Is Buddhism scientific?

QUESTION : Is Buddhism scientific?

ANSWER:

• Before we answer that question it would be best to define the word 'science.' Science is, according to the dictionary,  ‘knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws, a branch of such knowledge, anything  that can be studied exactly.’   
• There are aspects of Buddhism that would not fit into this definition but the central teachings of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, most certainly would. 

1. Suffering, the First Noble Truth, is an experience that can be defined, experienced and measured. 
2. The Second Noble Truth states that suffering has a  natural cause, craving, which likewise can be defined, experienced and measured. No attempt is made to explain suffering in terms of a metaphysical concept or myths. 
3. According to the Third Noble Truth, suffering is ended, not by relying upon a supreme being, by faith or by prayers but simply by removing its cause. This is axiomatic. 
4. The Fourth Noble Truth, the way to end suffering, once again, has nothing to do with metaphysics but depends on behaving in specific ways. And once again behavior  is open to testing. 

• Buddhism dispenses with the concept of a supreme being, as does science, and explains the origins and workings of the universe in terms of natural laws. All of this certainly exhibits a scientific spirit. 
• Once again, the Buddha's constant advice that we should not blindly believe but rather question, examine, inquire and rely on our own experience, has a definite scientific ring to it. 

In his famous Kalama Sutta the Buddha says;

Kalama Sutta

‘Do not go by revelation or tradition, do not go by  rumor  or the sacred scriptures, do not go by hearsay or mere logic, do not go by bias towards a notion or by another person's seeming ability and do not go by the idea   “He is our teacher.” But when you yourself know that a  thing is good, that it is  laudable, that it is praised by the wise and when practiced and observed that it leads to happiness, then follow that thing.’ A.I,188

• So we could say that although Buddhism is not entirely scientific, it certainly has a strong scientific overtone and is certainly more scientific than any other religion.   

It is significant that Albert Einstein, the greatest scientist of the 20th century, said of Buddhism:

‘The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both natural and spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.’