Science and Religion

The 14th Dalai Lama is on tour in Holland and Germany ... technology enables world-wide livestreaming and the chance to learn more about the state of AI and robotics ... prosthetic arms apparently activated by the brain of the girl wearing them ... an elegant head and shoulders activated by its remote human who finds it difficult to attend school, let alone conferences in the Netherlands. .. echoing Max Tegmark's remarks about focusing on beneficial AI, whilst guarding against the dark side ... good luck with that folks!

These scientific symposia willingly offer a platform to HHDL, who insists that his version of Buddhism follows logic above Faith ... making it less a religion than a school of philosophy ... however, philosophy bowing to science is fine as long as science also bows to philosophy and accepts the limitations of its methods ... expressed by Krishnamurti and Bohm as "The Limits of Thought" ... and as fast as science expands its knowledge, so it discovers more that it does not know ... the distinction between knowledge and wisdom also worth exploring ...

An interesting question from Jade, at home in bed, via her avatar head, with moving eyes, compassionately engaged with by HHDL, asks whether future Dalai Lamas could be female, elicits an even more interesting response: yes, there is no reason the job could not be held by a female, though the continuation of the tradition itself is provisional ... the suggestion being that the form may no longer be appropriate ... all this allowing reincarnation as a given, which is not commonly the case in the West ...

This question rehearsed also with ailing friend, coming to terms with various versions of life after bodily death ... evidence for reincarnation quite strong anecdotally though lacking rigorous scientific approval ... the sense here being that it is a thing, glimpsed on the sea voyage at Zambujeira do Mar. .. anyway, whether or not it is a thing is hardly the key question, sensing it is leads to a happy old age ... if it turns out to be wrong, so what? And karma keeps us on our toes in this life, though kindness brings its own rewards immediately and leading a good life not best seen as an insurance policy for next time round ...

Yesterday's brisk breezes delay rooftop power station and provide plenty of firewood around the region ... local farmer reports more than half of silage crop blown away before baling, at an uninsured cost of £1,500 ... roads blocked briefly ... today calm restored and work continues ...

Meanwhile October dental work in Tavira confirmed, meaning sunny break ... mental work open with Camino options. .. new shoes and waterproof ready ... let's see!