Thread: Modern Physics and Tibetan Buddhism

Modern physics and Tibetan Buddhism

This is a fascinating discussion on the nature of experience.


"That the entire repertoire of human experience is fleeting and ever changing is a fundamental teaching of Buddhism. Not one of the objects of our world, our perceptions of those objects, our concepts, or even our gods is eternal. Like the river of Heraclites, life is ever flowing and ever different, and suffering results when we cling to something that appears to be permanent. Human experience consists not of eternal ultimates and essences, but of combinations, the parts of which are perpetually arising and perishing, just as the human body itself changes form moment to moment. The mind and consciousness appear and disappear, like day and night, like a monkey gamboling in a forest, leaping from branch to branch.

Buddhism, as an ethical and philosophical system, has been no more exempt from continual change than anything else in our world. The evolution of Buddhism has been interpreted either as a process of constant development spurred by internal and external challenges, perhaps largely unforeseen by its founder, or as a complete and self-contained philosophy taught by the Buddha and elucidated by subsequent commentators. The latter interpretation is preferred by Tibetan Buddhists who describe the unfolding of Buddhism in terms of the three turnings of the Wheel of Dharma: first, the scripture of Hinayana; second, the intermediate scripture of Mahayana including the Prajnaparamitas and the Madhyamika; third, the scripture of Yogacara."

Originally Posted by Divine Wind

From physicist Fritjof Capra's "The Tao of Physics":

Physicists do not need mysticism, and mystics do not need physics, but humanity needs both.

That book has been recommended reading in the past.

Originally Posted by Divine Wind

As it should be along with the Tao of Pooh.

Willie Nelson has written a book Amazon.com: The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart (9781592401970): Willie Nelson, Turk Pipkin: Books

Originally Posted by Divine Wind

LOL. I'll have to look into that one at the library. Oddly enough, I just created a CD for a memorial service for a friend's friend who just died of pancreatic cancer. He was a big fan of Willie and all the other members of the Highwaymen.

Anyone who does not like Willie is suspicious to me.