[Buddha-l] buddhism and brain studies

[Richard Hayes]

On Mon, 2008-11-17 at 10:35 -0500, Alberto Todeschini wrote:

> That's right. And as far as I can gather from my limited reading on
> the subject, scientists researching happiness are well aware of
> several possible pitfalls. One of them is that trying too hard will
> actually make matters worse or at least not improve them.

"Those who strive for nirvana as a reality will never get beyond
samsara." (Candrakirti, quoting some Mahayana Sutra) 

> I think there is a parallel to nutrition. There is the perfectly
> respectable and worthy science of nutrition with its well-meaning,
> honest and qualified specialists. But then you also get all different
> sorts of unqualified people, amateurs, charlatans and quacks. The
> result is that there is a lot of good information out there but also
> fads, fashionable dietary advice which is actually bad for people,
> etc.

True. And don't forget that a lot of what turns out to be bad
information stems from the findings of well-meaning scientists in hot
pursuit of data that turned out to give only a partial picture of a
highly complex phenomenon.

I think Bertrand Russell gave the best advice on diet than anyone has
given. He said that if you wish to be healthy, choose your parents very
carefully, then eat exactly what you feel like eating, but in
moderation.

-- 
Richard Hayes
Department of Philosophy
University of New Mexico