The Monk and the Philosopher: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life

Jean Francois-Revel a pillar of French intellectual life in our time became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. Twenty-seven years ago his son Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism -- not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters.Meeting in an inn overlooking Katmandu these two profoundly thoughtful men explored the questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history. Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? What is the value of scientific and material progress? Why is there suffering war and hatred? Their conversation is not merely abstract: they ask each other questions about ethics rights and responsibilities about knowledge and belief and they discuss frankly the differences in the way each has tried to make sense of his life.Utterly absorbing inspiring and accessible this remarkable dialogue engages East with West ideas with life and science with the humanities providing wisdom on how to enrich the way we live our lives. Review The wonderful thing about this book is that it shows how fruitful open-hearted dialogue can be. Although these two men have pursued their humane concerns and their quest for knowledge by different means I believe they both reveal that its not so important whether life has meaning but whether we give meaning to the life we live. -- His Holiness The Dalai LamaThe Monk and the Philosopher is an intellectual banquet -- an enlightening and lively encounter that explores man-kinds most profound questions. -- Daniel Goleman author ofEmotional Intelligence From the Inside Flap Jean Francois-Revel a pillar of French intellectual life in our time became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. Twenty-seven years ago his son Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism -- not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters.Meeting in an inn overlooking Katmandu these two profoundly thoughtful men explored the questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history. Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? What is the value of scientific and material progress? Why is there suffering war and hatred? Their conversation is not merely abstract: they ask each other questions about ethics rights and responsibilities about knowledge and belief and they discuss frankly the differences in the way each has tried to make sense of his life.Utterly absorbing inspiring and accessible this remarkable dialogue engages East with West ideas with life and science with the humanities providing wisdom on how to enrich the way we live our lives. From the Back Cover Jean Francois-Revel a pillar of French intellectual life in our time became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. Twenty-seven years ago his son Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism -- not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters.Meeting in an inn overlooking Katmandu these two profoundly thoughtful men explored the questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history. Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? What is the value of scientific and material progress? Why is there suffering war and hatred? Their conversation is not merely abstract: they ask each other questions about ethics rights and responsibilities about knowledge and belief and they discuss frankly the differences in the way each has tried to make sense of his life.Utterly absorbing inspiring and accessible this remarkable dialogue engages East with West ideas with li