While the dialogue between Buddhism and science-especially mind sciences-continues to expand, its reigning assumptions narrow its potential for forging new ways to investigate questions of experience, meaning, and human values. This proposed Institute aims to develop this untapped potential. Transdisciplinary at its core, our Institute will bring together scientists, Buddhist and Christian scholars, and phenomenologists to challenge conventional disciplinary boundaries. It will focus on two big questions:
1) Can the encounter of scientists with Buddhist contemplative
traditions-which emphasize close observation of first-person
experience-expand the scope, design, and
explanatory power of scientific investigation, which typically focuses on
third-person measures?
2) Can foundational Buddhist ideas such as dependent arising, emptiness, and the constructed self enrich emerging theoretical and methodological approaches in the mind sciences that seek to move beyond subject-object dualism?
2) Can foundational Buddhist ideas such as dependent arising, emptiness, and the constructed self enrich emerging theoretical and methodological approaches in the mind sciences that seek to move beyond subject-object dualism?
This intensive ten day discussion will be led by twenty leading scientists and scholars who are committed to advancing its intellectual aims. We have also invited twenty graduate students to absorb and contribute to these emerging perspectives, as well as a few dozen other interested scholars. Participants will share how their personal contemplative practices (Buddhist and Christian) help shape their craft and influence their research. At the conclusion of the Institute, we will create curated narratives of each session, post several video interviews with Institute participants, and mount a public, videotaped panel to increase awareness of Institute themes.
We expect this project will move the Buddhism/science dialogue beyond simple binary oppositions that either segregate science from religion in toto or ignore substantive differences between them, generating outcomes that balance scientific rigor with contemplative and self-critical reflection.