The Dalai Lama and Quantum Physics

[Angrboda]

If asked to choose between a religion that is progressive and one that is true, I'll choose one that is true any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. I care not a whit that a religion is progressive if it is not true. All that a religion being progressive means is that it is less obviously vampiristic as it sucks the blood out of the body politic. If it does not deliver truth, it's still little more than a psychic leech. As far as I know, most Buddhist traditions, excluding Vajrayana and Tantra for the moment, teach the four noble truths, meditation as a path to spiritual and bodily health, and the doctrine of Anatta or no-self. I feel that on the basis of modern neuroscience, there is ample room to doubt Anatta, the health benefits of meditation are amply oversold, indicating its use as a spiritual gimmick, and contemporary psychology casts serious doubt upon the four noble truths as an adequate encapsulation of the nature of happiness, satisfaction and contentment. The Dalai Lama says if science proves Buddhism wrong. That's not how it works. Buddhism needs to prove itself right, and obviously clowns like the Dalai Lama aren't looking for things that might tell them they're wrong. Easier to play at dabbling in modern physics where 100% of your target audience won't have a clue if you're being profound or just making shit up.

“Ministers say that they teach charity. That is natural. They live on hand-outs. All beggars teach that others should give.” — Robert G. Ingersoll

“If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No.
Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.” — David Hume