BUDDHISM IN THE LIGHT OF MODERN SCIENTIFIC IDEAS
By Dr. Luang Suriyabongs M.D
PREFACE
Although Thailand is a Buddhist country and although we take our religion soberly and serious and are Buddhist by conviction, not by blind faith nor because it has been handed down to us from generation to generation, nevertheless, we cannot help feeling great concern about the fact that our present generation, has lost its close contact with the Wat (temple) which use to be the social centre for our people in former days.
Due to the rapidly changing conditions of our present economy of life, and because of a generation clamour for higher standards of living there is an increasing demand for better education for our youths to prepare them for their future responsibilities as citizens of a young democratic country. But at the same time there is a real and grave danger that our once pious people might fall prey to extreme materialism as has happened to Western peoples. We have taken our religion for too long for granted and have become complacent.
CONTENTS
I. What is Buddhism?
II. Right understanding
III. The Holy Eight Path of Enlightenment
IV. The Doctrine of Anatta
V. The Doctrine of Karma
VI. How does Rebirth take place?
VII. The Law of Dependent Origination
VIII. The Nava Lokuttara Dhamma
IX. Where do the Four Chief Elements cease?
X. Matter and Mind
XI. The Buddha’s World Order
XII. Buddhism and the Thai People
XIII. Love and Metta
XIV. The Buddhist Lent
XV. The Pàyàsi Sutta
XVI. The Jìvako Sutta
XVII. The Mahà Hatthipadopama Sutta
XVIII. Human Nature in the Light of Buddha’s Teachings
XIX. Is Buddhism a Religion?
XX. Controversial Questions about Karma and Rebirth
Appendix A Glossary of Buddhist philosophical terms used in this book
Bibliography