Templeton TEDTalk (Part One)

2024 Templeton Annual Meeting in Dublin, Ireland 

Science and technology have transformed nearly every aspect of human life, ushering in a new era of progress and prosperity. Medical advances bring about cures for previously fatal diseases, enhancing the quality of life for millions. Our communication devices enable instantaneous global connection and renewable energy is reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Education is more accessible, expanding opportunities for lifelong learning.

Despite this extraordinary progress, we continue to grapple with seemingly intractable crises. Climate change poses an existential threat. Socio-economic disparities and geopolitical tensions fuel social unrest and perpetuate violence. Burnout is pervasive in the workplace and incivility has crept into our daily interactions. And despite the ease of technological connectivity, people of all ages are struggling with feelings of loneliness.  While we can put humans on the moon, too many families still can’t put food on their tables.

We are at a crossroads.

In this age of rapid advancement, the same tools that support humanity’s flourishing can also cause its destruction. Nuclear technology has transformed medical imaging, allowing for more accurate diagnoses of conditions like cancer and heart disease, yet it is still being used to create arsenals that threaten humanity’s very existence.

How do we tip the scale to ensure that humanity can both survive and thrive?

The solution, I believe, lies in what His Holiness the Dalai Lama calls “a compassion revolution,” a revolution rooted in warm-heartedness and emerging from the convergence of science and spirituality. As recognized by his Templeton Prize, His Holiness has been a powerful advocate for religion’s engagement with science.

He calls for nothing less than a complete paradigm shift, urging us to harness the power of compassion, to leverage basic human values in the service of a more peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive world.

It has been my privilege, for the greater part of my life, to hear these insights directly from His Holiness and to play an integral role in carrying his vision forward. Born in a remote region of the Himalayas, as a teenager I was selected to study Buddhist philosophy under the guidance of His Holiness. And while you might not guess it from my wedding ring and sport coat, I was a Buddhist monk for 27 years.

After completing my advanced degree in Buddhist philosophy, at His Holiness’s advice, I pursued interdisciplinary studies at Emory University. My dissertation and subsequent research have examined the nature of mind and emotions and their impact on physical and mental health from various scientific perspectives.  I’ve also had the honor of facilitating an academic affiliation between His Holiness and Emory, a relationship based on a shared vision for the education of heart and mind.

This bridging of two worlds for one humanity led to the creation of the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics where I direct the development and implementation of educational programs that integrate the timeless wisdom from the contemplative traditions with the emerging insights of modern science. The result is ​an evidence-based approach to training and sustaining compassion.