Expert: Justin Choo - 10/4/2008

Question
I have been researching Buddhism and other Eastern religions for a class that I am taking, and I had a few questions about Buddhism that we had not addressed.

1) It seems like it would be difficult to live as a traditional Buddhist and still do things that are prevalent in daily life. For instance, we are so focused on the gain and loss of money, yet Buddhism stresses the unimportance of material possessions. How does one manage to balance Buddhist traditions with day-to-day life in current society?

2) What are Buddhists’ views on recent scientific discoveries? Do Buddhist beliefs agree with or dispute modern science (or do they combine elements of the two)?

3) Aside from chanting and hymns, how important is music in Buddhist traditions?

Thank you for your time and and your answers.

Answer
Hi Priya,

1. We can say that the teachings of the Buddha are of 2 levels.  One is for the lay people.  The other is for those who pursue the ultimate release or salvation, generally refers to monks and nuns.  The teachings are no different, but the intensity of practice and realization is different.  If we really want to seek ultimate release or salvation it is very difficult to live as worldly persons because being worldly we are subject to worldly problems, worldly needs, and worldly temptations.  

But as worldly persons you would agree with me that it is impossible to live without the necessities of human comfort (and a little bit of sensual gratification).  The Buddha's contention is not so much of ridding material possessions, but not to be over crazy with our desires.  We practise a lifestyle of CONTENTMENT with what we already have.  This does not prevent us from further improving our material well being.  The skill in right-living is to be contented here and now.  Otherwise, we will be like crazy fools chasing after more and more material gains without ends.

2. Buddhism is a very "scientific" religion.  The Buddha not only analyzed this human form and mind; he also revealed the vastness of the universe, its cycle of formation and dissolution.

Our present existence is but a cycle of "creation, evolution, and destruction".  In astronomy, scientists could observe this "phenomenon" of creation, evolution and destruction of planets and stars.  There is no beginning and end.  It is a perpetual cycle.  It has been like this in time immemorial and will be likewise forever, ad infinitum.

Within one cycle, there is the "creation" of world systems.  Life appears from other planes of existence and evolves.  The cycle will again go through the stages of "creation, evolution, dissolution, and destruction".

At this point in time, countless world systems go through the different phases of this cycle of existence.  Ask any astro scientist and he will confirm this truth.  The Buddha, with his mind power (omniscience) could see through all these phenomena.

As for "new" discoveries in the studies of the subconscious and genes, the Buddha had explained them all.  He had the omniscient power to understand all phenomena through the power of his mind.
A detailed study of the Buddha's teachings in the realms of the mind and the analyses of the body are found in the Buddhist text on "higher teachings" in the "Abidhamma".

3.  In serious  practice of Buddhism, music is actually a hindrance to mental cultivation.  This is because music appeals to the senses.

Hope this helps.

Justin Choo.

[I like to invite you to visit my blog:]
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/

[And this blog by Rev. Dhammika:]
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/