Scientists Bridle at Lecture Plan for Dalai Lama [NY Times]

[Moonbear]

Well, I asked the folks who returned from the conference today. They were fairly disappointed with the talk...okay, they were VERY disappointed with the talk. It was neither about neuroscience nor meditation, nor much of anything anyone predicted. He apparently just rambled on for a while about the first time he opened a physiology textbook and saw how difficult it was, and telling all these stories of growing up, and if he had it to do over, he'd be a scientist. Of course, he did this all through a translator. Apparently he'd mumble a bit, and the translator would talk on for 5 minutes, or the Dalai Lama would talk for 5 min, and the translator would say two words. They suspected the translator was making it up as he went along. One student reported in an astonished tone, "He didn't prepare his talk! That's rude!" So, controversy closed, nothing much to report, everyone would have been better off using the hour to go get dinner (but the room was packed, so it seems those 500 were in the vast minority compared to those interested in hearing the talk).

 

[Highlander]

I wouldn't expect everyone to have a same opinion on his talk as people vary but yes, it's unfortunate for those who didn't enjoy it. I checked and we could buy the video but I'd love to find a free video clip for it. About his translator, if he's making up stuffs, wouldn't the Dalai Lama know because he does speak English quite well.

 

[Moonbear]

I wouldn't expect everyone to have a same opinion on his talk as people vary but yes, it's unfortunate for those who didn't enjoy it. I checked and we could buy the video but I'd love to find a free video clip for it. About his translator, if he's making up stuffs, wouldn't the Dalai Lama know because he does speak English quite well.

If the Dalai Lama speaks English well, why was he using a translator?

 

[Highlander]

If the Dalai Lama speaks English well, why was he using a translator?

For such audience of scientists, having his translator speak seems rather more effective than going by his "quite well" English in which, he tends to ask for that certain word he has a difficulty coming up with.

 

[Moonbear]

For such audience of scientists, having his translator speak seems rather more effective than going by his "quite well" English in which, he tends to ask for that certain word he has a difficulty coming up with.

I guess that gets back to the one student's dismay that "he didn't prepare his talk." If he planned his talk ahead, he would know what word would come next. Nobody would have objected if he had to read parts of the talk to help him with the English. This is a society with international membership, so it's not at all unusual that people present who struggle with English. They just ensure they've practiced sufficiently and bring along notes if needed to know what words to use when. They got the impression he just rambled on without any forethought to where he was going with his talk.