1.

Does modern science lend support to Buddhist ideas about the human
mind?
2. Does modern science lend support to the logic behind Buddhist
meditation practice?

Buddhism and Modern Science

By
P. Shivdas

Modern Science is an Objective as well as a subjective field but the limits of

its objectivity and subjectivity are clearly undefined and we find that a lot
many more things need to be done to get the answers that we are searching
for. It might not be possible for science to get all answers and that is where
Buddhist ideas about the Human mind and meditation practices can greatly
help us.

Let us see how modern science lends support to Buddhist ideas about
human mind. The human mind as described by the modular theory of mind
is compartmentalised by various tasks in some preferential order depending
on different individual personalities which in turn are deeply conditioned by
natural selection according to evolutionary psychology.

In Buddhist meditation practices, especially the Vipassana or Mindfulness

practices we see that these so called modules of the human mind show no
connection to each other, there is no networking on a large scale as is seen
by various studies in evolutionary psychology. We can see that the studies
as described in the lectures on this course that every module functions on its
own terms and conditions based on the personality of the individual and the
inclination of the individual to different mental and physical processes in the
mind matter continuum.
The studies pretty much prove that there is no central entity or a central
mechanism that controls the modules. This is very supportive of the premise
of the non self philosophy of buddhism.
In this very central and important tenet of Non self, the very essence of
Buddhism can be seen.
The Buddhist ideas of the human mind in detail are very clearly defined as
opposed to its ideas on evolutionary psychology which attempts earnestly to
figure out these mysteries of the mind.
According to early Buddhism, the mind is not basically the brain, but it lies
everywhere. There are these five aggregates, namely the aggregate of the
consciousness, the aggregate of perception, the aggregate of form,
aggregate of Formations or Conditioning and finally the aggregate of Feeling
or Sensation.
Although evolutionary psychology does not define these aggregates as such,
the modular theory is certainly supportive of the buddhist ideas of the mind.
Since as mentioned earlier that the modules do not network with each other
but work independently of each other so do these aggregates in the buddhist
ideas of the mind. According to Buddhist psychology , these five aggregates
work independently in such a way that a non meditative mind may easily
figure it as a central entity named Soul doing its job. But the very basis of
buddhism lies in the absence of this soul , hence the philosophy of
Anattaor no soul. There is no concept of ownership, just as there is no
ownership of the different modules of the human mind which dictates or
directs the individual to perform various tasks.

Now, the logic behind the buddhist meditation practice is Mindfulness. This
mindfulness when practiced in the pure buddhist way as it is intended to be
practiced paves the way out of suffering coupled with the observances of
morality and concentration meditation. The Mindfulness technique basically
is a technique to practice equanimity. Whether one is confronted by craving
or by aversion , one can learn to face both equanimously. Cultivation of a
balanced mind ready to face any vicissitudes of life is the main aim of
Vipassana Meditation. Although this seems an impracticable task, the
eightfold path of which Mindfulness meditation is an important part of,
certainly shows one the way to do so.
When one is happy, certain biochemical reactions take place in the body and
certain chemicals flow throughout the body. For example if one has been a
part of a really exciting event, adrenaline flows through the body. On the
other hand if one is depressed, those particular biochemicals flow through
the body. Mindfulness meditation trains us to watch the feelings or
sensations that we are faced with in these such events to create a balance in
the mind matter continuum. It is these very chemicals that create feelings or
sensations in the body and we continue reacting to them and the cycle of
craving and aversion goes on in a vicious circle.
Feelings are a key link to break the cycle of the buddhist concept of Samsara
from suffering towards liberation. A person who is a drug addict or a sex
addict simply is addicted to the sensation he gets when indulging in those
things. If one practices mindfulness, one might find it helpful on many levels
to come out of them. If we think on these terms we can say that Buddhist
meditation techniques are certainly supportive of modern science.

Thus in my opinion, the buddhist ideas of the human mind as well as

buddhist meditation techniques are supportive of Modern science