Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1569753377 ISBN 13: 9781569753378

Publisher: Seastone Press, 2002

Synopsis

Provocative, stimulating, and insightful, Einstein and Buddha points to the far-reaching and profound parallels between Western scientific thought and Eastern religion. These remarkably similar disciplines touch on the essential nature of energy and matter, the relationship between subject and object, and the limits of language in understanding and describing reality. The shared understandings communicate a deep common ground on both the nature of the universe and our place in it.

About this title

Review

The parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism are no longer mere esoteric musings, and nowhere is that concept shown better than in Thomas McFarlane's Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings. As in other titles in the Parallel Sayings series, the author cuts and pastes sayings from one thinker or school of thought and matches them to resonant sayings from another wholly different tradition--to astonishing effect. The correspondences between modern physics and Buddhism (and Taoism, which McFarlane also includes) are attested to by the physicists themselves. In his preface, McFarlane, who has degrees in physics as well as philosophy and religion, identifies the major parallels as "the wholeness of all things, the description of reality through paradox, [and] the relationship between the observer and the observed." Only occasionally succumbing to pitfalls that crop up in other books in the series, such as focusing on translated terms rather than concepts or keying on narrow passages rather than fully contextualized views, McFarlane uncovers both the science of Buddhism and the mysticism of physics. --Brian Bruya

About the Author

Thomas J. McFarlane is "an independent scholar of no mean stature" in the words of eminent professor of religion and philosophy Huston Smith. His writings on science and religion have appeared in journals and conference proceedings, and he has given talks on the subject for over a decade. A graduate of Stanford University in physics, he also holds advanced degrees in mathematics and in philosophy and religion. In addition to his scholarly work, he has been immersed in the study and practice of the world's spiritual traditions for over 12 years. He lives in Eugene, Oregon.

Wes Nisker, who penned the introduction, is also the author of two bestselling books: Buddha's Nature (Bantam) and the underground classic, Crazy Wisdom (Ten Speed Press). He has practiced Buddhist meditation for 30 years with various teachers in Asia and the West, and is the founder and editor of the bi-annual Buddhist journal Inquiring Mind. He teaches retreats and workshops on Buddhist meditation and philosophy at venues internationally, and is affiliated with Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California.

Edition details

• Publisher: Seastone Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1569753377
• ISBN 13: 9781569753378
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 192
• Editor: McFarlane Thomas J.