Into a clear pond we throw a pebble. The instant the pebble hits the water we see a rippling effect on the pond’s surface. Using this for our analogy, if asked what is the chief difference between the physical sciences (we could also include the life sciences) and Buddhism we would answer, the physical sciences study the ripples while Buddhism seeks to know the substance of water itself (this is what true mysticism is about).
This is, in one respect, a huge difference; still, it is not so great from the aspect of water itself. Carrying this to the realization of absolute Mind, the sciences are focused on the phenomena of Mind—not Mind, itself. On the other hand, Mind is what the practice of Buddhism attempts to realize; this is Buddhist science. To be honest, Buddhism is not primarily concerned with phenomena. In fact, phenomena can, and often does, become a distraction for the serious practitioner.
Western Buddhists who pander to the physical and life sciences are really doing Buddhism a disservice. They are making it apparent, at a not so subtle level, that science is superior to Buddhism—it has all the answers. I suspect, also, these Western Buddhists assume that the cognition of Mind is unreal bullshit; moreover that anyone who suggests or claims to have cognized Mind, while having good intentions, is no doubt deluded. So up goes another section in the West’s iron curtain which is trying to keep out mysticism which comprehends the absolute substance of reality.
Thinking more about the ripples on the surface of the pond and the water, for those inclined towards cognizing the substance of phenomenal reality, their work is extremely important. Their profound insight changes the heart of man, but also man’s intellect which lays the ground for a new science, a science close to Mind which sees the universe not big banging into existence, for example, but sees the universe as a demonstration of Mind, itself, which is always pointing back to itself and awakening.
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