I often characterize the Buddhist tradition as an “ongoing process of replacing dysfunctional states of mind with functional states of mind”. Although this tradition has worked well without science to date (I wrote about this here: Does Buddhism need science?), to my mind, science is key for a truly objective approach to finding the correlates of human flourishing that would be universally accepted.
The Dalai Lama has long been interested in science because just as scientific knowledge is based on testable and repeatable experiments, so is Buddhism. Clearly the methods of each tradition are quite different. However, the Buddhist maxim is “do the experiments for yourself” like a goldsmith tests gold to gauge its value.
There is no “call to authority” as a final arbiter of wisdom in the either tradition—direct experience plays that role.
Studies of the effects of meditation are not new; what is new is the concept of the hybrid. Someone educated in Buddhist theory and practice directly involved in the research project. Being trained in both traditions, these hybrids can act as interpreters. By drawing knowledge of phenomenal structures of consciousness directly from their own mind, they can articulate this directly to scientists, and in their own language. Thus giving science—for the first time—ongoing access to new data and from here—new discoveries. taken from Does Buddhism need science?
It is my hope that we are seeing the beginning of something quite special taken foot in the West. Something that will benefit all sentient beings. With that, here is a video of the Dalai Lama strongly advising Buddhist monks and nuns to embrace the scientific paradigm.
