A pure science of mind and
matter
2017-08-07 Daily
Mirror
An objective analysis of
Buddhism and science
Buddhism has been described
by Buddhist Scholar S.N. Goenka as “a pure science of mind and
matter”. He substantiates this on the basis that Buddhism uses
precise, analytical, philosophical and psychological terminology
and reasoning . The Buddha explained the reality of things in terms
of cause and effect. Buddhism is firmly founded on the principle
that effects arise from causation. The existence of misery and
suffering in any given individual is due to the presence of
causes.
Buddhism is undoubtedly the
most profound and wholesome educational path available to mankind.
It explains the true nature of life and the universe. In the
Buddhist doctrine “life” refers to ourselves and the “universe”
refers to the environment in which we live. Buddhism begins with
mindfulness. One has to be mindful of the moment that is now,
connected with what one is doing outside and what one is thinking
and feeling inside. Thus, Buddhism is not only about withdrawal or
detachment from this world but is also about living each moment
meaningfully.
Buddhism is essentially a
teaching for the intelligentsia. It is based on a systematic and
rational analysis of the problems of life and the way to their
solution. The Buddha emphatically admonished everyone to “come and
see”; not to “come and believe”. Buddhism does not rely on blind
faith. On the contrary one is encouraged to probe and verify
personally what the Buddha preached.
Buddhism is undoubtedly the
most profound and wholesome educational path available to mankind.
It explains the true nature of life and the universe. In the
Buddhist doctrine “life” refers to ourselves and the “universe”
refers to the environment in which we live.
Buddhism has totally
rejected belief by faith while encouraging personal conviction by
investigation. Buddhism stands out singularly alone as the only
system of thought that can be accepted by strict rationalization
and comparison with already known phenomena. Every other religious
system can be scientifically and rationally doubted. Buddhism is
unique as in that not a single facet of its teaching can be
disproved or even rationally doubted. On an intellectual basis,
Buddhism has only one real contender to convince and that is the
materialist. One does not need Buddhism to obviate the sparse
rationalism of most religious systems. In fact most religions other
than Buddhism are engaged in a desperate and pathetic struggle to
keep up with the concepts of modern Science; so much so that with
every new scientific discovery they have to adjust their sequence
of thought and at times even the dogma.
Buddhism today is a hot
topic in the science and religion dialogue. There is a basic
understanding between Buddhist scholars and eminent scientists
regarding the compatibility of Buddhism and science. The case is
made that the philosophical and psychological teachings contained
in Buddhism share commonalities with modern scientific and
philosophical thought. For example Buddhism encourages the
impartial investigation of nature or Dhamma Vicaya; the principal
object of such study being oneself. In fact some popular
conceptions of Buddhism connect it to discourses regarding
evolution, quantum theory and cosmology. Moreover, Buddhism has
been described as rational and non – dogmatic. There is ample
evidence to prove that it has been so from the earliest period of
history. Among the common philosophical principles shared between
Buddhism and science are causality, empiricism and suspicion of
absolutes.
Great scientist Albert
Einstein has spelt out the common thread that binds Buddhism and
science as follows. “The religion of the future will be cosmic
religion. It should transcend a personal god and avoid dogmas and
theology. Covering both the natural and spiritual it should be
based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all
things natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism
answers to this description. If there is any religion that would
cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism”.Likewise,
many scientists have observed similarities between science and
Buddhism. The American physicist Robert Oppenheimer saw in Buddhism
a scientific parallel to the puzzling riddles of modern physics.
Science; The product of
observations and experiments
Science is as old as man.
It is also universal in the sense that the subjects of study, the
methods employed and results obtained have been similar throughout
history and across all civilizations. Science from its humble
beginnings has come a long way. It has been successful in solving
many human problems and making life ever more comfortable. Advances
in medical science and new scientific inventions have contributed
to relieving pain, eradicating disease, lengthening the life span
and also made life healthier and more comfortable. But science up
to date except in a few areas of human activity apparently has been
oblivious to the damaging effect of fuelling the fires of human
greed for more and more comforts and better quality of
life.
