Robert Sachs

Presentation for
Science, Wisdom, and The Future
San Luis Obispo, CA
By Robert Sachs
June 26th, 2009
In a conversation about Buddhism and Science, H.H. Dalai Lama said that if there ever was a discrepancy between science and Buddhism, that one should trust science.

This may seem an odd statement on the part of a spiritual leader. However, Buddhism has NEVER really seen itself as a RELIGION. In modern vernacular, it would define itself as a MIND SCIENCE. Whereas in the West we view our ASTRONAUTS as the iconic great explorers of space on behalf of science and humanity, noted Buddhist scholar, Robert Thurman, describes the yogis of Tibet as PSYCHONAUTS – explorers of INNER SPACE – the interior of our MIND and EXPERIENCE.

Many religious scholars have tried to parochialize the Buddha’s teachings, known as the DHARMA, to mean “the truth” in a similar way that Judeo-Christian traditions make reference to their own doctrines. In actuality, however, a more proper definition of DHARMA is “THE WAY THINGS ARE” In the Buddha’s DHARMA, there is nothing to “believe.” This does not mean that there are not some fairly amazing statements and observations about reality, the mind, experience, and how to transform them that are not only profound, but incomprehensible and seemingly incongruous to our 3-dimensional materialistic minds. What senior yogis (Thurman’s psychonauts or inner explorers) tell more junior explorers or questioning ordinary folk when their minds have doubts about what is taught is to have FAITH – but, not in any blind sense of the word. Rather, they are asked to SUSPEND drawing conclusions based on their current knowledge base and level of judgment until rigorously applying the SKILLFUL MEANS taught by Buddhist teachers so that they can confirm or refute assertions made in the DHARMA for themselves.
In essence, all Buddhist methods help to develop and hone our CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. This may seem anathema to a religion seeking converts and patrons – which is why, in the final analysis one cannot logically conclude that Buddhism is or acts – in its truest form – as a religion. The Buddha – recognizing our AWAKENED POTENTIAL – wanted friends, NOT followers.

Thus the same type of critical thinking that is necessary for the pursuit of SCIENCE is the SAME critical thinking that Buddhist teachers encourage. At the same time, the Buddha taught that along with critical thinking skills, what could loosely be defined as the SKILLFUL MEANS (the MALE PRINCIPLE in the development of AWAKENING or Enlightenment) there needs to be WISDOM (the FEMALE PRINCIPLE) to ensure that the same rigor applied to exploration is also applied to how what is discovered is APPLIED.
Of course, one may argue that APPLICATION is not the concern of “pure” science; that these is something devoid of such concerns in exploration for exploration’s sake – to fulfill some itch that we as humans feel the need to scratch.
This is all well and good if it were not true that virtually all forms of knowledge or information will eventually – if it is at all useful – be applied by humans. And, we all know too well that in the end, APPLICATION IS WHERE IT’S AT. And in that regard, we need to be willing to apply our CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS to investigate INTENTION and DESIRED OUTCOME. We thus find ourselves needing to take a very serious look at MORALITY.

