Buddhism and Science Essay - 1891 Words

Buddhism places a high value on finding the truth. This fundamental principal allows for an acceptance of science, as it is seen as a modern truth to most. Furthermore, Buddhists believe in the evolution of human consciousness—this evolution, along with the truth presented from science, allows for an over arching acceptance of biological evolution. Even more interesting is that in the Agganna Sutta, a sacred Buddhist text, Buddha explains the world as having evolved over time. Though there is no mention of biological evolution, there is still an emphasis of evolution as a whole—both physically and spiritually. Tibetan Buddhism is known as the branch of Buddhism that has the largest emphasis on reincarnation, which is the most relevant†¦show more content†¦It is one of the most important ideals in Buddhism—that souls travel along over time, moving from body to body, and changing with each life. Spiritual Evolution thus becomes the first lens in which biological evolution can be compared to this religion. In an article in Proto Buddhism, Aloy Perera explores this concept. He says, â€Å"Human consciousness can be viewed as the culmination of the evolutionary process, spoken by of Charles Darwin. † Evolution exists within both human consciousness and within scientific processes. From this viewpoint, it easily allows one to begin to explore why Buddhism and biological evolution may exist in dialogue and even integrate. In order to explore any religious philosophy, it is important to start at the very beginning with a sacred text. The Agganna Sutta is the 27th Sutta of the Digha Nikaya, where Buddha explains, among other things, the origins of the Earth. In summary, the Agganna Sutta explains that resources on the earth led to every living being on earth to evolve . Despite the fact that biological and scientific reasoning is not specifically touched on, it is apparent that evolution was a factor in creating the earth and the beings that live on it today. Though many modern Buddhists may not follow sacred texts to the very word, as in any other religion, the basic over arching idea that evolution exists allows many Buddhists to accept the scientific theories. Though Buddha himself talked about theShow MoreRelatedScientific Contributions Of Buddhism And Technology1062 Words   |  5 Pages Chinese Buddhism and Technology Name: Hongyi Jin Student ID: 301277714 E-mail: hongyij@sfu.ca Words Counter: Contant Table: Abstract ——————————p.g Background and History —————————— p.g Scientific Contributions of Buddhism Impacts of technology to Buddhism Positive Impact ————————— Negative Impact ————————— Results of Interviews observations —————————p.g Comments and Evaluation ———————————p.g Summary ——————————— References ——————————— Abstract Read MoreHealthcare Provider and Faith Diversity Essay1557 Words   |  7 PagesIt is up to the health care professional to respect and understand the ideals that affect our patients and their family members. In this paper we will compare the philosophies of three diverse faiths. The faiths chosen are Islam, Christian Science and Buddhism, and how they compare to Christianity. 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