“It is important for the traditions of Western science and Eastern mental development to work together. At some stage, people gained the impression that these two traditions are very different and incompatible. In recent years, however, it has become clear that this is not exactly the case. This kind of dialogue is therefore extremely important, as a means of contributing something to future humanity, by enabling each tradition to benefit from the other. So this is one goal. I also think that it is very important for Buddhists to understand the latest scientific findings concerning the nature of mind, the relationship between mind and brain, and the nature of consciousness, these sorts of things. Whether consciousness does or does not exist as a discrete entity, for example. So I would like to introduce some of these Western explanations to Buddhists in general, and to Tibetan Buddhists in particular.” His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (October, 1987)