In this 68 min. presentation, Tom McFarlane (author of Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings) explains the challenges of integrating scientific and spiritual approaches to understanding reality, then proposes a radical new framework for uniting them at their deepest roots. This talk was given on 19 May 2013 at the Center for Sacred Sciences, in Eugene, Oregon, USA. © by Thomas J. McFarlane Author profile on Google: plus.google.com/115102000138983176873?rel=author
Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings
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3.89 · Rating details · 71 ratings · 7 reviews
Provocative, stimulating, and insightful, Einstein and Buddha points to the far-reaching and profound parallels between Western scientific thought and Eastern religion. These remarkably similar disciplines touch on the essential nature of energy and matter, the relationship between subject and object, and the limits of language in understanding and describing reality. The shared understandings communicate a deep common ground on both the nature of the universe and our place in it. (less)
Paperback, 192 pages
Published December 20th 2002 by Seastone Press (first published November 28th 2001)
Original Title
Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings
ISBN
1569753377 (ISBN13: 9781569753378)
Edition Language
English
| Review of | ISBN 9781569753378 | |
| Rating | ||
| Shelves | to-read ( 775th ) | |
| Format | Paperback edit | |
| Status | March 3, 2021 – Shelved as: to-read March 3, 2021 – Shelved | |
| Review | Write a review | |
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Jan 23, 2014David rated it it was amazing
A must-have book for anyone interested in the convergence between quantum science and Buddhist/more broadly Eastern spiritual thought.
The book is divided into different sections, each of which contains parallel sayings by scientists and the wisdom traditions of the East. In many cases, the two come to almost identical conclusions, such as:
'It is a primitive form of thought that things either exist or do not exist' - Sir Arthur Eddington.
'To say "it is' is to grasp for permanence. To say "it is not" is to adopt the view of nihilism. Therefore a wise person does not say "exists" or "does not exist"' Nagarjuna
A fascinating book I've gone back to countless times over the years, and always with fresh appreciation. (less)
The book is divided into different sections, each of which contains parallel sayings by scientists and the wisdom traditions of the East. In many cases, the two come to almost identical conclusions, such as:
'It is a primitive form of thought that things either exist or do not exist' - Sir Arthur Eddington.
'To say "it is' is to grasp for permanence. To say "it is not" is to adopt the view of nihilism. Therefore a wise person does not say "exists" or "does not exist"' Nagarjuna
A fascinating book I've gone back to countless times over the years, and always with fresh appreciation. (less)
Jan 28, 2021Hope Waters rated it it was amazing
Super thought provoking. Included parallel sayings from history's leading physicists and metaphysical thinkers. (less)
Aug 02, 2011Bill rated it it was ok
A very promising title drew me to this book. Albert Einstein and the Buddha are two of my favorite people, and certainly two of the "smartest" (whatever that means) ever to grace our fair planet.
The book compares and contrasts, on each page, sayings by a scientist and an Eastern Mystic within a variety of topics such as "The Human Experience" and "Time and Space," intended to demonstrate the similarity between the hard science and the soft philosophy of the two pursuits. And it does, and it works, by and large.
The problem with the book (at least for someone uneducated like me) is that there is absolutely no context to the short quotations and often it at least appears as though quotes were chosen because of the existence of a word or two in them, to make them appear as though they are addressing the topic at hand when in fact they may have been intended for something else altogether. An example:
sir Arthur Eddington: "The concept of substance has disappeared from fundamental physics."
Yeshe Tsogyel: "I have seen nothing in the world that is ultimately real."
I'm not convinced that the second quote, in particular, refers to anything remotely like what Eddington was talking about (he is referring to the duality of the particle/wave state of everything...not that it wasn't "real" like the typical person would use that word).
Again, I ain't that smart, or well-read, so I could be wrong, but even if I am, it seems obvious that one would be far better off reading some more focused works by these amazing folks to better understand what they're really getting at. Then, maybe, this book serves as a proper capstone for that.
Not bad, just a bit pointless... (less)
The book compares and contrasts, on each page, sayings by a scientist and an Eastern Mystic within a variety of topics such as "The Human Experience" and "Time and Space," intended to demonstrate the similarity between the hard science and the soft philosophy of the two pursuits. And it does, and it works, by and large.
The problem with the book (at least for someone uneducated like me) is that there is absolutely no context to the short quotations and often it at least appears as though quotes were chosen because of the existence of a word or two in them, to make them appear as though they are addressing the topic at hand when in fact they may have been intended for something else altogether. An example:
sir Arthur Eddington: "The concept of substance has disappeared from fundamental physics."
Yeshe Tsogyel: "I have seen nothing in the world that is ultimately real."
I'm not convinced that the second quote, in particular, refers to anything remotely like what Eddington was talking about (he is referring to the duality of the particle/wave state of everything...not that it wasn't "real" like the typical person would use that word).
Again, I ain't that smart, or well-read, so I could be wrong, but even if I am, it seems obvious that one would be far better off reading some more focused works by these amazing folks to better understand what they're really getting at. Then, maybe, this book serves as a proper capstone for that.
Not bad, just a bit pointless... (less)
Jul 07, 2010Yasmina rated it really liked it
پس از آنکه اندیشمندان تحقیقات گسترده ای رادر زمینه تفکرات مشابه میان فیزیک نوین وعرفان شرق آغاز کرده انددیگر این تشابه تنها به عنوان اطلاعات نگرشی انحصاری و محرمانه تلقی نمیشود وصحت آن را میتوان در این کتاب به وضوح مشاهده کرد. نویسنده با گرداوری مطالب ونظایر ونیز موارد قیاسپذیر موجود در این میان سعی در اثبات یگانگی اهداف فیزیک وعرفان میکند ومایه پیدایش تاثیری حیرت انگیز در شناخت این دو میشود و نیز تصدیق فیزیکدانان در تطابق میان فیزیک جدید بودیسم و تائو ئسم را به همراه دارد
نویسنده که از شخصیتهای ...more
نویسنده که از شخصیتهای ...more
May 21, 2009Stef rated it liked it
Thought-provoking, yes, but in reading this book, I felt as if the editor's agenda to "prove" that modern physics is just catching up to the revelations of Buddhism is a bit heavy-handed, and quoted out of context to the point of being misquoted. Identification of quote sources within the text would have been appreciated.
I think this book has put me off of my resolution to read "The Quantum and the Lotus" and "The Tao of Physics." It all feels just a bit too contrived for me.
But maybe that's why I'm not a Buddhist. (less)
I think this book has put me off of my resolution to read "The Quantum and the Lotus" and "The Tao of Physics." It all feels just a bit too contrived for me.
But maybe that's why I'm not a Buddhist. (less)
