Buddha’s wisdom and modern science

“If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism” – Albert Einstein

“Buddhism is the most colossal example in the history of metaphysics” – A British Mathematician, Alfred North Whitehead

Although Buddhism is recognised as a religion, it is a scientific philosophy that contains comprehensive analysis of the universe

Buddhism is a collection of teachings made by Lord Buddha over 45 years in his enlightened life in the sixth century BC. The essence of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truth; Dukka, (truth of suffering), Craving, (Truth of cause of suffering), Nibbana (Truth of cessation of suffering), eight noble path (truth of Path for liberation). 

The enlightened Buddha comprehended all phenomena and the real nature of the man kind to achieve supreme bliss. Although Buddhism is recognised as a religion, it is a scientific philosophy that contains comprehensive analysis of the universe. Buddhism is the greatest wisdom originated in the Eastern world. 

Science is a body of knowledge accumulated over the years comprising measureable and verifiable facts acquired through application of scientific investigations and generalised into scientific principles. This body of knowledge consists of several main branches such as medicine, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. Science originated in Europe around 17th century. 

There is a paradigm shift from classical science to modern science with the introduction of quantum physics and nuclear science by Albert Einstein and other eminent scientists in the 20th century. Science is delivering a great service to the present day mankind. In the technologically advanced world, each and every aspect of human life is strongly connected with technology which is the practical application of inferences made through scientific research and investigations. Apart from household front, health, education, agriculture, industries, services and any other sector in the economy are immensely benefitted from modern science. 

International scientists of Western origin, who acquired a broad understanding of Buddhist teachings have made attempts to recognise many relationships between Buddhism and modern science. One can argue that such comparison is ridiculous for two basic factors. Buddha has completely understood the nature of nature through his enlightenment without outside assistance. 

There is nothing left in the universe that does not cover by Buddha’s intuition. Buddha do not have any grey areas in the cosmos. His wisdom and understanding of the universe is far ahead from that of modern science, but Buddha has disclosed only the essential parts of his findings which lead people to liberate from suffering. On the contrary, science is still in the infant stage compared to Buddha’s comprehensive understanding about the universe. The next significant aspect is that Buddhism focuses both mundane and supra mundane concepts, but more emphasis is on eradication of human suffering and achieve ultimate happiness.

Science, on the other hand, aims at producing devices and techniques to make mundane life more comfortable which leads to develop craving in human minds. In these circumstances comparison of Buddhist teachings which is a complete wisdom about universe with science may seem childish effort. This article, however, attempts to highlight the areas where Buddhism and modern science come together and emphasise some inconsistencies between the two. 

The commonalities and discrepancies can be discussed in terms of objectives, approach and methodology and the scope of Buddhist philosophy and modern science. The principal objective of Buddhist teachings is to end human sufferings and achieve Nibbana, the lasting bliss. Long time ago Buddha would have been liberated from sufferings and attained Nibbana. His philanthropic mind did not allow him to do so and entered sansaric life determining to become Buddha with the intention of liberating all others from misery.

Lord Buddha has completed 10-fold perfections over an uncountable period of time, developed His mind and attained Buddha hood, the highest state of the mind, a human being can ever reach. He was not born as Buddha or it was not given by a divine being, but with the development of purified mind, He became fully enlightened with his own efforts. His approach to propagate Dhamma among community had been through his disciples as well as through His own visits to people and preaching Dhamma. 

His profound knowledge on understanding others minds, characters and behaviours help him to focus his preaching, enabling them to grasp Dhamma properly. Through his clairvoyance, He knew the people who had sufficiently matured their minds to grip Dhamma and liberate from mundane world. He walked miles and miles on foot to help such people. Application of scientific knowledge is in the form of technology. Technology has created revolutionary development benefitting people in numerous ways. Unlike Buddhism, technological development contributes developing material gains with enormous comforts and does not focus spiritual improvement. 

Commonalities between Buddhism and modern science

Lord Buddha scientifically conceived Dhamma. What Buddha comprehended is the actual nature of the world. Buddhism does not rely on traditional beliefs, faiths and dogmas. He advises followers not to become blind believers of Dhamma but to explore, investigate, test, apply and understand what is stated by Buddha. In Kalama Sutta, Buddha asked Kalama community to investigate Dhamma and then accept. They were asked not to agree with teachings based on numerous traditional causes. Theories of science and their application in the practical world are similarly proven by scientific investigations and not based on faith or any dogmatic reasons.

Similar concepts are shared by both Buddhism and science on origin and the composition of the universe. Buddhism does not believe in a god or a supernatural being who created the world. According to Buddhist cosmology as explained in Agganna Sutta, the earth was inhabited by super natural beings arrived from Abhassara Brahma world uncountable eons ago. With the passage of time, they developed unwholesome thoughts, acted indecently and lost their divine qualities. They finally became natural human beings. Modern science in the 20th century agrees with the same idea disproving the idea of creating the world by a divine creator believed by Western religions. 

