The great Carl Sagan was an atheist who admired certain religious figures. He once described his meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying he had asked what would become of Buddhist teaching on reincarnation if science were able to disprove it… and that the Dalai Lama answered, more or less, “Well, then we’d have to change our teaching, wouldn’t we?”
Here’s a pertinent transcript of that part of the conversation.
Carl Sagan (CS): So let me ask now, if I may, some questions on 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?
Dalai Lama (DL): For Buddhists that is not a problem. The Buddha himself made clear that the important thing is your own investigation. You should know the reality, no matter what the scripture says. In case you find a contradiction — opposite of the scriptures’ explanation — you should rely on that finding, rather than scripture.
CS: So, that is very much like science?
DL: Yes, that’s right. So I think that the basic Buddhist concept is that at the beginning it is worthwhile or better to remain skeptical. Then carry out experiments through external means as well as internal means. If through investigation things become clear and convincing, then it is time to accept or believe. If, through science, there is proof that after death there is no continuity of human mind, of life, then — theoretically speaking — Buddhists will have to accept that.
The rest of the conversation is easy to find online, both as transcript and as audio/video recording.
jimmjonzz Premium Member over 5 years ago
The great Carl Sagan was an atheist who admired certain religious figures. He once described his meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying he had asked what would become of Buddhist teaching on reincarnation if science were able to disprove it… and that the Dalai Lama answered, more or less, “Well, then we’d have to change our teaching, wouldn’t we?”
Here’s a pertinent transcript of that part of the conversation.
Carl Sagan (CS): So let me ask now, if I may, some questions on 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?
Dalai Lama (DL): For Buddhists that is not a problem. The Buddha himself made clear that the important thing is your own investigation. You should know the reality, no matter what the scripture says. In case you find a contradiction — opposite of the scriptures’ explanation — you should rely on that finding, rather than scripture.
CS: So, that is very much like science?
DL: Yes, that’s right. So I think that the basic Buddhist concept is that at the beginning it is worthwhile or better to remain skeptical. Then carry out experiments through external means as well as internal means. If through investigation things become clear and convincing, then it is time to accept or believe. If, through science, there is proof that after death there is no continuity of human mind, of life, then — theoretically speaking — Buddhists will have to accept that.
The rest of the conversation is easy to find online, both as transcript and as audio/video recording.
prrdh over 5 years ago
If science were to prove anything, it wouldn’t be science, would it?
salenstormwing over 5 years ago
This is why your science/religious figures should be cats, since they can both be dead and alive at the same time.
Christopher Shea over 5 years ago
“‘Oh dear,’ says God, ‘I hadn’t thought of that,’ and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.”
SHIVA over 5 years ago
Jon, you should go up and meet Matt at Please Listen To Me. I see a similarity there!!
PoodleGroomer over 5 years ago
The interviewer should blink out next as the universe implodes and reboots.
Scoutmaster77 over 5 years ago
Nice going, Mr. newscaster!