Buddhist History for Buddhist Practitioners with Robert Sharf
Robert Sharf, a scholar from Berkeley, was interviewed about his assessment of the academic concept of Buddhist modernism.
What sort of critique of the scientific view might Buddhism otherwise offer?
The notion that the universe is composed of an independent, non-sentient reality that follows scientific principles and is driven by indifferent processes is a human invention, albeit a powerful and effective one.
While the importance of science cannot be denied, it is worth considering the methodology used to acquire scientific knowledge. Many scholars have addressed this issue, and Buddhism provides its own unique insights on the matter.
When we take the time to explore Buddhism, we discover alternative perspectives of the world, different narratives that can be convincing in their own right.
We should not blindly accept Buddhist epistemology and cosmology, but it is important to approach it with an open mind and not try to force it to fit into modern standards.
