SCIENCE

AND
TRIPITAKA
(BUDHHA DHAMMA)

The Buddha Dhamma may be defined in brief as the teaching of

Gotama Buddha on the basis of the discoveries He made when He
attained Supramundane knowledge by introspective meditation. To be
a Buddhist scholar it is essential to study all His discoveries, discourses
and commentaries, which are comprehensive, but the learned teachers
advise us that the first step for the layman is to thoroughly
comprehend the physical and psychical processes and their causal
relations. Bearing this in mind let us first of all study the phenomena of
physical process.
The Buddha discovered with scientific exactitude the composite
nature of wave and matter as the basic phenomenon of physical
particles. He taught us that the smallest particles are in a dynamic
process of arising and vanishing with a frequency of about fifty
thousand million cycles during the period of a finger-snap. He
mentioned that about 46,656 atoms are required to form the minutest
particle of fine dust raised by the wheel of a chariot in summer. Devout
Buddhist scholars have actually seen this process in the course of
Vipassan± meditation, but I am not quite sure whether they are able to
count and compute the frequency accurately as shown by the Buddha.
At any rate we can realise that the static structure, which we find
through our sense organs is a delusion and we shall find that this
delusion is the main cause of our life-long troubles and miseries. It is a
misconception inherent in us since childhood, and it will remain till
death, unless we dispel it by developing the faculty of understanding.
 The Buddha scientifically expounded these phenomena as Four Noble
Truths and
formulated the Eightfold Noble Path for the solution of all the problems
of life.
Let us now find out how far modern science can help us to understand
the phenomena of physical process. It can help us to a great extent to
understand at least theoretically. Its findings are almost identical with the
discovery of the Buddha. The scientists have re-discovered the composite
nature of wave and matter by the use of their precision instruments,
mathematical equations, and logical thinking in the light of experiments and
observations. They describe it briefly stating that there are two kinds of
waves—bottled-up waves, which we call matter and unbottled waves which
we call light, heat, electro-magnetic radiations, Xrays, etc. They can resolve
the whole material universe into waves—nothing but waves. Their discoveries
of natural radio activity, cosmic radiations and the natural formation of
discrete quantities or packets of radiated energy as propounded by quantum
theory are in total agreement with the discovery of the Buddha. They can tell
us precisely that one gram of radium emits 3. 70 x 10 10 alpha particles with a
velocity of 1. 699 x 109 centimeters per second. They are also able to
generate artificial eletronic radiations with superhigh frequencies ranging
beyond ten
thousand million cycles per second. When they produce them with the help of
electronic devices, they distinctly find the process of arising and vanishing.
The 52 process of arising and vanishing means motion. Motion means time.
Using time as factor for the theory of relativity, Einstein propounded that the
physical phenomenon is a four-dimensional continuum formed by the union of
space and time. All these go to show that the scientists have also fully
realised the dynamic nature of physical particles. The atom is no more a
static structure to them. So far so good. Modern science is the chief witness,
that can give reliable evidence in support of the Buddha- Dhamma. I cannot
find such strong evidence in the speculative philosophies, some of which, in
fact, try to justify the existence of immortal soul and Almighty God, which are
conspicuous by their absence in the discoveries of the Buddha.
Let us go ahead and study His other discoveries relating to physical
phenomena. He taught us that there are four generating forces, that give rise
to the appearance of material existence. They are
(1) Resultant mental forces,
(2) Mental activities,
(3) Temperature or weather and
(4) Nutriment.
The mental phenomena and the causal relations between physical and
psychical processes as discovered by the Buddha can never be re-discovered
and realized with the help of scientific instruments, mathematical formulae,
experiments, observations, analysis and logical thinking. The mental
phenomena can be discovered completely only in the light of Supramundane
knowledge far transcending the mundane intellect and
faculties. It is beyond the realms of physical science and it will be interesting
to study the limitations of modern science in contrast to the wide vista
presented by the Supramundane knowledge.
 If we study the methods used for the development of scientific
knowledge, we shall find that all sciences have been built upon two main
foundations only. They are
(1) the sensations received by the scientists as the subjective and (2) the
external physical phenomena or stimulus as the objective.
The subjective sensations are formed through five sense organs i.e. eyes,
ears, nose, tongue and body. The objective physical phenomena are the
manifestations of material properties in a perpetual state of flux. The
scientists receive a series of sensations by observing the results of
experiments when they try to understand the phenomena of a
particular subject. After the formation of sensations as a result of
experiments and
analysis, the mind organ begins to function by reasoning and deducing logical
inferences from the observed facts. They then formulate scientific laws with
the support of mathematical equations. This is the process upon which
modern science is founded. But the scientists cannot go beyond
approximations since the external world of objects which they find through
their sense organs are not absolute or direct or real. The sensations
are mere images of the objects . The late Albert Einstein himself admitted
that sense perception only gives information of the external world indirectly
and we can only grasp the latter by speculative means. This is the dead end
of modern science.
Let us now study the immense field of the Supramundane knowledge
of the 53
Buddhas and Arahats. We shall find with amazement that Gotama Buddha
discovered with mathematical precision the mental phenomena and causal
relations, the foundations of the Buddha- Dhamma. But in this short talk I
can mention only a few essential facts in brief just to give an idea. The
Buddha taught us that the mental process with quanta of thought moments is
17 times faster than the physical frequency. These rapidly fleeting thought
moments have 52 types of mental properties, which in
combination with passive mind generate 121 classes of consciousness
ramifying as 31 planes of existence. The most important discovery is the
causal relations between mental and physical phenomena in 24 systems of
correlation. Another important system of causation is Dependent Origination
of 12 mental and physical factors, that give rise to the appearance of life
continuum in cyclic order. He taught us that inherent delusion
or ignorance is the main cause that creates the living beings. The
predominance of mental process in the phenomenal existence will be realised
if we study the nature of those living beings in the higher celestial world.
They have no material qualities at all. Their existence is only mental. Their
life tern is very long but they cannot escape the life process. After death they
are liable to be reborn as human or celestial beings with both mental and
physical properties.
As a last word, I would like to mention that if we study the scientific
expositions of the Buddha-Dhamma rationally, we shall be able to develop
our faculty of understanding, leading to our realization that the so-called life
is nothing more than an endless psycho-physical process like a pendulum
between likes and dislikes or joy and sorrow with resultant miseries in series.
But when we fully realise the miserable nature of life, we can stop the
 psycho-physical process by a systematic course of Vipassan± meditation. We
can then dispel all the delusions and resist the temptations of worldly sensual
desires or cravings. Our feelings of like and dislike are strong when the
faculty of understanding is low. Their strength diminishes in the same ratio as
the increase in the faculty of understanding. They will go down to zero point
as the knowledge reaches the highest stage. It may be formulated that the
feelings, of likes and dislikes or joy and sorrow vary inversely as the faculty of
understanding. It is the law of diminishing craving. The Buddha dispelled
craving completely as soon as He attained the Supramundane
knowledge. He therefore taught us that the development of the faculty of
understanding is the first step in the Eightfold Noble Path, that leads to
perfect peace of mind by attaining complete emancipation from the
conditioned life-continuum.
In conclusion, I am not trying to belittle the scientists by showing the
limitations
of modern science. On the contrary, their highly developed scientific
knowledge will help them to understand the Buddha-Dhamma thoroughly and
to take up a course of Vipassan± meditation successfully. For these reasons
the scientists are requested to study the Buddha-Dhamma and interpret it in
their scientific language as and when they are satisfied and convinced that it
will be really conducive to the welfare of mankind.