Modern Science and Only One Religion 'Buddhism' Have Proved Each Other Right
(1) Amazing inter-relationship between Buddhism and modern science.
What the Buddha preached over 2500 years back, is being progressively proved by the day, on how His discourses on the whole existence of the world are all in conformity with the day to day discoveries in modern science.
Buddhism goes beyond the parameters of science into an area totally outside the purview of science to seek ultimate happiness beyond which there is nothing to achieve. The parallel between Buddhism and science ends with the stand on law of causation and Buddhism surpasses modern science in facing problems of achieving mental liberation.
In a molecule of hydrogen, the three tendencies of attraction, repulsion and stabilization are completely eliminated when the molecules are separated by an infinite distance. The Buddha says in respect of the eternal truth about "arising of all", they arise due to the threefold desire consisting of the desire for sensual pleasures (kama thanha) the desire for existence (bhava thanha) and the desire for annihilation (vibhava thanha). The parallel to this discovery is the attraction, repulsion and stabilization of the molecules as mentioned above. And, this principle applies generally to each and every process in the universe.
According to the author of this treatise which should attract readers who are interested in the study of Buddhism in as many perspectives as possible, a particular view in science has only a temporary validity. There is always the possibility that a more acceptable view might emerge in future. On the contrary, the Buddha's view of the world is timeless. Buddhism offers solutions to all the problems confronting man while discarding other concepts of creation which is contrary to the law of causation.
Buddha used the logical argument method known as the reductio ad absurdum in explaining anatta (insubstantiality or soul-lessness). According to modern views, all objects are insubstantial and they are subject to incessant change. They have the characteristic feature of impermanence and insubstantiality. Prof. Ariyaratne makes it clear that we who are made up or entirety of atoms which are composed of fundamental particles should also necessarily have the characteristic of impermanence.
Science says that for a given phenomenon to occur there must be a specific cause or a specific combination of causes. Buddhism holds exactly the same view with regard to dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness) which according to Buddhism is the consequence of unending re-becoming (punabbhava) which is loosely called rebirth by some writers. Finally, of all religions and philosophies in the world, only two, Prof. Ariyaratne says, maintains and concurs with the statement that man is devoid of a permanent essence (soul), one is Buddhism and the other is the world view of modern science.
Prof. Ariyaratne's work in this respect is a timely research study which could open the field of Buddhist studies and scientific studies for further research in search for compatibility of Buddhism with modern science that leaves man from the position of a self-deceptive contradiction of belief in one thing in the place of worship and incompletely a different thing in the science laboratories. One who firmly believes in the concept of creation at the same cannot do research on evolution without causing prejudice to his conviction.
Truth is one and there cannot be two truths contradictory of each other. The Buddha has found the spiritual as well as the scientific nature of existence.
This is from the Buddhist Fellowship website.
It is a review of the book 'Two Buddhist Sutras Viewed from Science' whose author is Prof. J. K. P. Ariyaratne.
It is reviewed by E. M. G. Edirisinghe.
http://www.buddhistfellowship.org/newslink_-_buddhism_&_science.htm