Science is an understanding
of matter whereas spiritualism is related to the consciousness of
the individual. Usually we analyse them as separate entities.
However in reality they are interdependent and inalienable parts of
each other.In the west spiritualism is defined as a philosophical
doctrine which perceives all reality as spiritual and not material.
On the other hand science is knowledge gained by the study of the
physical and natural world. The scientific method we use today in
modern science is based on building up a hypothesis using data
obtained through observations and arriving at a conclusion through
experiments.
Science is defined as
systematic observation of natural events and conditions in order to
discover facts about them and to formulate laws and principles
based on these facts. Modern science relies on inductive reasoning
from multiple observations of nature; thus working up from basic
observation or experiment to generalization. However, the entire
body of knowledge generated by scientists is not true. Thus, most
scientists test theories knowing that future evidence may cause
refinement, revision or even rejection of today’s theories that are
held as true.
Experimentation in science
is indispensable for it helps establish causal relationships. It is
said that the ultimate purpose of science is to make sense of human
beings and our nature. Science has discovered that all matter
including human beings consist of particles. Further, it has been
found that matter could be converted to energy and vice versa. Thus
we are nothing but aggregates of energy. More than 2600 years ago
the Buddha said that the “atom” is not the ultimate particle of
matter; but that ultimate of matter exists in the form of energies.
Modern science discovered the same about a three quarter of century
ago. Likewise, there are many aspects of the teachings of the
Buddha which we are unable to comprehend.
Science has not found an
answer to the question why are we here? What is the meaning of
life? May be before long science will find out the origin of life
and the universe. However, science may not be able to solve the
problem of human suffering. Also, science has not found a solution
to the malaise of insatiable greed and acquisitive craving. The
whole world and it’s economy and all policies of governments are
driven by human greed. The Buddha has shown us that the cause of
suffering is greed. Apart from that ignorance of the true nature of
the world keeps human beings in bondage. The Buddha has said that
bondage could be severed by getting rid of
ignorance.
The development of modern
science paved the way for a deep spiritual crisis in the West which
resulted in an irrevocable split between the established the
monotheistic religious faith and scientific reason. Buddhism being
an atheistic philosophy has the ability to bridge the worlds of
matter and spirit estranged due to certain findings of modern
science. Buddhists do understand that objects and individuals are
comprised of an ever changing composite of elements of reality
called “dharmas”. Even though Darwinism met with great resistance
in the West; Buddhists ingrained in the transient nature of things
found no difficulty in accepting that humans evolved from lesser
forms of life. Thus, Buddhism has the potential to satisfy post
Darwinian needs of religious beliefs grounded in new scientific
findings.
Similarities between
science and Buddhism
There are many similarities
between Science and Buddhism. Both agree that there is no creator.
Buddhism rejects accepting things merely on a teacher’s authority.
Buddhism emphasizes personal verification. One of the cardinal
doctrines of Buddhism is that of dependent or conditioned
co-production (patitya samutpada) according to which no being or
event arises without a conditioning factor. One of the principles
on which science operates is universal causation, which means that
all material things are caused. According to Buddhism the cosmos
consists of thousands of spherical worlds (chakkavatas). In each
world system there are thousands of suns, moons, earths etc. This
bears a close resemblance to the modern scientific understanding of
the universe with its galaxies. Science states that matter and
energy can neither be created nor destroyed but only transformed.
Buddhism says the same thing and extends this principle to the
mind.
In Buddhism mind means
awareness of phenomena either conscious or unconscious and
awareness of phenomena can neither be created nor destroyed but
only be transformed. Thus, reincarnation is simply a transformation
in the ongoing continuity of an individual’s awareness of
phenomena, but now with the physical basis of another body. There
are two types of wisdom in Buddhism namely conventional wisdom and
ultimate wisdom. Conventional wisdom relates to the understanding
of the conventional world and how it functions including science.
