Science & Buddhism

ENLIGHTENMENT Non-dual knowledge of the ultimate nature of both mind and phenomena

Understanding the relative mode of existence (how things appear to us) and the ultimate mode of existence (the true nature of these same appearances)

State of supreme knowledge combined with infinite compassion

Science

Buddhism CONVERGENCE

Interdependence Emptiness/Vacuity Impermanence

Science

Buddhism INTERDEPENDENCE

All living beings share the same cosmic genealogy

All things exist only in relationship to others Mutual causality: Nothing can be its own cause Reality global and holistic

Science

Buddhism EMPTINESS/VACUITY

World is not made up of things, but of potentialities

Middle Way: there is neither nothing (nihilism) nor something (materialistic realism)

Notion of ‘object’ replaced by notion of ‘event’ (measurement)

Phenomena exist in terms of ‘relative truth’ not in terms of ‘absolute truth’

Science

Buddhism IMPERMANENCE

Gross impermanence: Birth to death Stellar evolution

Science

Buddhism IMPERMANENCE

Subtle impermanence: Change at each infinitesimal moment Virtual particles Particle interactions: decay & annihilation

Universe is not made of solid, distinct entities, but of a dynamic flow of incessant interactions

SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY They are two different windows to look at reality.

They complement rather than oppose each other.

Science provides us with information, but brings about no spiritual growth or transformation.

Spiritual or contemplative approach must lead to a profound personal transformation in the way we perceive ourselves and the world.