The relationship between Buddhism and science is a subject of contemporary discussion and debate among Buddhists, scientists and scholars of Buddhism. Historically, Buddhism encompasses many types of beliefs, traditions and practices, so it is difficult to assert any single "Buddhism" in relation to science. Similarly, the issue of what "science" refers to remains a subject of debate, and there is no single view on this issue. Those who compare science with Buddhism may use "science" to refer to "a method of sober and rational investigation" or may refer to specific scientific theories, methods or technologies. There are many examples throughout the Buddhist world of non-scientific worldviews, such as dogmatism, fundamentalism, clericalism, devotion to supernatural spirits and deities. Nevertheless, since the 19th century, numerous modern figures have argued that Buddhism is rational and uniquely compatible with science. Some have even argued that Buddhism is "scientific" (a kind of "science of the mind" or an "inner science").Those who argue that Buddhism is aligned with science point out certain commonalities between the scientific method and Buddhist thought. The 14th Dalai Lama, for example, in a speech to the Society for Neuroscience, listed a "suspicion of absolutes" and a reliance on causality and empiricism as common philosophical principles shared by Buddhism and science.
Paul Dahlke (25 January 1865 – 29 February 1928) was a German physician and one of the founders of Buddhism in Germany. He wrote extensively about Buddhist teaching and living and translated Buddhist literature into German. In 1924 he established “Das Buddhistische Haus” considered to be the first Buddhist temple in Europe. Dahlke was born in East Prussia as the son of a civil servant. He completed the Gymnasium in 1883 and proceeded to study medicine in Berlin. He received his MD degree in August 1887 and soon took over a homeopathic medical office. In 1898, he started a journey around the world and was fascinated by the South Pacific. He also stopped over in Ceylon where he encountered Buddhism. He had read about Buddhism when he had studied Schopenhauer. Two years later he went on his second journey, this time specifically to Ceylon to learn more about Buddhism. He learned Pali and met local Sinhala Buddhist monks among them Hikkaduwe Sumangala, Suriyagoda Sumangala, Nyananissara und Wagiswara. He returned a Buddhist and in the following years made several more journeys to Asia, primarily to Ceylon, but also to China, India, Burma, Thailand, and Indonesia. When World War I started he happened to be in Germany and was unable to travel to Ceylon as he had planned. After the war Dahlke bought property in Berlin Frohnau and asked the architect Max Meyer to build ‘Das Buddhistische Haus’ using elements of Sinhala Buddhist architecture. After he was able to move into the house in 1924 his activities included daily Buddhist meetings as well as presentations and publications. He died in 1928 and was buried on the property. Das Buddhistische Haus was later purchased by Asoka Weeraratna on behalf of the Trustees of the German Dharmaduta Society in 1957 and converted into a Buddhist Vihara by stationing Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka on a permanent footing. Das Buddhistische Haus (also called Berlin Vihara), thus became the first Theravada Buddhist Vihara, in continental Europe. Dahlke founded two Buddhist magazines, the „Neubuddhistische Zeitschrift“ and the „Brockensammlung“. He published extensively in the medical literature and wrote about Buddhism. Bhikkhu Silacara (October 22, 1871 in Hull, Yorkshire, England – January 27, 1951 in Chichester, West Sussex, UK), born and died as John Frederick S. McKechnie. He became a Buddhist monk in 1906 and was one of the earliest westerners in modern times to do so. There are two main sources about Silacara's life. The first is the biography in a Sri Lankan edition of A Young People's Life of the Buddha, by an anonymous author, whose information about McKechnie's early life needs verification; the second is the autobiography of Nyanatiloka Thera, who mentions him several times. Sīlācāra was a prolific writer and translator, especially as a Buddhist monk, and his books and essays were reprinted in different editions. His articles were published in the Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly Review, The British Buddhist, Buddhist Annual of Ceylon, Maha-Bodhi, United Buddhist World, etc. He also translated from German works by Paul Dahlke and Nyanatiloka. At least one of his works was translated into German. In his writings, Silacara stresses the rational and scientific aspects of Buddhism.
