So let me now ask, if I may, some questions about religion.
What happens if the doctrine of a religion, Buddhism let's say,
is contradicted by some finding, some discovery in science, let's say.
What does a believer in Buddhism do in that case?
For a Buddhist, that is no... that's not a problem.
But that itself, that has to be made clear
- the importance is your own investigation,
and you should know the reality
no matter, you see, what the scripture says.
In case the old finding is something contradicting or opposite to that of the scriptures explanation,
then, you see, you should rely on the finding rather than on the scripture.
So that's very much like science?
That's right.
Said in the basic Buddha's writings.
Concepts...
which is that in all things
I think at the beginning, it is worthwhile or it is better to remain sceptical.
Then can you see, experiment to external means and well as to internal means.
Then through investigation, if things become clear and convincing,
then the time has come to accept or to believe.
If, through science,
there is proof that after death
'cause after death, you see,
there is no more continuity of human mind
or continuity of life.
If proved then, theoretically speaking, Buddhist's have to accept it.
So what would that do to the doctrine of reincarnation?
But I do not think, you see...
that regarding the existence of continuity of the mind, or life...
After death?
Yes, yes. After death.
You see, the concept about that...
I think more of, say... more reason.
Although, you see, acceptance of that kind is still a theory, and may not fill all of your questions,
or may not give you complete satisfaction.
But still, at least to me, it is better than the theory of nonexistence.
So if there is no continuation of life or continuation of being,
then, you see the original course of the whole place is...
in this planet.
Now, for example, it's a Big Bang theory.
Yes, it is alright. It is possible as a Big Bang theory
it happened too, maybe. But it doesn't matter.
Alright.
But then why it happened...?
Ahmmm...
Then either, you see, you have to accept that things happen accidentally.
Yes?
Without biblical cause.
Yes.
That's also uncomfortable.
Ahmm...
Still there are a lot of these questions, of course.
Then there is another thing: Creator.
Yes.
That is also, from the Buddhist viewpoint,
that is also not such a sound answer.
If there is a Creator, why does the Creator create these things?
Yes.
So that kind of a thing,
there's more questions still there.
So, do you believe in God?
God in the sense of some kind of
alternate reality...then yes.
...then we accept.
But God in the sense of an all-mighty Creator,
then Buddhists do not accept.
So there's no conceivable finding of science
which would make you say
that Buddhist doctrine is wrong, or that you are no longer a Buddhist?
I think that if there's a scientific finding
through careful experimentation,
that Buddhists, at once, would have to accept.
So no problem.
But some...
you know... some
...some scientists,
they believe that all...
What is it?
...scientific-minded Buddhists
- let's say it that way -
they consider that Buddhism is not a religion,
but rather that it is a Science of Mind.
Ahmm...
Or sometimes they call it an 'Inner Science',
because it is something like inner science.
So according, you see,
to my own experiences
as a result of meeting with scientists in recent years
as I've developed much contact with scientists
mainly in the fields of, say...
the Cosmology,
and then
Neurobiology,
and also the Physics,
mainly seeing the quantum mechanic field,
and then, of course, Psychology.
You see, in these fields
there are many
I say... common...
I say...
common balances.
So...
you see,
there have been
discussions in length
in these fields.
As a Buddhist I got much benefit
to learn from their findings,
and it's very helpful
to...
For a Buddhist,
at the same time, you see,
some scientists also you see showing genuine, keen interest
about Buddhist explanations
about their subject.
Yes.
And as far as either one, the one is quite clear.
As far as I've said mental science is concerned,
the Buddhism is very... I think highly advanced.