The book ‘What is reality? (A Compendium of Scientific Discovery and the Buddha’s Discovery)’ by Dhammadassi Bhikku and Kenneth B. Gunatunge was released recently.
The book in two parts, comprises scientific discovery and the Buddha’s discovery on the same topic. The topic is the question, “What is reality?” That is your reality, my reality and our reality. We never question as to what reality, really is. Yet, scientists do. What they found in their scientific discoveries, most certainly contradicts our common view of the world compelling us to discard our most cherished notions of reality.
In Part one of the book, the authors take the reader through a fascinating, entertaining and educative journey of the discovery of reality, the notion of which would arouse one’s interest and curiosity.
The authors do not just present a list of scientific discoveries. They take the reader through the most advanced theories in this field of study, scientific experimentation and observations, explaining each and every aspect in simple language that requires no knowledge of advanced mathematics or a basic foundation of scientific know-how. They present the material lucidly and involve the reader intimately in the development of newly discovered ideas in such a way that one may feel as if one is listening to and learning from the scientists themselves.
In Part 2, a novel approach is taken to introduce the fundamentals and the deepest aspects of Buddha’s discoveries to the established Buddhist as well as to the non-Buddhist who has never heard of Buddhism. The Buddha’s discoveries are equally revealing and fascinating as those of the scientists. The inner truth of “being” the Buddha discovered over 2500 years ago still manages to arouse the intellectual curiosity of the reader.
The Buddha in His research took the sentient being apart into its constituent entities and studied the components in microscopic detail. He then, put all constituents together and studied the resulting whole again in microscopic detail. In the process, the Buddha made colossal discoveries that make an impact on our commonly accepted view of Reality and the reader will be exposed to all that through the pages of the book.
The Buddha’s analysis of mind into its two inherent components named citta and cçtasika in Pali, and the discoveries He made on the cognitive process display the innermost activities of our own mental activities in the most revealing manner.
How the Buddha differentiates the “good” and the “bad” based on the inherent properties and the autonomous activities of nature tells us in most certain terms that He did not invent anything but discovered and revealed the inherent reality of us and the Universe in which we all live. The clarity and the precise manner the authors present the material allow the established Buddhist to gain substantial in-depth knowledge of the complex topics of Buddha Dhamma without confusion while making a non-Buddhist expose himself to a fascinating discovery, for the first time, of the true Reality the Buddha revealed.
The authors narrate a fascinating story in this book, stranger than fiction, weaving and arousing the curiosity of the reader in such a way that one may find an insuppressible urgency to go on to the next chapter when one is completed.
The skilful manner the authors present the material which includes the most advanced theories of science and the complex revelations of the Buddha, is commendable. The book is equally useful to both adults and students, whatever their fields of interest or study.
The book is available in leading bookshops or it could be obtained directly from Access Lanka Printers, Pita Kotte. |
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