BUDDHISM AND SCIENCE

• Buddhism encourages followers to consider how they view the world and sets them on a path towards happiness away from suffering -  Not about telling people what to do – not an organised religion in origin but about a psychological understanding of the world and reality.
• A parallel can be made between Buddhism and science - It is like a scientist moving towards a conclusion. 
• Understanding the true nature of reality. is the key to achieiving nirvana 
• Shunyata: emptiness from which all phenomena arise. (5.00) Causes and conditions, parts that make up a whole, perception. - refers to the true nature of buddhism 
• scientific method - make observations based on a hypothesis/ make predictions so based on this we can conduct experiments testing this prediction 
• tension between presentations of buddhism as avoiding 'blind faith' and emphasises the realisation of truth in experience - KALAMA SUTTA 
• the dalai lama assess the value of science - mind and life institutions 
• as a whole buddhism contains teachings which seem to emphasise rationalism and contain teachings about a multi universe richly populated with diverse spiritual beings with supernatural powers
• rationalism - principle of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief/ emotional response 

Both Buddhism and science draw a sharp distinction between the way things appear, and the way they really are.science is essentially a project designed to provide us with objective, factual knowledge, with information pertaining to the public domain, while Buddhism is a spiritual path intended to promote inner transformation. DALAI LAMA - mind and life - to alleviate suffering and promote flourshing by intergrating science with contemplative practise and widsom traditions  the tiro understaood that science had become the dominat framework for investiagting the true nature of reality - modern source for knowledge that could help improve the lives of humans and the planet  however this view is imcomplete - Whereas science relies on empiricism, technology, “objective” observation, and analysis, the Dalai Lama, Engle, and Varela were convinced that well-refined contemplative practices and introspective methods could, and should, be used as equal instruments of investigation — instruments that would not only make science itself more humane but also ensure its conclusions were far-reaching. Mind and Life was formed to bridge this divide and advance progress in human well-being.

• Mahayana = Greater vehicle
• Hinayana = Lesser Vehicle
• Focused on bodhisattva and shunyata 
• The goal of Maha. is to become a Bodhisattva rather than an Arhat
• •As early as the Second Buddhist Coucil (100 years after the Buddha) there as a schism in the Sangha.  Some of the issues were to do with the status of Arhats and so some of the Sangha may have felt that the Bodhisattva path was more worthwhile
• So, ‘Wisdom’ and ‘Compassion’ become the two ‘wings’ of Mahayana.
• bodhisattva = a being who has a genuine wish to become enlightened for the benefit of all sentient beings
• Bodhisattvas are usually depicted wearing crowns whereas Arhats usually appear as monks and nuns
• Prajnaparamitathe goddess of wisdom, seen here holding the Heart Sutra
• Nagarjuna is often regarded as the founder of the Mahayana tradition but is more likely to have been it's first prominent expounded rather than founder. Mahayana had become a distinct movement several centuries earlier

• The Naga's confered Nagarjuna about the PRAJNAPARMITA SUTRAS that the buddha had entrusted to them 
• by teaching these sutras Nagarjuna turned the wheel of the dharma a second time therefore he is regarded as the 2nd buddha 

TRIKAYA - 3 BODIES OF THE BUDDHA 

• a buddha and enlightened bodhisattva can mainfest, and take birth in 3 types of ways 
• 1. NIRMANAKAYA - creation body, earthy 
• 2. SAMBHOGAKAYA - enjoyment body 
• 3. DHARMAKAYA - truth body 

• refers to the physical earthly body of a buddha
• SHAKYAMUNI -historical buddha is in nirmanakaya
• non literal deeper understanding is that it refers to the enlightened activity of a buddha whether that is on earth/ heavenly realm 

SAMBHOGAKAYA - Enjoyment Body.

• Thisusually refers to heavenly forms of a Buddha.
• On a deeper level is refers to the fact that a Buddha has an enlightened mind and therefore ‘enjoys’ the bliss of enlightenment.

DHARMAKAYA - TRUTH BODY This refers to one’s basic Buddhanature. Sambhogakayasand Nirmanakayas are really just emanations of a Buddha’s Dharmakaya that reaches out to help and guide others.

• Ifa Buddha didn’t manifest in a heavenly or earthly way it would simply abide in a non-physical Dharmakaya.ADharamakaya has no physical shape at all, however, Tibetan Buddhism especially, gives names to various dharmakayabuddhas and even creates images of them for conceptual purposes

• Meditating on the Buddha bodies allows one to connect with one’s own Buddha nature – especially in Tibetan Buddhist Tantric meditation
• One will visualise a guru such as the Dalai Lama or even themselves as a manifestation of a Dharmakaya Buddha e.g.The Dalai Lama is a manifestation of Vajradhara (a dharmakaya Buddha

• It could be argued that the Trikaya doctrine resolves a philosophical qualm
• Qualm: If a Buddha is completely engulfed in the bliss of Nirvana why then would he/she manifest in the physical world or even be able to make sense of the samsaric way of looking at things?  Ie. Why would a heavenly Buddha manifest on earth?  For example, in Theravada, a Buddha can no longer manifest once Parinibbana has been achieved
• Resolution:  The Dharmakaya aspect of a Buddha is able to bridge any incongruities between the way a Buddha acts Nirvanically (sambhogakaya) and samsarically (Nirmanakaya).  Ie. The basic enlightened mind is able to function in both a samsaric way and in an enlightened way because it understands every possible way of looking at the world (omniscience) 

• The freedom that an enlightened being enjoys also allows it to have many manifestations at once.  The 3 bodies of the Buddha are 3 ways that he can manifest but within those three types there can be multiplemanifestations. Eg. The Dalai Lama and Karmapa Lama are said to both be Nirmanakaya emanations of the BodhisattvaAvalokiteshvara, who in turn is an emanation of the Dharmakaya Buddha Vajradhara
• to help you to realise that at heart your own basic nature is that you are a Buddha already and various Kayas function as meditational aides to help you realise your own Buddha nature.
• So when you meditate on Avalokiteshvara or chant his mantra you are trying to connect with the aspect of enlightenment he represents.  In this case compassion