“I have often wondered about the relationship between fundamental Buddhist concepts and significant scientific ideas. This book is the result of a long period of contemplation and the intellectual journey of a Buddhist monk from Tibet into the world of particle accelerators, brain imaging machines, and bubble chambers.

Since the advent of modern science, humanity has viewed spirituality and science as two sources of knowledge and well-being. Sometimes their relationship is very close, like two friends, while at other times it has been cold. Today, in the early decades of the twenty-first century, science and spirituality have the potential to come closer than ever and to embark on a collaborative effort to help humanity face the challenges ahead. We are all in this together.

May each of us, as a member of the human family, respond to the moral responsibility to make this cooperation possible. This is my heartfelt wish.” With disarming honesty, humility, and respect, the Dalai Lama explores the relationship between religion and science and proposes a way in which they can enhance their understanding of each other. By contrasting Buddhist teachings with the discoveries of modern physics and biology, he addresses topics such as the origin of the universe, the nature of human consciousness, the evolution of species, and genetic engineering with profound spirituality.