Zen Physics : The Science of Death, the Logic of Reincarnation

Darling, David

ISBN 10: 0060173521 / ISBN 13: 9780060173524

Published by HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1996

About this Item

Minor wear at spine bottom. ; Small 4to 9" - 11" tall; 205 pages.

Seller Inventory # 231283

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Zen Physics : The Science of Death, the Logic of Reincarnation
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, New York
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060173521
• ISBN 13: 9780060173524
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition; First Printing.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

A scientific approach to the mysteries of human death combines scientific logic and Buddhist principles in order to prove the existence of an afterlife and to explain the Zen view of self, the senses, and reincarnation. National ad/promo.

Reviews

With the catapult of logic, astrophysicist Darling (Equations of Eternity) lobs a barrage of scientific data against death's door. But he-and we-never quite gain access to the ultimate mystery. The title notwithstanding, Darling's prime ammo is psychology, not physics, and Zen enters his plan only in the endgame. His main thrust involves presenting cases of amnesia, multiple personality disorder and other afflictions, as well as facts of the brain-mind connection, to demonstrate that our sense of self is not steady, as is generally supposed, but fluid, even temporally discrete. Darling then announces a not quite convincing and emotionally unsatisfying theory of "reincarnation" based on this ever-changing self, in which successive incarnations of "me" retain no personal link from one to the next. With great elegance, he next uses findings of quantum physics to show that consciousness is primary to matter. This contradicts Western scientific orthodoxy, but Darling makes a strong case. Both the fluid self and the primacy of matter accord with Buddhist principles, which is where Zen comes in. Oddly, though, Darling's idea of reincarnation seems to veer from Zen basics, as it eliminates the possibility of conscious reincarnation. Likely, readers will finish this bold brief sensing they've peeked through death's keyhole, but have not opened the door. U.K., translation, first serial, dramatic rights: Patricia Van der Leun.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.