Buddhism and Science

Dongguk Summer SchoolBuddhism and ScienceBackground: The Western Spiritual CrisisSpiritual crisis as science (geology, biology, astronomy) challenges the authority of religion:Copernican Revolution, GalileoDarwin and EvolutionFreud, religion an illusionKarl Marx (the opium of the people)Nietzsche (God is dead)

The Discovery of BuddhismBuddhism seemed unlike Western religionBetween Buddhism and modern science there exists a close intellectual bond (Sir Edwin Arnold, The Light of Asia, 1879)Can Buddhism heal the split between Religion and Science?1893 Parliament of the Worlds Religion, ChicagoPaul Carus, Open Court Press invites Buddhist missionaries to the USAAnagarika DharmapalaSwami VivekanandaSoyen ShakuD.T. SuzukiScientific BuddhismScienceReligionModern reformers presented Buddhism as in harmony with science and free of superstition and dogmaDoes not depend on the existence of GodNo faith, dogma, or revelationDharma = Natural Law, similar to scientific laws Karma compatible with evolution as the cyclical unfolding of events governed by the law of cause and effectAnagarika Dharmapala: the theory of evolution was one of the ancient teachings of the Buddha

A religion of self-help, no faith requiredHigh moral ideals and ethical teachingsModerate and pacifistParallels between Buddha and JesusBuddha like LutherDifferent rivers leading to the same sea

Changing views of scienceTwo World Wars involving weapons of mass destruction Kurt Vonnegut We took scientific truth and dropped it on the people of HiroshimaD.T. Suzuki (Japanese) changed his view of Buddhism and science: "I now think that a religion based solely on science is not enough. There are certain 'mythological' elements in every one of us, which cannot be altogether lost in favor of science. (1959)Ven. Hsuan Hua: Science absolutely cannot bring true and ultimate happiness to people, neither spiritually nor materiallyScience + human ignorance = disaster

Science: the dark side

Science in a Postmodern WorldDoubts about scientific truth and authorityNew physics: Heisenberg, doubts about objectivity and the nature of time and spaceKuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) paradigm shifts Perhaps reality best comprehended through religious/spiritual/mystical modes of understanding

Quantum Physics

The God particle (Higgs Boson)Ricard, Matthieu, and Trinh Xuan Thuan, The Quantum and the Lotus: A Journey to the Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet (2004).Dalai Lama, The New Physics and Cosmology: Dialogues with the Dalai Lama (2004)Lopez, Donald S., Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed (2008)Some schools seem to deny the reality of an external worldMadhymakaYogacara

Concepts of relativity/emptiness8Indras Digital Net?Ray Kurzweil - director of engineering at Google - claims that by 2045 humans will be able to upload their entire minds to computers and become digitally immortal - an event called singularity.

NeuroscienceIndras Net and Neural networks?Buddhist teachings emphasize the role of the mind in shaping our realityImportance of meditationNeuroplasticity

10PsychologyJon Kabat-ZinnUniversity of Massachussets Medical SchoolMindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)Stress, anxiety, pain, illness

ConclusionScience and Buddhism both share goal of seeing things as they really areSimilarities: in Psychology and CosmologyDifference: In Buddhism knowledge is grounded in ethical valuesGoal is an ethical vision free from greed, hatred and delusion and inspired by wisdom and compassionBuddhism and science share only superficial similarities