Contemplative Science and Buddhist Science
The Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Practice May 19, 2022 John D. Dunne
The scientific study of Buddhist and Buddhism-derived practices like mindfulness meditation has grown rapidly since the early 2000s, driven by a community known as contemplative science. This chapter traces the history of contemplative science, emphasizing the Mind and Life Institute's role, and examines the more controversial term 'Buddhist science'—the idea that Buddhism is uniquely compatible with science. Critiques of Buddhist science are shown to be inaccurate and exaggerated in at least one context. The chapter concludes that shared assumptions in both fields about the thematization of experience create significant challenges for researching contemplative practices.