Ultimate wisdom refers to a direct realization which is non
dualistic and contradicts the way in which we ordinarily perceive
the world. There are two methods available to the human being to
acquire knowledge. They are left brain centred intuition method and
the left brain centred scientific method. The Buddha had used the
intuition method while modern science uses the scientific method.
Buddhism is more consistent
with the scientific method than traditional faith based religion.
Accordingly the Kalama Sutta insists on a proper assessment of
evidence, rather than a reliance on faith, hearsay or speculation.
The general tenor of the Sutta is take no one’s word for it. The
following is a gist of the Kalama Sutta. “ If you have a doubt do
not be led by reports, or tradition or hearsay. Do not be led by
authority of religious texts, not by mere logic or inference, nor
by considering appearances nor by delight in speculative opinions,
nor by seeming possibilities, nor by the idea this is our teacher.
But when you know that certain things are unwholesome (Akusala) and
wrong and bad then give them up. When you know that certain things
are wholesome (Kusala) and good then accept them and follow them”.
Up to about the 1960’s even though the super normal non
materialistic knowledge flourished with one’s spiritual development
described in Buddhism as “Panca Abihinna”; those attainments did
not receive scientific acceptance. However today with the
advancement of Metaphysics and Parapsychology the five Abhinna’s
are now being accepted under the same classification given in
Buddhism but with new names namely (1) Iddhivida nana or magical
powers now called psycho kinesis (11) Dibba Sota Nana or divine ear
now called clairaudience (111) Ceto Pariya Nana or penetration of
mind now called telepathy (1V) Dibba Chakkhu Nana or divine eye now
called clairvoyance and (V) Pubba Nivasanussati nana or remembering
of former existences now called post cognition.
During the 1970’s several
experimental studies suggested that Buddhist meditation could
produce insights into a wide range of psychological states.
Interest in the use of meditation as a means of providing insight
into mind states has recently been revived, following the
availability of brain scanning technologies etc. It is worthy of
note that in recent times Buddhist concepts have made most inroads
into the psychological sciences. Some modern scientific theories
such as Rogerian psychology show strong parallels with Buddhist
thought. Some of the most interesting work on the relationship
between Buddhism and science is being done in the area of
comparison between Yogacara theories regarding the store
consciousness and modern evolutionary biology especially DNA. It
has been scientifically established that there is a co-relationship
between Buddhist meditation and improved quality of life. It has
been substantially proved that meditation thickens the brain
tissues thus increasing attention and sensory processing . Also, it
has been found that Pirith chanting not only has a sobering
influence on the listener but also a beneficial impact on the heart
function.
Buddhism and science can
coexist harmoniously
Science works on the basis
that nature fixes laws. But on the other hand Buddhism strives to
solve the problem of human suffering which arises from both
internal or mental and external or physical conditions, with an
emphasis on human behaviour. At the same time Buddhism sees this as
a natural process. Thus Buddhism has faith in nature as well as
human beings. Science ignores human values; hence it has an
incomplete or faulty view of nature. Science’s search for knowledge
is both inadequate and incomplete because it ignores the internal
nature of man. Science pays little attention to the development of
the human being, whereas Buddhism pins great faith in the human
potential and its full exploitation. Buddhist teachings rely on the
ability of human potential to develop wisdom and realize the truth
of the laws of nature.
In Buddhism, real insight
or right view has the capacity to liberate and bring about peace
and happiness. The findings of science are also typical insight;
for they can be applied in technology as well as in our daily
behaviour to improve the quality of life and happiness. Thus,
Buddhists and scientists can share with each other the ways of
studying and practice and can profit from each one’s insights and
experiences. The practice of mindfulness and concentration always
brings insight. It can help both Buddhists and Scientists. Thus
Buddhism and science can go hand in hand to promote more insight
and bring greater liberation leading to a reduction of
discrimination, separation, fear, anger and despair in the
world.
The trend to link Buddhism
and science has continued unabated so much so that today Buddhism
and science are considered to be rivers leading to the same sea.
Hence, the dire need for greater dialogue between Buddhist scholars
and scientists to realize the importance of Buddhist wisdom to
advance scientific wisdom.