Science and Buddhism – when Carl Sagan met the Dalai Lama
Speaking of the event, Sagan said: … in theological discussions with religious leaders, I often ask what their response would be if a central tenet of their faith were disproved by science. When I put this question to the Dalai Lama, he unhesitatingly replied as no conservative or fundamentalist religious leaders do: In such a case, he said, Tibetan Buddhism would have to change. Even, I asked, if it’s a really central tenet, like reincarnation? Even then, he answered. However, he added with a twinkle – it’s going to be hard to disprove reincarnation.
A quote from the Buddha:
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
peace be with you brother
you do realise that the ‘twinkle’ has a reason…it is impossible to disprove most tenants of faith since they are, well, tenants of faith (!). so his extraordinary (as you present it) alignment with the “ethos of rationality and science” comes with no prize at all. He can be a friend of “modern science, evidence” and other “good things” – completely cost-free! That is where the real “miracle” is, i.e. in you not seeing that the core of the statement has no epistemological value at all – thus the twinkle, I suspect.
The Buddha quote is beautiful, but you bringing it as a “statement of belief” or, in fact, a “tenant of faith”, that I suppose you live by (?) gives it an odd dogmatic twist that I thought the quote was all about avoiding (?).
The first two lines are, well, completely in line with all common sense (don’t believe in everything you hear) and hardly in need of the buddha – so let’s omit those.
the rest is more interesting.
1 – Don’t believe in anything SIMPLY BECAUSE it is found…etc. What he seems to be saying is: believe it, but do so because you have certainty that it is trustworthy.
2 – …AUTHORITY OF TEACHERS AND ELDERS… again, believe it, but not because it is from them, but because it is true
3 – …HANDED DOWN…. again, believe it, but not because it is ancient or handed down
4 – …AFTER OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS…AGREES WITH REASON…ACCEPT.
So, take statements like ” the buddha was enlightened” or “reincarnation is real” or “the dalai lama is the last incarnation of a long line of boddhisatwas of compassion”….
I suppose you believe in these statements (?) – at the same time I suspect that you do not have access to any “evidence” in the scientific sense that any of these statements are actually true. Does that mean that you have not “observed and analysed” and that your beliefs do not “agree with reason”? No it doesn’t mean that. All three statements are possible and there is nothing illogical or irrational about them in themselves. They do agree with reason in the sense that reason doesn’t disprove them. There is nothing, it seems, impossible about them.
All these statements are statements of faith – tenets of faith that Tibetan Buddhists believe in. So the quote of the Buddha must be seen in that light; that “evidence” means “possible”.
Now, imagine a statement that is from GOD himself. Imagine the will and word of God revealed. Imagine revelation. Such a statement would have a completely different epistemological value. It would no longer simply be “possible” that, say, “there is only One that is worthy of worship and Muhammad is His messenger”. It would be the ultimate truth!
Denying such a source, i.e. God’s revealed word, THAT, my friend, would be in contradiction with reason, in the sense of the buddha quote above.
You have the right, even obligation I believe, to study, observe, analyse, reflect…AND YOU SHOULD!
The Quran is the word of God revealed. Imagine that! What would Buddha have done with such a phenomenon? He would analyse it, look through it in depth, meditate upon it until he could either discard it with certainty as false or “ACCEPT IT AND LIVE UP TO IT” in the utter self-less and submissive way of dedicated and pure Love that God demands us to.
Good Luck…