A talk and discussion on Buddho-Darwinism

Nick has always admired Charles Darwin and such luminaries as they arose - as Richard Dawkins and Brian Cox - who explain to lay people the complex universe in simplistic terms. But something always still bothered him. "What if there is something else?" Other religions had tenets he could not support, (e,g, creationism and the caste system). Then in 1977, when even he had lost respect for himself, his life having amounted to almost nothing by age 22, he experienced something he describes as "Being touched by Buddha", laughing in another dimension of consciousness until water was thrown over his face, bringing him back but at the same time releasing a feeling of instant compassion. He has no idea why it would happen to him other than he was the least likely person for it to happen to. This talk will discuss all this and much of what has happened since. For centuries Buddhism has created extremely beautiful art, the talk will also look at the ways it can now make beautiful contributions to science, especially in the exercise of compassion and caution where consumerism is rife. (It is not essential but may help to read the Cover Story article in the very reputable New Scientist of 2/4/2022 entitled "Consciousness in the Cosmos"