Consider these examples in MODERN TIMES
• Through genius of Einstein, we discover relativity and the ability to split an atom. Without truly understanding all of the implications…
a. We first create the ATOMIC BOMB. We supposedly end a war by annihilating 2 entire cities and spawn a NUCLEAR ARMS RACE
b. We create nuclear waste but don’t have any skillful way of getting rid of it. So we (1) create storage facilities and ponds that will remain radioactive for thousands of years and will need to be guarded and monitored for all that time, (2) surreptitiously ship containers to 3rd world countries and pay off officials and corporations to “hide” it for us, and (3) WITLESSLY decide that eradiation is a good way to make foods last longer – even if it does shrink the genitals of some test animals
• Through computer technology, we develop the world of virtual reality. Applications?
a. The first application of sense technology for gaming was to create a “virtual girl” and sensor-laden gloves that one could where to fondle her breasts.
b. The fact that nearly ½ of the “World Wide Web” is devoted to PORN and has led to a more streamlined proliferation of the human sex trade.
• The emphasis of technology over the natural sciences in education and funding.
a. Here is where we come to one of the most significant observations and warnings by one of the Buddhist Masters I interviewed in my book, the Wisdom of The Buddhist Masters: Common and Uncommon Sense. H.H. KUNZIG SHAMAR RINPOCHE commented that in the West he saw the spawning of “MACINE MINDS” is a growing number of seemingly educated people whose primary focus was on technological expertise. These MACHINE MIND people are easily manipulated and programmed.
In the madrases of Pakistan and other parts of the Middle East, clerics use to to advise their students not to receive any form of Western education. However, what they observed is that if they were primarily trained in science, math, and technology, they tended to have 0-1, BLACK-WHITE reality thinking. Not having much emotional intelligence, they could easily be swayed to strap on bombs and faithful walk into busy markets. They made great suicide bombers.
I saw this here in San Luis Obispo about 4 years ago – at Cal Poly.
I had been invited by what I later learned was a fundamentalist Christian organization to represent a Buddhist perspective to what was touted as an “ecumenical” gathering. On a Friday night, there were over 800 Christian students gathered who were so myopic in their understanding of religion as to ask the rabbi on the panel if he could accept Jesus Christ as his savior? Whilst it was clear that some of these students were genuinely searching, it was also quite clear from questions, responses, and levels of applause for the representative Christian scholar on the panel that the majority would probably be quite willing to join a modern Crusade against the non-believers.
Rather than developing critical think skills, we are narrowly applying these abilities and STIFLING our potentials in other areas of human endeavor – music, art, philosophy, and the like.
WE ARE WITLESSLY CREATING THE DRONES FOR ARMAGEDDON.
• Regarding our application of modern medical science, I documented observation from another Tibetan Master – THE VEN. TARTHANG TULKU RINPOCHE. He commented on the phenomenal progress we in the West had made in the field of medicine – where we virtually have the potential to fully eradicate any number of illnesses that have plagued humanity for centuries. The ISSUE, he states, is whether we have the MORAL WILL to actually follow through, rather than allowing economic and political factors to determine their scope and application.
In an ever-shrinking, inter-dependent world, if we are truly focused on a sustainable, peaceful planet, we can no longer rely upon BELIEF/GUILT-BASED MORALITY to temper the AVARICE and GREED of those who use science and technology to their own economic and political advantage. For, in truth, it has been BELIEF/GUILT-BASED MORALITY that has been used over the centuries to bludgeon and stifle critical thinkers.

Rather, what we need is a MORALITY that appeals to our awakening potential.
The MORALITY of the Buddha’s DHARMA is based upon observation. “If one does this, then this is what will be what follows.” The law of CAUSE and EFFECT – of KARMA – is a central pillar of the Buddha’s teaching. It lays out in clear and explicitly observable terms what the Bible states general in the adage, “What you sew, so shall you reap.” In my book, the Buddha at War: Peaceful Heart, Courageous Action in Troubled Times, I make reference to the most pithy text of Karma, entitled “The Wheel of Sharp Weapons” by Dharmarakshita. I could cite examples from this text in general terms. However, right now – in our own time - the transparency and results of greed and avarice are much more evident to a far greater number of people than ever before. We don’t need to quote scripture to know that.

For the sake of Science, for the sake of the world and humanity, are we willing to take the next step in our human quest? Are we willing to wed the SKILLFUL MEANS of SCIENCE with the WISDOM of a MORALITY devoid of dogma and guilt?
My contention is that if we do so, the solutions to the dilemmas we are facing today will create an IMPERATIVE that is both LOGICAL and IRREFUTABLE – even to those who would otherwise ignore them to their “seeming” advantage. And, if the Buddha is correct, if we all possess Tathagatagarbha or AWAKENING POTENTIAL, then deep down, those propelling us into chaos, do know better – and only need to be reminded of such.

And, it is our JOB to remind them of just THAT.
Robert Sachs, author
The Buddha at War: Peaceful Heart, Courageous Heart in Troubled Times
The Wisdom of The Buddhist Masters: Common and Uncommon Sense