tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post7508593163884746052..comments2024-03-18T16:28:06.364+07:00Comments on Buddha Space: Buddha & Science: Religion Becomes ScienceGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-71349610060285808532009-04-12T16:56:00.000+07:002009-04-12T16:56:00.000+07:00Glad you think the topics are challenging, Kris. :...Glad you think the topics are challenging, Kris. :-)<BR/><BR/>Encouraging reflection in reader & writer is the whole point of 'Buddha Space.' It's an ongoing fascination with the Buddhadharma that inspires the subject matter here. That's what was meant previously when I wrote that I don't believe everything that I post here - it's kinda thinking aloud and exploring the issues with your help. No input from the readership & this blog would lose a lot of momentum - so please keep coming up with your reflections everyone. The blog is enriched by your views - especially when they differ to G's!<BR/><BR/>Yes, Kris, from the viewpoint of personal practice, it's crucial that we find out for ourselves whether the teachings work or not. Important that you remind us of this, Kris. <BR/><BR/>At the same time, from the broader perspective of society at large, as well as the Buddhist community as a whole, the present confirmation of the efficacy of Buddhist practice is an important development in Buddhism. Just as Buddhism has adapted & changed to reach different cultures & time periods - Theravada, Zen, Tibetan, Pure Land, Nichiren, etc - so a scientific Buddhism seems to be in the early stages of development. This can be of great benefit to the continued spread of Buddhism to the West and the enlightenment of human kind as a whole. <BR/><BR/>If science denied the efficacy of meditation, Kris, but those of us that practice it continue to partake of its fruits, then we should persevere, for sure. Finding the balance - the Middle Way - between subjective & objective confirmation of the Dharma is a useful approach to this situation, perhaps. But, ultimately, it is for each & every one of us to see for ourselves - no scientist is going to awaken us with a paper on the Noble Eightfold Path. As the Buddha is supposed to have said, we must all "Walk on!"<BR/><BR/>Be well, Kris.<BR/>GGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-80714627157024275632009-04-11T23:51:00.000+07:002009-04-11T23:51:00.000+07:00Hi G – Well, you're giving your readers some prett...Hi G – Well, you're giving your readers some pretty challenging topics here! Excellent!<BR/><BR/>Ok, on to Science and Buddhism. I'm not looking to science to verify the Buddha's teachings. I have to do that myself. Each of one of us does. That's how I see it anyway. Not to dismiss science in any way. For Buddhists who actually practice, it is truly a scientific experiment, and there are many parallels and overlaps between the science of purifying the mind and “science” as it is generally understood. <BR/><BR/>If we take meditation, for example. It's my understanding that that's where the big news of discoveries is coming from these days. There are changes in the brains of long time meditators and there are medical and psychological benefits. That's very interesting and confirms, in part, what long time serious meditators have always known. On the flip side, if science determined that their early findings were flawed in some way, and they discovered that, after further study, there appeared to be little or no benefit, then what? Do we abandon what we know from experience because it has been proved to be invalid? <BR/><BR/>I found a teaching from Ajahn Thanissaro that you may find interesting. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/faithinawakening.html<BR/><BR/>Krisputhujjanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767050544162621007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-68207654023067816852009-04-10T09:37:00.000+07:002009-04-10T09:37:00.000+07:00Agreed, Handsome.The present medical & scienti...Agreed, Handsome.<BR/><BR/>The present medical & scientific explorations of meditation & its benefits are prime examples of this dialogue between Buddhism & science. I like your description of energy and its similarities to rebirth. <BR/><BR/>Be well in the Dharma,<BR/>G.<BR/><BR/>P.S. Your photo is really...handsome! :-)Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-57516121236641623922009-04-10T00:48:00.000+07:002009-04-10T00:48:00.000+07:00Great post. I think science will eventually come t...Great post. I think science will eventually come to accept rebirth as it does in a way already. <BR/><BR/>The scientific principle that energy never disappears but simply changes form is basically rebirth on a molecular level. So since everything is made up of various configurations of molecules it makes sense.<BR/><BR/>I liked when you said this: <BR/><BR/><I>but in truth, it is the search for truth that lies at the core of all true religion and all true science.</I><BR/><BR/>So true and I agree with the Dalai Lama who says that if science clearly proves something in Buddhism inaccurate that Buddhism must adapt.<BR/><BR/>And vice-versa--it science revels something in Buddhism that is proven scientifically then they must adapt as well. Such as seeing the medical benefits of meditation.Handsome B. Wonderfulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11524517496880481239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-77352708696698643882009-04-09T09:56:00.000+07:002009-04-09T09:56:00.000+07:00Thanks, Justin.Additionally, we might add that whe...Thanks, Justin.<BR/><BR/>Additionally, we might add that where science proves Buddhism to be inaccurate in its descriptions of truth, the latter will have the wisdom to adapt - as it has done throughout its long history. I wrote 'descriptions' with an 's' deliberately, for it is a fallacy to believe that all forms of Buddhism teach exactly the same things regarding the nature of existence. This diversity has been a strength, allowing Buddhism to adapt & change to the cultures that it has encountered. No doubt, the same is happening now as Buddhism meets with the predominant paradigm of our time - science.<BR/><BR/>Clinging to doctrines, whether they be Buddhist or otherwise, is ultimately a cause of suffering, not wisdom. The whole point of the Buddhist teachings is to enable us to be free of attachments, including attachments to these very same teachings! This is the selflessness of the Buddhadharma, which leads to complete freedom from the delusion of views and the suffering that comes from them.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again, Justin.<BR/>GGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-18198632639444840232009-04-09T09:28:00.000+07:002009-04-09T09:28:00.000+07:00P.A. Payutto seems to be on the right track here. ...P.A. Payutto seems to be on the right track here. The truth is the truth no matter who figures it out and he is very confident that Buddhism represents it and science might someday reach the same conclusions. The best thing that would come from that would be the return of morality to culture at large since most secular science based cultures seem to buy into moral relativism which allows for all sorts of heinous and depraved things. <BR/><BR/>It would be great if science confirmed Buddhism since the world would be a lot better if it did. I enjoyed this one Gary. Be well now.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07062221333467776105noreply@blogger.com