13. Nov 2005
Dalai Lama gives talk on science
(Washington Post) The Dalai Lama addressed an audience of 14,000 people when he told attendees at the 35th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience that society is falling behind in its efforts to make sense of developments in technology. "It is all too evident that our moral thinking simply has not been able to keep pace with such rapid progress in our acquisition of knowledge and power", he said. "I am speaking of what I call 'secular ethics' that embrace the key ethical principles, such as compassion, tolerance, a sense of caring, consideration of others, and the responsible use of knowledge and power - principles that transcend the barriers between religious believers and non-believers, and followers of this religion or that religion", he said. The speech at the Washington Convention Centre had been opposed by some members of the society who objected to a religious leader addressing neuroscientists, who research the brain, emotions and human behavior. Nearly 800 people had signed an online petition demanding that the Dalai Lama's invitation be withdrawn. Many of the petition signers were Chinese Americans, leading to counter-charges that they opposed him on political grounds.