The Universe in a Single Atom

The Convergence of Science and Spirituality

By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Narrated by: Richard Gere

Gallileo, Copernicus, Newton, Niels Bohr, Einstein. Their insights shook our perception of who we are and where we stand in the world and in their wake have left an uneasy co-existence: science vs. religion, faith vs. empirical enquiry. Which is the keeper of truth? Which is the true path to understanding reality?

After 40 years of study with some of the greatest scientific minds as well as a lifetime of meditative, spiritual and philosophical study, the Dalai Lama presents a brilliant analysis of why both disciplines must be pursued in order to arrive at a complete picture of the truth. Science shows us ways of interpreting the physical world, while spirituality helps us cope with reality. But the extreme of either is impoverishing. The belief that all is reducible to matter and energy leaves out a huge range of human experience: emotions, yearnings, compassion, culture. At the same time, holding unexamined spiritual beliefs–beliefs that are contradicted by evidence, logic, and experience–can lock us into fundamentalist cages. Through an examination of Darwinism and karma, quantum mechanics and philosophical insight into the nature of reality, neurobiology and the study of consciousness, the Dalai Lama draws significant parallels between contemplative and scientific examination of reality.

“I believe that spirituality and science are complementary but different investigative approaches with the same goal of seeking the truth,” His Holiness writes. “In this, there is much each may learn from the other, and together they may contribute to expanding the horizon of human knowledge and wisdom.”

This breathtakingly personal examination is a tribute to the Dalai Lama’s teachers–both of science and spirituality. The legacy of this book is a vision of the world in which our different approaches to understanding ourselves, our universe and one another can be brought together in the service of humanity.

Listen to an interview with the Dalai Lama on Charlie Rose.©2005 His Holiness the Dalai Lama (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The Dalai Lama lost spiritual leadership in his own country, but now exercises it around the world. Like all good teachers, he comes to learn. He found that what Buddhism lacked in his country was a fruitful interchange with reason and modern science. Here he fosters that exchange, at a time when some Christians have turned their backs on science and the Enlightenment. We are losing what he has gained.”—Garry Wills, author of Why I Am a Catholic

“With disarming honesty, humility, and respect, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has explored the relationship between religion and science and suggested the way in which they can affirm and qualify each other’s insights. By juxtaposing traditional Buddhist teaching with the discoveries of modern physics and biology, he infuses the debate about such contentious issues as the origins of the universe, the nature of human consciousness, the evolution of species and genetic engineering with intimations of profound spirituality and shows how these questions can further our search for ultimate meaning. But above all, his gentle but insistent call for compassion is desperately needed in our torn and conflicted world.”—Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God and The Spiral Staircase

deep yet understandable

his holiness helps simplify and synthesize complex physics with spiritual principals. wonderful! Performance of Mr Gere is superb

The perspective of the Convergence

I really enjoyed the book. I think the Dali Lama as a leading religious figure really has made an effort to understand science. He is clearly well educated on many subjects in the scientific fields and I enjoyed reading his perspectives on how science and religion and complement each other. Although for me, there were no scientific insights to be had in the text, I found that there were other insights to be had. I think I will read it again.

Prior experience required

As noted by several other readers the buddhist approach to teaching difficult religious and philosophical concepts translates beautifully to teaching difficult scientific concepts. His Holiness does a wonderful job of taking complex scientific discussions and reducing them to concepts that can be grasped by the average listener. Of course, some of the detail is lost in this translation, but on the whole this book contains a good explanation of both its subject matters.

That being said this is a very difficult book to read in audio format. One of the failings of the audio format is that in technical discussions you do not have the ability to set the book down and ponder the issues raised. As both the religious/philosophical questions raised by his holiness and the scientific concepts discussed need a fair amount of time for contemplation this is one book that may be better for those with at least a rudimentary understanding of both subject matters.

Pure potentiality is raw, unbounded, and immutable

Our own lives become more whole through experiences that begin our understandings of extensive chemistry and science we have yet to understand. We are privileged to have this book and more importantly the essence of discovery that brings awareness deeper within ourselves. Thank you

Valuable Insight

We are fortunate to have lived in the era of this individual. He has captured my admiration my entire life. It was great to hear his thoughts on so many issues.
Read very well by Richard. Overall very enjoyable.

Great insights

Great to hear a spiritual leader get so into science. Obviously he always connects Buddhism to science but thats expected. Sometimes it gets repetitive and thats why I gave ir four stars but the book is still good.

this will be one I have to listen to many times

I loved this and am sure I missed so much. I know this will challenge me through several more readings

This was Wonderful!

Richard Gere has a great voice and is a devotee, but he read a bit too quickly. That is my only criticism. The open mind of this Dalai Lama is unparalleled. He explains present scientific discoveries in the context of Buddhist and Hindu yoga. Surprising to me was his open-mindedness regarding GM experimentation … and most everything. Science, as we understand it today, appears rather unscientific with matter as the root, i.e., its dogmatic materialism. The Dalai Lama sorts this out, challenged me, and left me feeling that I had learned quite a bit about not only Buddhism, but science, God, and Liberation.

I'm amazed!

I could only comprehend and internalize a portion of the intense wisdom presented by the Dali Lama. I am absolutely amazed. This book gives me so much hope that compassion can exist in the modern material world I love in. I want to study this and read it over and over. So grateful for how this helped my agnostic husband and I (Christian) to connect and understand each other better.

This book is right on the mark

While I had wished that it was read by the Dalai Lama himself (I saw him speak two years ago and his presence and speaking was warm and wonderful).. However, Richard Gere does fine.

This book is right on the mark for the current debate about religion and science as shown in the national debate over Evolution being taught in schools. This would be a wonderful teaching tool for any science educator or a self discovery tool for any scientist who struggles with questions of faith in order to show an example of how science could enhance religion versus challenge it. It definitely gave me a lot to think about it.