..續本文上一頁behavior will have no constraints. For the sake of benefits in this life, we will unscrupulously do what we wish. This is exactly as it is described in one of the Agama Sutras: “Without fearing future lives, we unscrupulously commit all evils.”

　　Conversely, many people in western countries, due to their belief in religion and their code of ethics, are significantly different to the above. In the ceremony to inaugurate a new US president, the president puts his hand on the Bible and makes an oath before God. Perhaps such conduct is viewed as superstitious and seems unnecessary to those who have no religious faith, but we do need this kind of ethical and moral constraint.

　　Will religion become an obstacle to the advancement of humanity and development of society

　　 Absolutely not, because the two are not contradictory. Thomas Edison, from the USA, was a great inventor, yet he had strong faith. He had a stone tablet placed in his laboratory with the inscription: “I believe in the existence of a Supreme Intelligence pervading the Universe.” Throughout his life, he made over two thousand discoveries, yet his faith did not hinder him. He believed that whenever he faced difficult questions, praying to God was the source for gaining strength and inspiration to resolve them.

　　If people research and read sutras in their workplace or school, others may criticize them, saying that they are “addicted” or “brainwashed.” In fact, there is nothing wrong in being “brainwashed,” anyway, because it seems some great scientists have been “brainwashed” even more thoroughly than others, and their intelligence became even sharper as a result.

　　To a certain extent, the reason why many people have misunderstood about religion is related to Darwin”s evolutionary theory. Darwin”s evolutionary theory completely denies the law of causation and the existence of past and future lives. It blindly advocates the idea of natural selection—that the strong survive and the weak die off. He believed that the production of things is accidental. This theory has overwhelmed the world, and owing to this Darwin became very famous. According to some information, he suffered years of illness during his old age. He eventually turned to theology and wrote some articles expressing his remorse to God. Before he passed away at age 73, he said: “When I observe this world, particularly the material objects, I disagree that “The world is supported by random forces,” this is an arbitrary conclusion. I believe that there is definitely a rule that is omnipresent, very subtle and complex, and all-pervasive, governing the good and bad in this world.”

　　The astronomer Galileo was the same. He had always believed that religious beliefs were not contradicting with science. After he discovered sunspots, Jupiter”s satellites, and mountains on the moon through a telescope, he ecstatically wrote the following: “I render infinite thanks to God, for being so kind as to make me alone the first observer of marvels kept hidden in obscurity for all previous centuries.”

　　Since such scientists who made significant contributions to humankind strongly believed that religion and science were not contradictory, then it is unnecessary for us, who only have a smattering of knowledge in this area, to blindly refute this.

　　When people have no faith, they lose moral restraint. On account of this, their behavior is dreadful; conversely, with faith, should an evil thought arise, we will try to tame it. This not only helps us to gain temporary happiness and joy in this lifetime, it also is of great significance in assisting our liberation from samsara.

　　Therefore, we ought to observe properly what are the most valuable doctrines in this world. If you want to comprehend the mysteries of mind and the truth of the univers…

《Buddhist View of the Science of Life》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…