Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body
Buddhism has been seen, at least since the Theravāda reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as particularly compatible with Western science. The recent explosion of Mindfulness therapies have strengthened this perception. However, the 'Buddhism' which is bei...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-07-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/3/560 |
| _version_ | 1818268736890601472 |
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| author | Geoffrey Samuel |
| author_facet | Geoffrey Samuel |
| author_sort | Geoffrey Samuel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Buddhism has been seen, at least since the Theravāda reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as particularly compatible with Western science. The recent explosion of Mindfulness therapies have strengthened this perception. However, the 'Buddhism' which is being brought into relation with science in the context of the Mindfulness movement has already undergone extensive rewriting under modernist influences, and many of the more critical aspects of Buddhist thought and practice are dismissed or ignored. The Mind and Life Institute encounters, under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, present a different kind of dialogue, in which a Tibetan Buddhism which is only beginning to undergo modernist rewriting confronts Western scientists and scholars on more equal terms. However, is the highly sophisticated but radically other world of Tantric thought really compatible with contemporary science? In this article I look at problem areas within the dialogue, and suggest that genuine progress is most likely to come if we recognise the differences between Buddhist thought and contemporary science, and take them as an opportunity to rethink scientific assumptions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:43:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83211e9948874d749a7c66fb77d0aefa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:43:14Z |
| publishDate | 2014-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-83211e9948874d749a7c66fb77d0aefa2022-12-22T00:12:39ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442014-07-015356057910.3390/rel5030560rel5030560Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and BodyGeoffrey Samuel0School of History, Archaeology and Religion, John Percival Building, Cardiff University, Colum Drive, Cardiff CF10 3EU, UKBuddhism has been seen, at least since the Theravāda reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as particularly compatible with Western science. The recent explosion of Mindfulness therapies have strengthened this perception. However, the 'Buddhism' which is being brought into relation with science in the context of the Mindfulness movement has already undergone extensive rewriting under modernist influences, and many of the more critical aspects of Buddhist thought and practice are dismissed or ignored. The Mind and Life Institute encounters, under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, present a different kind of dialogue, in which a Tibetan Buddhism which is only beginning to undergo modernist rewriting confronts Western scientists and scholars on more equal terms. However, is the highly sophisticated but radically other world of Tantric thought really compatible with contemporary science? In this article I look at problem areas within the dialogue, and suggest that genuine progress is most likely to come if we recognise the differences between Buddhist thought and contemporary science, and take them as an opportunity to rethink scientific assumptions.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/3/560BuddhismscienceMind and Life InstituteTantraconsciousness |
| spellingShingle | Geoffrey Samuel Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body Religions Buddhism science Mind and Life Institute Tantra consciousness |
| title | Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body |
| title_full | Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body |
| title_fullStr | Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body |
| title_full_unstemmed | Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body |
| title_short | Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body |
| title_sort | between buddhism and science between mind and body |
| topic | Buddhism science Mind and Life Institute Tantra consciousness |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/3/560 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT geoffreysamuel betweenbuddhismandsciencebetweenmindandbody |