fluid spirituality

[brightlotusmoon]

"If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview."
-Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

I replaced Buddhism with my own spiritual beliefs. I like the idea that science and faith need to work together to understand the universe. Religion should not stay five hundred yards away from science at all times.*
It's part of the reason my novel has elements of both magic and science, working in harmony.

*Name where that paraphrased quote comes from and you get a cookie.

Comments

[thiswaste.livejournal.com]

That's an ideal way of thinking- after all, aren't we all striving to find the same Ultimate Truth?

[todabrilla.livejournal.com]

Well, I like the idea that he is flexible enough to realize that his faith needs to adapt to science and does not reject all evidence contrary to his dogma as some other religions are wont to do.

FYI: A conservative news outlet is celebrating the Earth's 6010th birthday http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57900&6010 (based on the Arch Bishop of Ussher's infamous Biblical calculations). Way to go, World Nut Daily! I suspect that they might be a satire site like the Onion except if so they are disguising it well.

[sophy.livejournal.com]

I've always felt like magic was the perfect blend of spirituality and science.

[armandii.livejournal.com]

That's a fantastic quote. There is so much dogma among *leaders* whether religious or political - this is so refreshing.

[gwynethfar.livejournal.com]

You know, I read a couple of books about Buddhism, and it seemed like such a downer. I guess I'm not meant for enlightenment this time around. ^_^

[blood-4-deniro.livejournal.com]

oh, i love HH the Dalai Lama. i met him twice (he remembered me the 2nd time!). he's in Bloomington (indiana) again and i wanna go see him again, but i work. he's so interesting and has a great energy to him.

i love Buddhism, it's always been interesting to me and it's always made sense to me. i took the whole "everything is suffering" as, to use gwynethfar's example. "Now, when I eat this cookie, it will cause me suffering, because everything causes suffering." tho if you realize that everything brings suffering, that makes eating the cookie that much more joyful because you focus more on the enjoyment of eating the cookie and the deliciousness of the cookie rather than "oh, i want a cookie. yum." and then forget that you ate the cookie like 2 hours later when you become hungry again. that's how i interpret it anyway. dunno if it made sense.

sorry...didnt mean to post a long reply >__

[poelaramont.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

Dang, I can't have a cookie. That's okay, though, we baked our own.