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In the Past in the Present in the Future
Buddha developed a profound and detailed, universal theory of unity, which accounts for everything related to mind and consciousness. The Buddha obtained his deep insights by means of mental techniques and training. Using his own mind as both research equipment and research object, his approach was at least as empirical - i.e. verifiable by experience or experiment - as that of modern physics.
Contemporary, mainstream quantum physics and cosmology in unison are close at what is dubbed a "Grand Unification Theory" which supposedly explains all phenomena and is based on empirical evidences gathered in a handful of High-Energy Physics Laboratories. Well, rather, they were close at it by the end of the 20.th century whereafter the quest for a unified theory, prevalent in main-stream physics for most of the 20'th century, seems to have dissolved into a plethora of theoretical speculations, which seem to have in common that they are un-verifiable by experience or experiment and thus are neither empirical nor scientific.
The great stumbling block for modern physics is that at the very experimental frontiers, where experiments are conducted under extreme conditions, it has been verified that the behavior of matter / energy / fields at the very smallest observable scales, ponderable in the labs, depends on how it is being observed. It is exactly here the teachings of the Buddha can come in handy. Buddha came to the same conclusions about the physical reality on the very smallest scales as modern physics. However, Buddha didn't need any multi billion dollar high-energy physics laboratory and tremendous amounts of explosive energy to make his discoveries - the shade of a tree, a pillow and a properly trained mind is all that it takes.
Regards, Project Buddha Society.
Excerpt of the Day
Each day we bring a new excerpt from our Favorite Books Online.
Dependent Origination
by P. A. Payutto
The sciences which have evolved with human civilization, and which are influencing our lives so profoundly today, are said to be based on reason and rationality. Their storehouse of knowledge has been amassed through interacting with these natural laws of conditionality. But the human search for knowledge in modern scientific fields has three notable features: Firstly, the search for knowledge in these sciences, and the application of that knowledge, is separated into distinct categories. Each branch of science is distinct from the others. Secondly, human beings in this present civilization are of the belief that the law of conditionality applies only to the physical world, not to the mental world, or to abstract values such as ethics. This can be seen even in the study of psychology, which tends to look at the cause and effect process only in relation to physical phenomena. Thirdly, the application of scientific knowledge (of the laws of conditionality) is napplied solely to serve self interests.
Books for Sale
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  | A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma (Vipassana Meditation and the Buddha's Teachings) by Bhikkhu Bodhi. This modern translation of the Abhidhammattha Sangaha (Manual of Abhidhamma) offers an introduction to Buddhism's fundamental philosophical psychology. Originally written in the 11th or 12th century, the Sangaha has served as the key to Abhidhamma's central themes, including states of consciousness and mental factors, the functions and processes of the mind. This book presents an exact translation of the Sangaha alongside the original Pali text. A detailed, explanatory guide with more than 40 charts and tables lead readers through the complexities of Adhidhamma. |
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  | The Progress of Insight: A Treatise on Satipatthana Meditation by Mahasi Sayadaw. In this work on insight or vipassana meditation, Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw describes the seven stages of purification that occur on the path of insight. It is not intended for beginners. From the translator's forward: "The foremost concern in this work is with a stage where, after diligent preliminary practice, the insight knowledges have begun to emerge, leading up to the highest crest of spiritual achievement, Arahantship." |
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  | Keeping the Breath in Mind and Lessons in Samadhi by Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo. This is a how to book. It teaches liberation of the mind not as a mind-boggling theory, but as a very basic skill that starts with keeping the breath in mind. The teachings are drawn from the works of Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, one of Thailand's most renowned teachers of Buddhist meditation. |
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  | Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree: The Buddha's Teachings on Voidness by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. In this remarkable book, Ajahn Buddhadasa teaches us beautifully, profoundly, and simply the meaning of sunnata, or voidness, which is a thread that links every great school of Buddhism. He teaches us the truth of this voidness with the same directness and simplicity with which he invites us into his forest - (from the foreword by Jack Kornfield). |
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  | Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path by Henepola Gunaratana. In the same engaging style that has endeared him to readers of his bestselling Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Gunaratana goes into each step of the Buddha's most profound teaching on bringing an end to suffering: the noble eightfold path. With generous and specific advice, Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness offers tools to overcome all the mental hindrances that prevent happiness. Whether you are an experienced meditator or someone who's only just beginning to practice mindfulness, this gentle and down-to-earth guide will help you bring the heart of the Buddha's teachings into every aspect of your life. |
