Just because science has not proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that soul departs body upon death doesn't mean afterlife isn't a possibility.

Just because science has not proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ireland is populated with leprechauns doesn't mean leprechauns don't exist.

Just because science has not proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is a factory in the North Pole where toys are made and someone delivers them to children the night before Chrismass doesn't mean Santa Claus doesn't exist.

Whether Dalai Lama knows it or not, science can never prove a negative. Not only can science not demonstrate "certain claims in Buddhism" are false, it cannot demonstrate the claim "God exists" is false; the claim "ghosts exist" is false; the claim "Santa Claus exists" is false; the claim "angels exist" is false; ....

Dalai Lama's "proof" of reincarnation is the classic argument for the existence of non-material entities. Here are other examples:

[glorification] ... if scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims (page 3).

[limitation of science] There is more to human existence and to reality itself than current science can ever give us access to. (page 13)

["proof" of reincarnation] ... just because science has not proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that beings take rebirth doesn't mean reincarnation isn't possible. (page 36)

Dalai Lama has commented profusely on science from a Buddhist perspective. Many scientists with an affinity to Eastern mysticism have been attracted to him and have prodded him in his attempt at connecting science to Buddhism. In his book, The Universe in a Single Atom, he argues for the unity of science and spirituality, however, like Eddington, he emphasizes the limitation of science in favor of the universality of spirituality: