It will be useful for us to examine in the present context the relationship Buddhism has with science. Broadly speak- ing, science deals with facts and principles gained by sys- tematic study. The technique employed to define a problem, to gather and draft data and test hypotheses empirically is called scientific method. Although science is devoid of transcendental concerns, some religious sociologists tend to believe that science is a kind of discipline having a functional equivalent to religion.
Within these confines, it is not difficult to draw an affinity between science and Buddhism. As the teach- ing of the Buddha is verifiable empirically, just as scien- tific truth, and also because of the application of scientific methodology, Buddhism can be called rational and scien- tific. But it can never be compared to physical science. It is neither a kind of physics that deals with the laws, prop- erties and interactions of matter, motion and energy, nor a kind of chemistry which investigates the composition and interaction of existing compounds and elements and pro- duces new chemicals by synthesising natural and artifi- cial compounds. But, on the contrary, if the skill resulting from training given in conformity with a particular religion could be called Christian Science or Islamic Science we can speak of a Buddhist Science rooted in Buddhism and the training pursued on Buddhist principles.
As the world we live in today is dominated by science and technology in many respects, science has been ele- vated to a higher position and understood as a quasi-reli- gion. Because at least in principle, it is capable of, as they say, unravelling the mysteries of life, the universe and the nature of reality. They strongly believe, that science is forg- ing ahead and in time to come, it will be capable of disclosing all the secrets of the meaning of human life. Within this conceptual setting, science has been clothed in reli- gious garb. Nevertheless, science is, more or less, a religion of scepticism. Truly, human kind has benefitted in many ways by scientific achievements. Science uses hardware and software measurements in order to measure complex phenomena, which were considered immeasurable a few decades ago, and widens our mental horizon, but it shows no interest in the vital problems that religion professes to solve.
Science is neither moral nor immoral; it is amoral. Religion on the other hand, has definite bearings on moral values. Science is still exploring the unexplored and keeps on challenging its own findings. It is well known how the Quantum Theory of Planck and Relativity Theory of Einstein challenged the dimensions of physics. Scientific presumptions that the world is essentially objective, mate- rial; things that we can measure objectively being the only things worth investigation, are being challenged by a new generation of scientists and now, therefore, a new view of science is being forwarded by them. It is called New Science or Postmodern Science. Perhaps, this could be considered as an attempt to exonerate scientists from their ‘tunnel view’ of the world.
What is recommended in Buddhism too, is not ‘view’, which is considered partial; but ‘vision’ (diṭṭhim ca anupagamma dassanena sampanno).
By Ven. Pategama Gnanarama Thero (Ph.D. )
Who is the Lord Buddha? Here is the Best Explanation: [www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLGAbcEhozc]
What is the Buddhism? Here is the Wider Explanation:[www.mixpod.com/playlist/58314793]
Within these confines, it is not difficult to draw an affinity between science and Buddhism. As the teach- ing of the Buddha is verifiable empirically, just as scien- tific truth, and also because of the application of scientific methodology, Buddhism can be called rational and scien- tific. But it can never be compared to physical science. It is neither a kind of physics that deals with the laws, prop- erties and interactions of matter, motion and energy, nor a kind of chemistry which investigates the composition and interaction of existing compounds and elements and pro- duces new chemicals by synthesising natural and artifi- cial compounds. But, on the contrary, if the skill resulting from training given in conformity with a particular religion could be called Christian Science or Islamic Science we can speak of a Buddhist Science rooted in Buddhism and the training pursued on Buddhist principles.
As the world we live in today is dominated by science and technology in many respects, science has been ele- vated to a higher position and understood as a quasi-reli- gion. Because at least in principle, it is capable of, as they say, unravelling the mysteries of life, the universe and the nature of reality. They strongly believe, that science is forg- ing ahead and in time to come, it will be capable of disclosing all the secrets of the meaning of human life. Within this conceptual setting, science has been clothed in reli- gious garb. Nevertheless, science is, more or less, a religion of scepticism. Truly, human kind has benefitted in many ways by scientific achievements. Science uses hardware and software measurements in order to measure complex phenomena, which were considered immeasurable a few decades ago, and widens our mental horizon, but it shows no interest in the vital problems that religion professes to solve.
Science is neither moral nor immoral; it is amoral. Religion on the other hand, has definite bearings on moral values. Science is still exploring the unexplored and keeps on challenging its own findings. It is well known how the Quantum Theory of Planck and Relativity Theory of Einstein challenged the dimensions of physics. Scientific presumptions that the world is essentially objective, mate- rial; things that we can measure objectively being the only things worth investigation, are being challenged by a new generation of scientists and now, therefore, a new view of science is being forwarded by them. It is called New Science or Postmodern Science. Perhaps, this could be considered as an attempt to exonerate scientists from their ‘tunnel view’ of the world.
What is recommended in Buddhism too, is not ‘view’, which is considered partial; but ‘vision’ (diṭṭhim ca anupagamma dassanena sampanno).
By Ven. Pategama Gnanarama Thero (Ph.D. )
Who is the Lord Buddha? Here is the Best Explanation: [www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLGAbcEhozc]
What is the Buddhism? Here is the Wider Explanation:[www.mixpod.com/playlist/58314793]
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