Buddhism and Science

Both Buddhism and science make propositional claims about ultimate reality and are highly complex, totalizing worldviews.

“Both traditions make propositional claims about ultimate reality (Lopez 2008, 34) and are 'highly complex, totalizing worldviews' (Cabezón 2003, 59).”

Once the process of accommodation has begun, it is difficult to know when to stop.

“However, once this process has begun, it is difficult to know when to stop (Lopez 2008, 72).”

Lopez argues that attempts to show Buddha's wisdom is compatible with modern scientific worldviews are motivated by political self-preservation.

“Lopez suggests that attempts to show that Buddha's wisdom is compatible with modern scientific worldviews are motivated by political self-preservation.”

The present Shaolin interest in 'Buddhism and Medicine' can be situated on a longer continuum of Buddhist engagement with modernizing discourse through selective appropriation of the rhetoric of science.

“Work of Buddhologists such as Eric Hammerstrom and Donald Lopez remind us that the present Shaolin interest in 'Buddhism and Medicine' can be situated on a longer continuum of Buddhist engagement with modernizing discourse through selective appropriation of the rhetoric of science.”

This is a rather inaccurate understanding of a rich and plural religious tradition.

“This is a rather inaccurate understanding of a rich and plural religious tradition.”

Leading academics of South Asian religions have highlighted the Western misreading and reconstruction of Buddhism as a rational form of inquiry focused on meditation, which has been uncritically accepted by psychology researchers.

“Leading academics of South Asian religions have highlighted the Western misreading and reconstruction of Buddhism as a rational form of inquiry focused on meditation, which has been uncritically accepted by psychology researchers56.”

For most forms of Buddhism, it is not meditation but the study of sacred scriptures that is the most valued means to achieve deep personal transformation.

“For example, such authors highlight that for most forms of Buddhism, it is not meditation but the study of sacred scriptures that is the most valued means to achieve deep personal transformation.”