AboutAlex Wilding Expertise I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life.
I am also available to provide background information for journalists.
Experience I have been a practitioner since the early 1970s; have run a small Buddhist centre in the English Midlands and was vice-president of Kagyu Benchen Ling e.V. in Germany, for whom I managed three large Buddhist summer-camps. More importantly, I maintain a habit of personal practice.
I am the "owner" of the Kagyu list at Yahoo.
Education/Credentials My first degree was an M.A. from Oxford. I later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree for a research thesis in "Initiation in Tibetan Buddhism" from Leicester University. I also have engineering and educational qualifications.
Question Hi, I've been reading the Dalia Lama "Healing and Anger" and he points out that reincarnation can be proven by the fact that non material things cannot be produced by a material source, hence, reincarnation. However, non material aspects are produced by a material source every day. Dreams,memories, thoughts, are all produced by the brain-a material source. Please explain.
Answer Dear Marc,
You are raising questions to which I believe there are answers, but not necessarily answers of a logical sort.
First, you assert that dreams, memories and thoughts are produced by the brain. There is indeed plenty of evidence that the brain plays a huge part in conditioning our consciousness. But does it "produce" it? That is not so clear.
My own view on this is that HHDL's point is a very important one, but it will only make sense to us if we take a look at our own consciousness and see what it is like in essence, as opposed merely to its contents. *That*, I think, is what could not conceivably have a material source.
But if someone doesn't see that, they won't necessarily agree, and there is not a lot much more to say about it - you see it or you don't.
So this comes back to the old advice, familiar to Buddhists - look into the unobstructed essence of your mind. Keep looking.
I hope that helps a bit.
