New Chan Forum 29

BUDDHIST ENQUIRIES: Science And The Personal

In this edition we look at a number of issues and enquiries basic to the development of Buddhist thinking and feeling in the Western world. Is Buddhism science and if not how does it relate to science? Can one give a scientific account of Emptiness? What have personal feelings to do with Buddhist practice? What does one discover on retreat?

We believe that it is not enough merely to repeat the texts of Buddhist scriptures or the words of traditional teachers. To have value in the modern world they need to be related to our established modes of thinking, be they discursive and academic, experiential or literary. Only through such relating can a debate be joined and the intrinsic value of Buddhism become more clearly seen. This is an important aspect of the policy of this journal.

We respect the varying opinions and exploratory ideas of all our authors while reminding the reader that they do not necessarily express the views of the Fellowship.