Enlightenment 2.0

By invitation of Gelek Rimpoche, a forum was held with five professors on Saturday 24 April 2010. The title of the discussion was 'Enlightenment 2.0'.

The scientists were asked to share their views on the question whether the age-old buddhist insight into interdependent existence might help the world to reach a new Enlightenment.

A discussion between five scientists and a lama

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Never before has the world been confronted by so many crises at the same time; not only the credit crunch, but also environmental, poverty, health, violence and food crises are knocking on our door. The question is not only how to find the right answers but also whether we are looking for the right 'kind' of solutions. In past decades, we resorted to specialisation, penetrating more deeply into a specific part of reality. A strategy that has paid off to a certain extent if we consider the current prosperity in parts of the globe. It remains to be seen, however, if this isolated approach will suffice this time. Wouldn't it be better to respond to these crises on the basis of their interrelations? A thought that may come easily to mind but that soon faces the limitations of our usual thinking patterns.

Buddhism, as age-old wisdom tradition, actually has this interdependentness as one of its basic principles. This has enabled it to develop an insight into how to realize this form of perception and and apply it to social behaviour and actions. Can this insight contribute to solving the present problems of our society and can it function as a new paradigm for the 21st century?

These are the the central questions in a discussion between five scientists from various fields and Gelek Rimpoche, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist lama. A debate on the question whether an age-old insight into interdependent existence can guide the world towards a new Enlightenment



Host: Gelek Rimpoche

Panel members

Henk Barendregt
Henk Barendregt is a worldwide recognised expert in the field of mathematical logics. In addition, he works on models for specific aspects of the human brain, particularly on the effects of insight meditation in daily life and in the practice of psychotherapy. Henk Barendregt is a member of the KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and received the Spinoza Award in 2002. He is also a prominent Vipassana teacher.

Johan Niezing
Johan Niezing has worked as Professor Political Sciences at the University of Brussels and as Chairman of its Polemology Centre. He has written a large number of books and articles on polemological and methodological subjects.
Former positions of Niezing include Chairman of the Buddhist Union of the Netherlands (BUN) and Member of the Board of Netherlands Buddhist Broadcaster BOS. He studies the history and philosophy of Bön, Tibet's indigenous religion.

Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga
Professor Laboratory Animal Science, Managing Director CDL of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre and Zen buddhist. Within her field of expertise, she works on the improvement of the wellbeing of animals by 3R: Refinement, Reduction and Replacement. She focusses on a continuous improvement of the quality of biomedical research. Her inaugural lecture at the UMCN was titled: 'Does a rat have a Buddha nature?'
She is also fascinated by the opportunities Zen has to offer with respect to a deepening and improvement of the quality of life and work. Partly triggered by Zen, her research now focusses on the development and implementation of systematic reviews as their introduction will lead to higher-quality science, improved patient safety, increased wellbeing of laboratory animals and the implementation of 3R. 

Ben Scheres
Ben Scheres is Professor Molecular Genetics at the University of Utrecht, KNAW member and Spinoza laureate. He works on molecular mechanisms of pattern formation in development biology: how can the genetic code in a single cel lead to a complete organism? In his research, he combines  experimental techniques from molecular biology and genetics with theoretical research into emergent characteristics that may arise from molecular and cellular networks. In the eighties, he developed a strong interest in the functioning of the meditating brain and started to actively practice Zen meditation with various teachers. In the late nineties he became a student of Nico Tydeman Sensei.

Matthijs Schouten
Matthijs Schouten studied biology, Celtic language and literature, comparative theological studies and eastern philosophy. He is Strategic Consultant with Staatsbosbeheer, the National organisation for Conservation and Management of Forests and nature in the Netherlands, Professor Restoration Ecology at the Wageningen University en Extraordinary Professor Nature and Landscape Conservation at the Universities of Cork and Galway (Ireland). Furthermore, he is a meditation teacher in the Theravada tradition (the Birmese tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin).
 
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