Buddhism and facts

Buddhism and facts agree in many respects. many propositions of Eastern philosophies are now been verified by the science of Quantum Physics.

Some of these facts are:

1) The Universe is an organic whole: - The Universe is one organism just as your body is an organic whole.

This is stated by the science of quantum physics through its discoveries in the 20th century – in particular the Bell’s theorem. For more on this subject please refer The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukhav which explains the recent discoveries and also their connection with the mystical experiences and philosophies of the East.

I have not read any Buddhist scriptures, which state in so many words that the Universe is an organic whole. But this concept is certainly not alien to it. Osho Rajneash says of the experience of Nirvana or Moksha that it is similar to a raindrop merging with the ocean and losing its individuality - its separate existence. Not only that but the experience is similar to the raindrop experiencing what it is like to become the ocean.

So, this is one point – as stated in the earlier paragraphs where Buddhism and facts agree.

2) The sense of a self separate from the rest of existence is false or illusory: - If we accept that the Universe is an organic whole then our everyday common perception that we are a self separate from the rest of existence is an illusion.

A red blood corpuscle in the body – if it had consciousness – might imagine that it has a separate existence. But it cannot exist apart from the body. And in fact - in another sense – the red blood corpuscle is just a concept that is useful to medical science. Science needs such concepts to cure diseases. But in actual fact there is just the body, which exists and is an organic whole. Their blood corpuscle is just a useful concept and it has no existence apart from the body.

This is similar to our relationship with the Universe. We imagine that we have an existence apart from it, but in fact we don’t. Our sense of a separate self is an illusion.

This is one of the basic concepts of Buddhism and another point where Buddhism and facts agree.

3) All is transient and everything comes to an end: - This basic concept of Buddhism is also verified by modern science and simple common sense.

According to the Second law of Thermodynamics this Universe will surely come to an end one day. What to talk of the individual objects and beings within it. So, modern science supports the Buddhist conclusion that all forms are transient.

Also anyone who has lived for a few years on this planet will know that change is the only constant in life. We ourselves change from day to day and year to year. Our relationships change, our possessions change, everything is in a state of constant flux.

So this is another agreement between Buddhism and facts.

4) Suffering arises through desire and the sense of self arises through ignorance:

These are concepts basic to Buddhism.

The second point is simple common sense. Since we do not have the experience of our oneness with the Universe we are ignorant of our true relationship with it. And out of this ignorance arises the sense of a separate self.

The first point of suffering arising due to desire is also common sense. Whenever our desires are frustrated we suffer. And it is inevitable that we will not all the time get whatever we want.

So, this is another point where Buddhism and facts agree.

5) Meditation and contemplation: Buddhism stresses on meditation as a method and a way to attain enlightenment and the mystical experience of oneness with the Universe.

Medical science may not be much interested in mystical experience, but a keen interest is now being taken by science in meditation. It is now recognized by medical science that through meditation we can transform our self and increase our well being.

So, this is another point where Buddhism and facts agree.

6) All is unsatisfactory: - The Buddhist doctrine stresses on the unsatisfactory nature of life that we are living. Birth is a suffering, sickness, old age, death is all suffering and they are all inevitable.

So, this again is a point where Buddhism and facts agree and it is verified by simple logic and common sense.

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