Russian Scientists Embark on Expedition to Tibetan Monasteries

Joint Research with Tantric Meditation Practitioners

A groundbreaking research expedition has commenced, bringing together Russian scientists and Tibetan monasteries in South India. This expedition marks the first comprehensive study of tantric meditation practitioners at Gyudmed monastery in the Hunsur Rabgyeling Tibetan settlement, Karnataka.

The collaboration between Save Tibet Foundation and Gyudmed Tantric Monastery has fostered a productive partnership. The research, led by renowned academic Svyatoslav Medvedev, will further enrich this collaboration. The monastery’s administration, guided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s blessings, has extended unwavering support for this endeavor, recognizing its profound significance for humanity.

“We are deeply grateful for the monastery’s willingness to collaborate,” said Alexander Kaplan, a member of the Russian research team. “Tantric meditation holds invaluable knowledge that experienced practitioners often guard closely. This knowledge is crucial for scientific inquiry and will undoubtedly contribute to our understanding of subtle states of consciousness.”

Expansion in Mundgod and Beyond

The expedition’s second stage unfolds in Mundgod, home to prominent monasteries such as Drepung Gomang, Drepung Loseling, Gaden Jangtse, and Gaden Shartse. Last December, a joint laboratory was established within these four monasteries as part of a comprehensive research project exploring altered states of consciousness and tukdam.

A network of collaborative laboratories has been established in Tibetan monasteries of South India, providing a platform for Western scientists and Buddhist scholars to collaborate. Professor Medvedev, a leading researcher in human cognition, emphasizes the necessity of uniting efforts to address the complexities of consciousness, a challenge that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Plans are underway to establish an additional laboratory in North India, encompassing monasteries of diverse traditions.

Historical Dialogue and Future Collaboration

In December 2019, His Holiness the Dalai Lama engaged in a dialogue with Russian scientists, monastic researchers, and monastery abbots. During this two-hour meeting, preliminary research findings were discussed, and the scientists sought valuable insights and guidance from the Dalai Lama.

This dialogue extends a rich history of collaboration between Buddhist scholars and Western scientists in neuroscience, psychology, and physics. Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Honorary Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia, Mongolia, and CIS countries, remarked on the transformative power of this dialogue, highlighting the breakthroughs in human knowledge and the potential for future generations to harmonize Eastern and Western traditions.

Project Highlights and Future Prospects

This joint scientific endeavor, initiated in January 2019 with the support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has seen three successful expeditions to South Indian monasteries. Over 80 practitioners have been examined during various meditation practices.

Monastic researchers are undergoing training at laboratories in Bylakuppe and Mundgod, with the goal of independently conducting experiments by the end of 2020. This initiative fosters a new generation of scholars equipped to explore the profound mysteries of human consciousness and the nature of reality.