Panel on Ethics, Science, and Religion

What: A Conversation about Ethics, Science, and Religion

When: Tuesday, November 1^st | 4 pm – 6 pm

Where: President’s Dining Room | Loder Dining Hall | Live streamed on Instagram

Join the Stead Center, Geshe Lodoe Sangpo, Geshe Thabkhe, and Ani Tenzin Choyang for an intimate panel discussion around the work of these esteemed visiting scholars and the intersectional nature of morality, scientific inquiry, and faith practices.

Ani Tenzin Choyang was born in Tibet but moved to India to study Buddhist philosophy in 2002. Afterward, she enrolled in a Nunnery in South India, where she studied for seventeen years, and was honored with a degree in Rapjampa (the highest degree of nunnery). She’s studied science through various initiatives, including the Emory-Tibet Science Program (ETSI). She also teaches science and modern philosophy.

Geshe Thabkhe is a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Sera Jey Monastery where he is the director for the Department of Modern Education. He teaches physics and philosophy of science and is the principal investigator for a research project that is investigating the impacts of monastic debate and analytical meditation on the brain. He began studying science in 2005, including three years (2010-2013) at Emory University.

Geshe Lodoe Sangpo is a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Gaden Jantse Monastery. He completed his studies in Buddhism and attained the highest degree of Geshe. He graduated from Emory University in 2013 and is currently teaching science and modern philosophy. In addition to his teaching, he is also engaged in scientific research on meditation and has published findings in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals.

These scholars are guests and participants in a joint research initiative between the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University and the Psychology Department at Northwestern University. As part of their research internship, they are learning different research techniques as it relates to neuroscience. They plan to use these techniques to lead scientific research at their monasteries and begin more collaborative research projects alongside secular scientists.