Buddha comprehended that the universe is limitless. It has no end. The concept of universe is unimaginable and therefore not to investigate about universe. It is a subject beyond the imagination of undeveloped human minds. Buddha, without any technological devices, preached about formation of the inexplicable overwhelming universe consisting a number of galaxies with different magnitudes. Hundreds and thousands of suns, moons, earths and higher worlds form the Minor world system. 

A hundred thousands of minor world systems form the Middling world system. Hundred thousands of Middling world systems form the major world system. Explanation of modern science on the universe recognises this complex formation of universe. Scientists in the 20th century have found that universe is consisted of endless number of planets and stars. After Galileo, scientists observed stars and accepted that the universe has an endless number of solar systems.

Buddha rejected unnecessary investigations about universe as such attempts do not contribute for personal liberation. Unfortunately, modern science still spends colossal amounts of wealth, time and labour in this direction. Apart from physical universe, Buddhism speaks about another world which is existing within the physical human body. He saw the entire world in human body like other physical objects, subjecting to decay, ageing, death and all sorts of sufferings. Buddha encouraged investigation into one’s own body and mind to realise the truth leading to lasting salvation. 

 

Law of cause and effect

One of the principal elements of Buddhism is the law of cause and effect. Buddha’s philosophy on nature is totally based on the law of cause and effect. One material formation is a reason for another phenomenon to arise. No natural formation is found that exists in isolation. Everything is connected to everything else. If one element is disturbed it affects the others in the system. The natural world is an intricate network.

Lord Buddha in his interpretation analysed this natural law of cause and effect and the interconnectedness and interdependence among material formations. Buddhism provides a profound analysis on the nature extending to significant areas of material formations including humans and other living beings that exist in the universe. This is the essence of ecological science.

Lord Buddha defines “Lujjathi palujjathi loko,” the world is something breaking and decaying. He goes on to elaborate the actuality of nature illustrating the concept of Tilakkhana, the three principle characteristics that nature undergoes; a) Anicca, b). Dukkha, c). Anatta. Any material compound formed as a result of cause and effect law is subject to Tilakkhana.

Anicca means impermanent and constantly changing. All conditioned compounds formed on account of a cause, exist for a moment, change, and disappear. The living beings are born as a result of certain karmic causes, subject to change, grow old, suffer from sicknesses and difficulties and eventually die. This is the true nature of every formation. Lord Buddha discusses that conditioned compounds are made out of “Kalapas” which is the minutest particles of a material. 

A Kalapa is an accumulation of eight basic elements. They are, solid (patavi), liquid (apo), calorific (thejo) and oscillatory (vayo) combined along with colour (wanna), smell (gandha), taste (rasa) and nutriment (oja). The life span of a kalapa remains only for a moment and it is stated that trillion such moments elapse within a blink of a man’s eye. Lord Buddha thus illustrates the natural state of perpetual change of kalapas and they come into being and die out at the very same moment (uppada, tithi, bhanga).

According to Physical Science, quark is the minutest particle and a fundamental constituent of a matter (Murrey Gelmann – 1963). Quarks associate with each other and make protons and neutrons. Combination of protons and neutrons in various proportions makes up atomic nuclei. Electrons and nuclei are combined together and atoms are formed. Aggregation of several atoms forms molecules. A material is generated through combination of extremely large number of molecules. Quarks, the basic minutest particle, change their natures at a frequency of 1014 Hz, which means they change their nature and arise and vanish 100,000,000,000,000 times in a second. Quarks are somewhat similar to kalapas that Buddha has introduced. It is proved that Lord Buddha’s explanation on formation of material compounds perfectly tallies and endorses with the recent discoveries of quantum physics.

Any object, animate and inanimate are aggregates of small particles. Their composition is calculated by mathematics. Physics explain the behaviour of particles. The study that discusses the combination of particles and making bigger particles is chemistry. Combination of living particles into a complex living particle is biology. 

Dukkha, suffering is the second aspect of Tilakkana. “yad aniccam tam dukkham,” what is not permanent is suffering, Buddha taught. In the first sermon, Dhamma Cakkappawattana Sutta, The Buddha presents an account of dukkha, covering its nature and the types of sufferings that a person undergoes from his birth to death. Birth, growing old, sickness, death, separation from dear ones, association with dislikes, and non-fulfilment of desires are the types of sufferings. In short, the five clinging aggregates are sufferings. 

Anatta, the last aspect of Tilakkana refers to non-existence of a fixed eternal entity. It is the absence of a permanent self. All physical and mental phenomena arising out of the law of cause and effect appear and disappear after having a momentary lifespan. A being or an entity is a label given to an aggregation of five skandhas. When that entity or individual is divided into separate elements and tiny particles of which it is formed, an individual or a formation cannot be found. In this sense the notion of self is an illusion. One cannot be in command of the process of ageing, changing, decaying, getting illnesses and passing away. This law is equally applicable to non-living formation as well.

David P. Barash, a renowned, evolutionary biologist, in his book titled “Buddhist Biology, (Ancient Eastern Wisdom Meets Modern Western Science)” states that there are many remarkable similarities between the Buddhist teachings demonstrated in 26 centuries ago and the present scientific findings of biology. He cites a number of examples where the basic Buddhist concepts and underlying principles of biology coincide. 

