Is Reincarnation Real? | Part 4 of The Dalai Lama's Guide to Happiness
This episode delves into the Dalai Lama's profound belief in reincarnation and its connection to compassion, featuring neuroscientist Richie Davidson who discusses the scientific perspectives on neuroplasticity and epigenetics. It also explores the deep emotional impact the Dalai Lama has on people.
Deep Dive Analysis
12 Topic Outline
Emotional Reactions to the Dalai Lama's Presence
The Dalai Lama as an Embodiment of Compassion
Connecting Compassion with the Concept of Rebirth
The Dalai Lama's View on Avalokiteshvara and His Lifespan
Scientific Perspective on Reincarnation Research
Intertwining Compassion, Rebirth, and Epigenetics
Defining Buddhahood and Buddha Nature
Achievability of Buddhahood and Evidence for Buddha Nature
The Dalai Lama's 'See You Again' and Personal Reflections
Dan's Shifting Perspective on Rebirth
Reflecting on Unlikely Connections and Shared Experiences
Preview of the Dalai Lama's Meditation Practice
6 Key Concepts
Neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to change and adapt throughout an individual's life, even past their mid-20s. This concept implies that the brain and mind can be trained and altered through practices like meditation.
Avalokiteshvara
A highly revered Buddhist deity who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas and is considered the patron saint of Tibet. The Dalai Lama views this deity as his 'boss' and believes he was born under its guidance.
Respectful Not-Knowing
A stance cultivated by Richie Davidson, characterized by humility and an avoidance of immediate interpretation or dismissal of concepts like reincarnation, even when they fall outside mainstream scientific understanding.
Epigenetics
The scientific study of how genes are regulated and expressed, which can be influenced by certain meditation practices, including compassion, and potentially passed down for at least a few generations, impacting future offspring.
Buddhahood
Described as a state of permanent happiness and fundamental contentedness, representing the ultimate goal for Buddhists. It signifies a deep serenity and an unflappable state of mind, regardless of external circumstances.
Buddha Nature
The universal, inherent potential within all human beings for basic goodness, altruism, and pro-social behavior. It is akin to a biological capacity for language, meaning it is present at birth but requires cultivation to be fully realized.
7 Questions Answered
The Dalai Lama considers Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of compassion, to be his 'boss' and believes he was born on this planet under its guidance.
While research exists, particularly from the University of Virginia on children's past life memories, it faces significant methodological challenges and has not been accepted into mainstream science.
Reincarnation provides a 'long view' that fosters patience for self-cultivation, and cultivating compassion in this lifetime can epigenetically benefit future generations in a biological, mechanistic way.
The Dalai Lama believes the purpose of life is to be happy, with the ultimate aim for Buddhists being to reach Buddhahood, which signifies a state of permanent happiness.
Richie Davidson believes it is achievable, citing living exemplars he has met who are unflappable, though he acknowledges it is not commonly achieved by ordinary people.
Buddha nature is the common aspiration for happiness and an inherent propensity for altruism, basic goodness, and pro-social behavior in all humans, evidenced by research on infants. It is a capacity that needs cultivation to be realized, similar to language.
This phrase, spoken during a comforting moment, suggests a profound connection and the idea of reuniting with others in future lives until the ultimate goal of Buddhahood is achieved, offering a sense of comfort and continuity.
14 Actionable Insights
1. Train Your Brain & Mind
Actively train your brain and mind, as neuroplasticity demonstrates that the brain can change throughout life, allowing for continuous personal development.
2. Cultivate Compassion & Warm-Heartedness
Actively cultivate and express compassion and warm-heartedness, as it is a core human capacity wired into us via evolution that can profoundly impact others and enable species survival.
3. Focus on Present Compassion
Concentrate on cultivating compassion in your current life rather than worrying about past or future lives, as this offers significant and immediate benefits.
4. Strive for Permanent Happiness
Aim for “permanent happiness” or “Buddhahood,” which involves cultivating a fundamental contentment and serenity that allows you to feel okay regardless of external circumstances.
5. Nurture Your Buddha Nature
Actively cultivate your inherent “Buddha nature” by nurturing your natural propensity for happiness, altruism, basic goodness, and pro-social behavior, as it needs cultivation to be realized.
6. Adopt a Long-View Perspective
Cultivate patience with yourself by adopting a “long view” on personal development, recognizing that not everything needs to be achieved in a single lifetime.
7. Practice Compassion for Epigenetic Benefit
Engage in compassion meditation practices to positively alter your epigenetics, as scientific research shows this can benefit future generations biologically.
8. Cultivate Respectful Not-Knowing
Develop “respectful not-knowing and humility” when encountering concepts beyond mainstream understanding, avoiding knee-jerk dismissals and allowing for uncertainty.
9. Let Profound Comments Sit
When receiving profound or ambiguous comments, resist immediate interpretation; instead, let them sit and avoid concretizing them in a literal way.
10. Share Profound Experiences Promptly
Immediately share profound or deeply moving experiences with others to help preserve the feeling before it fades.
11. Embrace the Magic of Existence
Cultivate a sense of wonder and appreciate the “magic” of existence by reflecting on the vast, improbable chain of events that led to the present moment, even without believing in the unprovable.
12. Rest in Uncertainty, Appreciate Rarity
When experiencing rare and powerful encounters, rest in the uncertainty of their meaning while cultivating deep humility and appreciation for the unique opportunity.
13. Cultivate a Calm Presence
Strive to cultivate a calm, smiling, and utterly at-ease presence, as demonstrated by the Dalai Lama, which can profoundly impact those around you.
14. Use 10% Happier Meditation App
Download and use the “10% with Dan Harris” app to access guided meditations for stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, and self-compassion, and to engage with a community and teachers.
5 Key Quotes
I just wanted to talk about it before the feeling fades.
Tommy
Truly, I consider that deity as my boss.
The Dalai Lama
At present, my life is quite useful. So, I'm hoping my life, 110 years. So, another 15, 20 years.
The Dalai Lama
I've heard the Dalai Lama say on many occasions that reincarnation is Buddhist business and there is so much benefit from cultivating compassion in this life and not worrying about any past life or any future life.
Richie Davidson
See you again. See you again. Life after life till Buddhahood. See you again. See you again.
The Dalai Lama