Honorary Doctorate

The Dalai Lama, in Indian exile living spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people, will become honorary doctor at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU). The honorary doctorate will be awarded in natural science by the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy of the WWU. This is the first honorary doctor for the Dalai Lama from a German university.

With this rarely awarded honor, the university pays tribute to the extraordinary merits of the Dalai Lama in the dialogue between religion and science, especially natural science. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Galla, a biochemist at the WWU, points out  the engagement of the Dalai Lama for world peace, non-violence and harmony between different religions which were already honored with the Nobel Prize for Peace and various other prizes and worldwide honors. His main contribution for being awarded an honorary doctorate in natural science, however, was, according to Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Galla, his recognition of scientific knowledge and methodology in his religion: “It was the Dalai Lama, who deviated for the first time through his new interpretation of writings from dogmatic Buddhistic teachings, and who demanded that there has to exist, also in a religion, the willingness to abandon long fostered views, if conclusive empirical evidence proves another model.”

The Theologian and Church Historian from Münster, Prof. Dr. Hubert Wolf, came to the conclusion that the Dalai Lama as an important religious leader had recognized the autonomy of scientific knowledge in an absolute unique way. “He stands for dialogue, humanity, tolerance, peace and reconciliation – not least because of his combination of a deep religious belief and spiritual-meditative credo with scientific insights. The Dalai Lama dissolves with his person the inner conflict of a whole generation between religous faith and scientific knowledge. By this means, he is a sign of hope in a world which is in urgent need for such senses in all areas.”

The Dalai Lama maintains already for many years close personal encounters with scientists, particularly to natural scientists from all over the world. Among them is the chemist Prof. Dr. Jan Andersson at the University of Münster. The Dalai  Lama has set himself to find common grounds between natural science and religion, especially the Tibetan Buddhism. A rather crucial part of these similarities is an undogmatic and open mind, which allows – and even more so demands - a critical questioning and reconsideration of facts and coherences. However, within this dialogue between religion and science the Dalai Lama also asks for an openness for external ideas beyond the scientists' own horizon, above all an ethical awareness of the consequences of one´s acting.

With this basic conviction in mind, the Dalai Lama supports the introduction of scientific subjects within the education at Buddhistic monasteries. The Dalai Lama organizes every two years scientific conferences in his Indian exile in Dharamsala. These meetings are entitled “Mind and Life” conferences, and he regularly has intensive discussions with scientists, physicians and other researchers. The first conference had already taken place in 1987, two years before he received the Noble Price for Peace. His book The Universe in a Single Atom is a remarkable and unique monograph, written by a religious leader, which tries "to examine two important human disciplines for the purpose of developing a more holistic and integrated way of understanding the world around us". The book encompasses topics such as quantum theory and astrophysics, evolution, neurosciences and human consciousness.

His enduring efforts to introduce scientific education in Buddhistic monasteries, to motivate scientists to think beyond borders, in combination with a deep belief in scientific methodology, has persuaded the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy of the University of Münster to honor His Holiness, the 14. Dalai Lama, with the Doctor Honoris Causa in Natural Sciences. The ceremony will take place on 20. September 2007 at Münster with invited guests.