Most
Venerables, Venerables,
Excellencies,
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
First of all, please let me express my deepest thanks to the
organisers of the 2m World Buddhist Forum especially
the Most Ven. Yi Cheng President of the Buddhist Association of China,
the Most Ven. Hsing Yun President of the Buddha's Life International
Association, the Most Ven. Kok Kwong President of the Hong Kong Buddhist
Association, H.E.Mr. Ye Xiaowen Chairman of the China Religious Culture
Communication Association, who have allowed me to participate in this
prestigious conference.
Buddhism started when Siddhartha Gautama achieved his
spiritual goal and began teaching. The path he taught consisted of a
code of conduct, a variety of meditation techniques, and doctrines about
the nature of the world and humanity. Buddhism is a varied tradition
and aspects include fundamentalism, devotional traditions. Nevertheless,
many common points have been raised between scientific investigation
and Buddhist thought.
Some of notable scientists have a respectful views on
Buddhism. Many scientists like Einstein and Albert North Whitehead
strongly think there is a close link between our religion and science.
Allow me to share with you some words from these famous scientists:
Albert North Whitehead said "Buddhism is the most colossal example in
the history of applied metaphysics." and Bertrand Russell, another Nobel
Prize winner, wrote Buddhism is a combination of both speculative and
scientific philosophy. As you can see, Science is a little theological
threat to a Buddhist worldview because Buddhism had unique advantages
such :
1. Buddhism did not assert or depend upon the existence
of a God
2. Buddhism was a morai ideal in conformity of the
scientific view of an ordered universe ruled by law (Dhamma)
3. Buddhism does not belief in gods but trust in natural
law
4. Buddhism was a religion of self-help with all
depending on the individual working out his/her own salvation.
Your Holiness,
MostVenerables, Venerables,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Buddhism and Science have increasingly been discussed as
compatible and Buddhism has increasingly entered into the ongoing
science and religion dialog. The case is made that the philosophic and
psychological teachings within Buddhism share commonalities with modern
scientific and philosophic thought, or at least, are less at odds with
them. For example, Buddhism encourages the impartial investigation of
Nature (an activity referred to as Dhamma-Vicaya in the Pali
Canon) - the principal object of study being oneself.
With a special focus on the nature of mind and its
implications for the concept of reality, Buddhism offers explanations
for metaphysical issues within psychology and studies of consciousness.
Some popular conceptions of Buddhism connect it to discourse regarding
evolution, quantum theory, and cosmology, even though most scientists
see a separation between the religious and metaphysical statements of
Buddhism and the methodology of science. But, if we study very carefully
the Buddha's teachings, we could find a lot of elements which may
complete many part of science.
Buddhist may give his own contribution on the well being of
human kind in addition of what science already discovered. Science and
Buddhism can work together by mutual synergy in order to limit all
illegal human actions.
In this connection, we suggest the following recommendations :
♦ The Buddhist monks and nuns must promote
dissemination or teaching the Dhamma to all people to keep in mind of
the Culture of Peace and remind the peaceful mission of science.
♦ All Buddhist stakeholders should control the
negative effects of the exponential progress of Information technology
as you see in some negative website
♦ The Buddhist authorities can help people by educating
them how to use the technology newly discovered by science according to
the Buddha's teachings.
♦ All Buddhist must remind to their national leaders,
as soon as possible, the good use of all nuclear discovers in order to
avoid military using.
♦ All Buddhist must work with scientist for promoting a
humanist science and technology that support the social well being and
preservation of the environment.
♦ And, finally, Buddhism and science can contribute
together in order to educate people to aware and respect the human
rights.
May all the human beings live in Peace and Serenity! Thank
you for your attention.
H.H.Tep Vong
Great Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayutta Order ingdom of
Cambodia