Consciousness - An Introduction (ch27)

What visions are there on 'awakening'? - Chapter 27

Buddhism and science

Buddhism differs from other religions in various ways. Thus Buddhism, unlike other religions, knows no god, creator or soul. Buddhism is mainly about the individual who has to come to enlightenment. In addition, Buddhism has no truths that must be believed in particular.

Buddha taught his followers that all things that exist are relative and dependent on each other and that these things arise from what came before these things. This vision can be seen as an early statement of the scientific principle of cause and effect. Buddha denied the possibility of being aware without involved perceptions, actions and sensations.

Some scientists are very interested in Buddhism because Buddhism assumes that there is no self and that dualism does not exist. These scientists focus mainly on Zen Buddhism , because in this form of Buddhism little attention is paid to prayer houses or altars. Zen Buddhism is not very outward-looking in this respect. Zen Buddhism speaks of enlightenment, but what exactly is this?

This concept can be used in two ways. First of all, the process of enlighting can be discussed . This process can take place quickly or slowly. In this connection, it is possible to believe in a kind of route that can lead to enlightenment. Enlighting experiences ('kensho') can be experienced. A second form of enlighting is the ultimate enlightenment. This is not a state of consciousness that resembles a religious experience, because it is temporary (like a kensho). Ultimate enlightment can not be explained in terms of a state. There is no route that leads to ultimate enlightenment, because enlightenment is not something that can be obtained. Enightment can not be expressed in words in this connection.

Transformation and therapy

In Buddhism, ' samsara' stands for a continuous circle of birth and death. This has to do with the origins of suffering. We suffer because we cling to things we love and we reject things that we dislike. In this way we become trapped in a cycle of being and becoming, called samsara . Lighting would ensure that someone can escape from that circle.

There are various similarities between Buddhism and psychotherapy and the question is whether they are not the same. Both have the goal of transforming the individual, although they do this in different ways. Psychotherapy aims to create a cohesive self, while Buddhism aims to transcend a sense of self. Zen Buddhism can be used as a therapy method. It is true that you first have to have a self-image and then believe that you do not have a self. Conversely, it is not possible.

Are Buddhist methods suitable for use during psychotherapy? Some people believe that spiritual therapies have added value, while others find it dangerous to mix spiritual methods with therapy. Meditation is quite confronting for an individual. People who are anxious and neurotic can therefore react incorrectly to meditation. Yet many therapists use Buddhist techniques. For example, therapists recommend methods to hold attention, breathe better and meditate.

Spontaneous 'awakening'

' Awakening' is described as the end point of a long spiritual journey. It also happens that people say that they have 'awakened' and that this 'awakening' is the beginning of their spiritual journey. For example, Harding suddenly became 'awake', while it takes years for other people. Buddhism states that our experiences are illusions. An illusion is not something that does not exist, but something that is something other than what it seems. What is an experience? Buddhism assumes that experiences are illusions because we have wrong ideas about the world.

Buddha believed in ' conditioned arising' (also known as ' co-dependent origination' ). This concept means that everything is relative and dependent on each other and that everything comes from somewhere. Not accepting this is a form of illusion. Buddha also stated that everything is temporary and empty. He did not mean that something is useless with emptiness.

'No self'

Buddhism is based on ' annatta' , which means 'no self'. This does not mean that the self does not exist, but is conditioned and temporary as everything is. This is contrary to what is claimed in most religions; namely that there is a soul that will always continue to exist. Buddha states that the perception of the self creates egoism and attachment to the world. He also says that it can not do things by itself: there are actions and consequences, but the person who performs them does not exist.

In Buddhism, 'karma' is also an important concept. Buddha states that karma is about free will and voluntary actions. These are the result of a wrong impression that there is a self that can think and act. If this assumption is no longer assumed, no more karma is 'collected'. This is because someone is rid of the idea that his or her actions are caused by a 'self' or an 'I'.

Buddhism is closer to psychotherapy than to science. The goal of both is to discover the truth to be free of suffering, and to liberate other people from suffering. This while science has as goal: to find the truth ' for its own sake' .  

Resources:Blackmore; Susan. (2010). Consciousness, Second Edition An Introduction. Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor & Francis.