Science & Buddhism: What and Why? John D. Dunne Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin–Madison Mind and Life Institute, Charlottesville, VA Ranjung Yeshe Institute, Boudhanath, Kathmandu

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Proposal Science Philosophy Religion Discomfort: strongly interrelated OK because

Expand the scope of science “…what is required is that current brain-based explanations found in contemporary science about the different classes of sensory modalities are enriched by incorporating a more expanded and detailed understanding of the mind. So one goal behind my dialogues with scientists is to help make the current scientific field of psychology or mind science become more complete.”

Ensure that science best help serve humanity “…even with respect to seeking ways to promote happiness within the human society, there is a real possibility of initiating a new kind of science that offers ways of pursuing our goal of seeking happiness through the combination of contemporary science and contemplative mind science.”

“There is no doubt that science has brought great benefits when it comes to alleviating suffering at the physical level. However, since mental suffering is something that is connected with our perception and attitude, the promotion of fundamental human values such as kindness is an indispensable basis of societal happiness. So if contemporary society were to pay attention to the science of mind and, more importantly, engage with the larger societal concerns including the topic of fundamental human values, I believe that even for science itself this could lead to great advancement and novel outcomes. So even though up to now science has not concerned itself with the topic of ethics and basic human values such as kindness, since science too has emerged as a means to serve the needs of humanity, it should never be completely divorced from other matters that are of great importance to human society.”

Monks, just as skilled goldsmiths accept gold after testing it through heating, cutting and rubbing, so too you should accept my words after examining them, and not just out of respect for me.

Dharmakīrti’s“Empiricism”: three spheres Perceptible (pratyakṣa) Inferable (viprakṛṣṭa) Through empirical inference (vastubalapravṛttānumāna) Extremely remote (atyantaparokṣa) No way to detect even the most indirect causal connection to an extremely remote object Cannot be empirically proven or disproven These are “transempirical” objects

Extremely remote ghost My nonperception of a transempirical object only establishes that I will behave as if that object does not exist.

Transempirical claims Cannot be empirically disproven. Since the object is beyond all empirical observation, the absence of empirical evidence does not negate the object. Cannot be empirically proven Since the object is beyond all empirical observation, there is no empirical evidence of its existence. But what about scripture?

Dharmakīrti on Scriptural Inference (Indian) Can be used only if there is no other way to practice. Must not contradict any empirical findings. Does not prove the existence of its object.

The Ācārya did not say that knowledge from scripture is a type of inference by claiming that it is actually or truly a pramāṇa. Rather, it is a pramāṇa with regard to the way in which a person should proceed [in spiritual practice]. — from the commentary by Śākyabuddhi

Empiricism, but…! According to Dharmakīrti’s final position, all perceptions are deluded. All experience is “deluded appearance.” Perception and empirical inference are only pramāṇa relative to the deluded lifeworld shared by sentient beings, as in the two moons… Empiricism should not be absolutized; it is conventional.

What is the dialog good for? Benefits Challenges

Benefits for Science Clinical applications and insights The mind matters Motivation and ethics matter But the “ego” does not Possibilities for new models of cognition

A Challenge: inescapable delusion Objectivism: universal features of the world conform to universal features of human cognition. With the right training and techniques, we can arrive at objective truth that is independent of any human perspective. Relativism: the features of human cognition are variable, and they do not conform to reality. All knowledge is filtered through our human biology and our cultural practices. Our empirical evidence can never be anything other than shared, deluded appearances.

Benefits for Buddhism Relevance The body matters Dereification and Grounded Cognition New grounds for compassionate activity Mindfulness Education

A challenge for Buddhism: Theory revision Does “Buddhist Science” employ the Scientific Method?

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A challenge for Buddhism: Theory revision Does “Buddhist Science” employ the Scientific Method? Under what conditions would revision be necessary? A change in the lifeword…? What are the drawbacks of never revising?