stating that "In the Buddhist world, there is an acknowledgement of the practical impossibility of gaining total knowledge of the origin of the universe," effectively meshing two theories that approach the unapproachable. Throughout the novel this same organization is approached with things like evolution (even though the Dalai Llama does present a slight modification of evolution, looking for "hidden complexities" that hint to intelligent design). Although I have not gotten through all of this book, it has really impressed me so far. I was really skeptical about how two seemingly different fundamental understandings can link is really cool. The Dalai Llama does a great job explaining jargon and history, a great example of argument that attempts to reach a mutually beneficial conclusion instead of disprove and disparage.