science and buddhisum Flashcards
to understand how scientific descoveries and buddhist teachings work together
what did the dali- lama state that supports buddhisum working well with science
‘If science prooves some beleif in buddhisum wrong then buddhisum will have to change’- dali lama
why was the buddha critical of blind faith and what impact did this have upon science and buddhist relations
The buddha was critical of blind faith. The buddha emphasised the importance of experemental testing of all teachings including his own. The buddha did not tell his followers what to beleive but instead inspired them through teachings for them to then come to their own understandings - e.g Skinny Gotami
This supports scintific methods of research in the endevour for emperical evidence in which to base one’s beleifs upon.
what is the story of the buddhas unanswered questions and how does this relate to buddhisum working well with scince
The buddha was proposed some large meta- physical questions. The indevidual asking the buddha the questions threatened to renounce his beleif in buddhisum if the buddha was not able to answer these questions.
The questions included topics such as the body and soul and well as the universes limitations.
The buddha did not attempt to answer the queestions as he simply did not know.
Buddha proceeded to give a story to illustrate his point:
A man was struck by a poisoned arrow. The man refused to have the arrow removed until he had questions answered about the man who shot him and the arrow he was shot with. The man died from the arrow having the questions never answered. The point here is do not waist time attempting to answer questions you will never know.
This works well with science as Buddhisum does not attempt to anser the questions that science attempts to answer meaning there is very little in buddhsium that science can proove wrong.
How does the concept of anatta (no soul) in Buddhisum link with scientific descoveries on particals
Anatta states that there is no inherent sence of soul or self. This links with partical theory as particals are not inherently existant. They cannot function as stand alone entities, they can only ineract with the universe by exchanging something of themselves.
How does the concept of anicca (constant change) in Buddhisum link with scientific descovreies on quatem physics
Anicca states that everything is in a constant state of change and nothing stays the same. Within anicca there is apparent change (changes that we can observe) and subtil change (change that we cannot observe such as molecular changes).
Equally to anicca particals are not permanent, as all particals desplay subtil impermance. All particals are moving from one moment to the next
how does the mahanaya concept of sunyata link with Quantem theory?
Sunyata is the concept that all things are empty of intrinsic existance and everything is interdepdent. This links well with the theory of ‘high entangled universe,’ this theory states that all particals are dependent on other particals for existance, which suggests all things are interdependent.
why does the buddhist concept of karma not work well with buddhsium.
According to the buddhist concept of karma actions of skilfull intentions leads to plesent results and actions of an unskillful nature lead to unpleasent results.
One can experience karma following an action lifetimes following the action as karmic seeds can lay doomant for lifetimes. Modern scientists challange views upon karma due to a lack of emperical evidence. The generation of karma that will effect the life of an indevidual in this life or the next is illogical and unreasonable.
what might some buddhists argue in favour of karma working with science
the concept of karma is metaphorical and not real.
