Too Scientific to Practice Wholeheartedly?

Question:

Do you have suggestions for people like me who are too 'scientific' in outlook to practice wholeheartedly, and is there a way to distinguish between faith and wishful thinking?

Response:

Science incorporates the principle of cause and effect, trying to discern the cause of a known result or a result from a known cause. Doing experiments and finding the cause and effect are consistently connected moves the concept more firmly into the realm of fact. For example, my letting go of an object and observing that it falls to the floor every single time leads me to conclude there’s cause and effect at work: release and falling.

Buddhism follows the same principle of experimentation. The Buddha never told us to blindly believe what he said. We learn his teachings and put them into practice. We then can discern the result he spoke of for ourselves.

I calm my mind, and I discern am less anxious.

I reduce my wants, and I realize that I am more content with what I have.

I think before I speak, and I observe that I say fewer things that hurt others and get me into trouble.

So by learning and doing, through experimentation, I prove for myself that he spoke the truth when he said such things as quiet the mind, let go of desire, and be aware of our thoughts before we act on them.

Through doing what the Buddha advised, our confidence, belief, or faith will grow as we experience the truth in the teachings for ourselves. With this, there will be no need for wishful thinking for we will begin to know the reality.

Comments

[HB]

Thanks again for addressing my questions. Reading your very well put responses, I realize that my issues primarily stem from doubts about the authenticity of the Mahayana sutras. Also, while I can apply trial and error in the manner you suggest for determining the helpfulness of any shamatha-type meditation practice such as Buddha name recitation, or for establishing the validity of the Four Noble Truths or the three dharma seals, I cannot really use it to determine whether the Pure Land or Amitabha exist in the conventional sense. It seems that these matters require a foundation of faith independent of practice -- almost like the concept of grace in the Christian tradition. Perhaps that's why the Pure Land sutras say that these things are very difficult to believe.

[Venerable Wuling]

I understand. If you have not already done so, you might read A Perfect Tapestry at http://abuddhistperspective.squarespace.com/abuddhistperspective/2009/2/5/a-perfect-tapestry.html

It addresses the validity of the sutras.

We need "faith" for many things. Faith that a loved one will continue to love us; faith that if I try to do the right thing I will be of help to others; even faith that my computer, when I most assuredly do not know how it works, will indeed work. Some things we can prove. Others we simply trust. All the Buddha asked was that we keep an open mind, live morally, chant, and see what happens. See what moves in our heart.