Full Description
This fascinating and thought-provoking book probes some of the deepest aspects of our very existence, while tackling some of the most controversial social issues of modern times: from euthanasia, abortion, AIDS, education, family, and the environment, to the possibility of alien encounters.
Presented as a dialogue, the viewpoints of an eminent astronomer and a Buddhist scholar are expounded, side by side. As the dialogue unfolds, interesting comparisons between the two sets of basic tenets can be easily identified, while traditional beliefs about 'unsophisticated' Buddhist philosophy are proven wrong.
Wickramasinghe and Ikeda's discussions focus around several key areas: the universe; science and religion; eternity of life; Buddhist pacifism and the creation of a global civilisation. Space and Eternal Life is an illuminating philosophical study.
Contents
Foreword by Sir Fred Hoyle
Chapter One: The Universe and Human Beings
1. Poetry and Science
2. The Big Bang theory
3. The Buddhist View of the Universe
4. A Fifth Dimension in the Universe
5. The Existence of Extraterrestrial Beings
6. The Harmony and Rhythm of the Universe
7. The Origin and Evolution of Life
Chapter Two: Science and Religion
1. Seeking a New Worldview
2. Modern Science and Christianity
3. Modern Science and Greek Philosophy
4. Science Faces a Crisis
5. Science in the East and West
6. Chinese and Indian Medicine
7. science and Buddhism: Their Common Ground
8. The Fruits of Twentieth- Century Technology
Chapter Three: The Eternity of life
1. Life after Death and the Oneness of Body and Mind
2. Near-death Experiences and Conquering the Fear of Death
3. On the Concepts of Karma and Rebirth
4. Informing Patients of a Cancer diagnosis
5. Brain Death and Organ Transplantation
6. The Comatose State, Death with Dignity and Suicide
7. Artificial Insemination, In Vitro Fertilisation, Fetal diagnosis and Abortion
8. The future of Genetic Engineering
Chapter Four: Buddhist Pacifism
1. Dialogue in Accord with the Speech of the Sage - I
2. Dialogue in Accord with the Speech of the Sage - II
3. The Buddhist Mission for Peace
4. Religion for Humanity's Sake
5. Ashoka and Sri Lanka
6. Peace of Mind
7. The Sanctity of Life
8. Buddhist View of Society
9. Shakyamuni and Mahayana Buddhism
10. Shakyamuni's Reticence
11. Buddhism and the Arts
Chapter Five: The Creation of a Global Civilisation
1. A Historical Look at the Present
2. Nuclear Arms: Absolute Evil
3. Coexistence with the Ecosystem
4. Challenges of Dealing with AIDS
5. Youth and the State of Education
6. The Family
7. Contemporary Society and the Right way of Life
8. The Age of Democracy and Human Rights
9. The Mission of Astronomy to Develop a Collective Human Consciousness
Notes
