SCIENCE AND BUDDHISM: DIALOGUES

While the Origin of Life on Earth is explored by modern sciences based both on experimental and observational methods, a new biological principle is adopted in addition to the principles of physics and chemistry. The biosphere is explained by the biodiversity and coexistence amongst countlessly different species reminding us of the Buddha Nature. The book verifies the existence of a platform — dialogues between science and Buddhism — to contemplate these modern aspects of life.

In the 2nd century BCE, western Greek philosophy encountered eastern Indian Buddhist philosophy, as captured in a Buddhist text, the Milindapanha (Questions of Milinda), resulting in the Greco-Buddhism, the cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism. Some two thousand years later, in the modern era, the sciences have revolutionized ancient philosophies, as Buddhism by the philosophy of Emptiness, stimulating various new schools.

Many scientists have written about science, and many Buddhists have explained Buddhism, but an in-depth analysis of both fields may be rare. The book reports on a recent project commemorating the founder and Indian monk of Zen Buddhism Bodhidharma. Imagine a Buddhist Eagle, soaring in the sky of Emptiness with both wings spreading out — one of Wisdom and another of Great Compassion — on all countlessly-many sentient beings.

Contents:

• Prologue
• Wisdom of Shakyamuni Buddha:
  • Ancient Dialogues of Two Wise Men
  • Ancient Scientific Philosophy of Buddhists: Abhidharma
  • Modern Brain Science and Ancient Buddhist Concepts on Mind
  • Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
  • Four Noble Truths
  • Dhyāna from Scientific Aspects
  • Last Strong Message of Shaykyamuni: Tathagata
• Śūnyatā: Everything is Empty Intrinsically:
  • No-Self, Empathy, and Great Compassion
  • Nāgārjuna's Śūnyatā
  • Transmission of Śākyamuni Dharma by Bodhidharma
  • Modern Sciences: Natural World and Dependent Origination
• Bodhidharma in Kancheepuram: Commemoration:
  • Bodhidharma from Kanchipuram
  • Commemoration Project
  • Bodhidharma's Messages to Disciples
• Epilogue
• References
• Index

Readership: All readers interested in dialogues between science and Buddhism.

Key Features:

• Written by a well-known physicist and practising Zen Buddhist
• Reviews modern sciences in the light of Buddhism and illuminates Buddhist philosophy using the sciences, including brain science and physiology