The basic biological concept of interconnectedness and inter dependence of phenomena in the ecological system is identical with Buddha’s fundamental teachings. The analysis made by the Buddha on the law of cause and effect leading to create conditioned compounds, recognition of impermanence and decaying nature of natural phenomena, according to Barash, is amazing. He argues that the Buddha is more than a veteran biologist to present such an astounding analysis of nature 2500 years ago with no any outside assistance. 

Buddha found that there is a large number of sentient beings in water, soil and other physical objects, which cannot be seen by the naked eye. He imposed some disciplinary regulations to Bhikku order to prevent sangha from destroying such micro beings when they deal with nature. Present scientists with the assistance of microscope prove that there is significant numbers of micro living organisms even in a glass of water. Buddha realised that without any help of scientific devices. 

One of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism is Rebirth. Living beings have unending samsaric life moving from one existence to another. Scientists of the 20th century have carried out a fair number of studies in the west and east and proved rebirth is a reality. 

There are many more areas of Buddhist teachings that coincide with modern science. Albert Einstein, the greatest scientist appeared in the 20th century has made certain statements in his speech on Religion and Science at Princetown, USA in 1939 appreciating and accepting Buddhist teachings. Buddhism states that every man in the universe is his own saviour. The man has to create his destiny. The person can make his fortune or bad luck through his acts, words and thoughts. The Buddha only show the path for liberation but He cannot bring the person to final destination. The Buddha achieved enlightenment through his own efforts and any human being can become Buddha.

“There is nothing divine about morality; it is a purely human affair. It is Free and responsible development of the individual, so that he may place his powers freely and gladly in the service of all mankind. There is no room in this for the divinisation of a nation, of a class, let alone of an individual. Are we not all children of one father” – Albert Einstein, 1934.

The following statements of Einstein remind us certain teachings of Buddha as to how people should behave with nature “human being is part of the whole called by us universe. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison for the moral attitudes of a people that is supported by religion need always aim at preserving and promoting the sanity and vitality of the community and its individuals, since otherwise this community is bound to perish. People that were to honour falsehood, defamation, fraud, and murder would be unable, indeed, to subsist for very long” – Albert Einstein, 1948.

Many of the basic principle s of Buddhism is compatible with present scientific findings. A comprehensive comparison is impossible since the modern science is still in its infant age compared to Buddha’s wisdom. For instance, the Buddha has fourteen supernatural intelligences such as divine eye, ability to see others mind and characters, people’s birth after death, performance of twin miracle and clairvoyance etc. cannot be explained in scientific terms. 

Highly-appreciative references to Buddhism were also made by philosophers, scientists, and thinkers of the 20th century such as H.G. Wells, Bertrand Russell, Aldous Huxley, etc. have made highly remarkable references to Buddhism on the compatibility of Buddhism and modern science. 

Discrepancies

There are fundamental differences between science and Buddhism in terms of objectives, approach and substance. Even though Buddhism is recognised as a religion, it is a scientific explanation of universal phenomena. Lord Buddha appeared in Indian sub-continent in 600 BC where people have not even heard of science. The origin of Modern science has its roots only in the 20th century and the science is still in the infant age. It has a long way to go. The approaches used by the Buddha and science are different. 

Lord Buddha completed perfections and developed his mind over a numerous eons and comprehended the universe through intuition without outside assistance. Modern science gather knowledge and build up theories through rationalist approach. Teachings of Buddha concentrates on attaining the ultimate bliss that one can achieve ending all sufferings. Findings of science would encourage craving for human existence which is to be eradicated according to Buddha. 

Buddha’s teachings connected with kindness, compassion, affection and joy over others happiness. One of the main elements of Buddhism is non-violence. Buddha has never punished his disciples. His preaching cannot be used to harm people. Scientific inventions, on the other hand, while benefitting the world, are equally utilised for destruction of mankind and environment.

No scholar or a philosopher so far appeared in the world who is able to challenge or deny the components of Buddhist philosophy. Content of Dhamma is the existing reality in the world which is not only valid for a limited time period but applicable forever. Buddha did not find anything innovative but the existing phenomena in the universe. The true nature of the world never changes. In the case of science, certain theories built up on the inferences made by scientific investigations based on hypothesis are proved to be wrong later. 

Buddhism is a great philosophy that never ever appeared in the history of mankind. Scientists can be guided by Buddhism, but no one can reject or supersede the substance in Buddhist teachings in the present and the future world. Buddhism is far beyond the limitations of science. Modern science will not be able to find solutions for mental ills and agonies of the mankind.

Scientists themselves clearly express that intelligent people in the third millennium increasingly embrace Buddhism rather than application of scientific methods for development of inner peace. Science does not provide solutions for aging, becoming ill and final death but the Buddhism provides a lasting solution for final emancipation of all sufferings experienced by the mankind. This is the major difference.

(The writer is a Member of Parliament, Colombo District, and he can be reached via [email protected].)