Karma & Rebirth Workshop 4: The Evidence
Introduction
Are rebirth and kamma just traditional Buddhist ideas, or is there any evidence to substantiate them? What kinds of things would constitute good evidence? What principles are contained in the suttas themselves to guide us? Are certain aspects of the Buddhist teachings better supported than others? In this session we will introduce the groundbreaking research of Ian Stevenson and Jim Tucker, and look at the evidence for, and sceptical response to, the notion that rebirth can be supported within a scientific context.
Please do not forget to read and contribute to the discussions on the Karma & Rebirth course at SuttaCentral.
Readings
1. Transcript of our interview with Dr. Jim Tucker.
2. DN23 Pāyāsi: why various experiments fail to prove rebirth.
3. MN4 Bhayabherava: the Buddha's awakening included seeing rebirth and kamma (anecdotal evidence of the highest significance). (§ 27–33 in Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation)
4. MN12 Mahāsīhanada: the Buddha says he understands all destinations and the paths leading there (anecdotal evidence). (§ 35–41 in Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation)
The following Workshop session was recorded at the Buddhist Library in Sydney on 19th April 2015.
This is followed by 4 Youtube videos that are referred to in the talk.
Play the video below and follow along with the slides
The following 3 sessions were recorded at the BSWA Dhammaloka Centre in Perth on 26th April 2015.
Play the videos below and follow along with the slides
mentioned in the video:
Past Lives, Future Lives by Jenny Cockell
mentioned in the video:
Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences
Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect by Ian Stevenson
DN27 - Aggañña Sutta
(In Bhikkhu Bodhi's interview) Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False