Buddhism, Science, and the Western World

When discussions about science and religion turn into debates about science versus religion, Buddhism mostly gets a pass.

Thanks to the work of the Dalai Lama and others, Buddhism can seem far friendlier to modern, scientifically minded sensibilities than the Abrahamic religions. This alignment with science is strengthened by the widespread adoption of mindfulness techniques — often derived from Buddhist and other contemplative practices — in domains like medicine and psychology.