The Scientific Approach to Buddhist Study --
The Mathematical Principle

When things can be conceptualized and expressed in terms of symbols and equations, they will become more universal and reliable. Can Buddha Nature be represented by symbols and equations? In modern mathematics, what are the equations could be used to explain Buddha Nature? Master Sun-Don Lee talked about this at the Los Angeles Branch in the following ways.

Equation 1: E=1/MC2, Spiritual Aspect of Human Being

The first equation is ¹/_MC². As we all know the equation E = MC² of Einstein's special theory of relativity between mass and energy, which deals with the respect of physics, and it is also related with physiological conditions of human body. Here ¹/_MC² talks about the spirit which is associated with the psychological conditions of human being. E means energy. M represents materials or the desire for materials. ¹/_M means the mind power and C is the speed of light. In our solar system, light speed has its own limit and which is our world based upon. Once beyond this three dimensional world, the situation might be totally different.

(A) When M diminishes (i.e. our senses, which can be taken as the material barriers), its reciprocal ¹/_M increases, and E gets bigger e.g. when M=0.1 then E = ¹/_MC² = ¹/_0.1C² = 10C² ; E¹/_0.01 = 100 ...... E¹/_0.00001 = 100000, and so on. When our senses of desire and temptation lessen to minimum or zero, that is Buddha Nature. If all your senses and sensibility purified, the only thing remains is Buddha Nature. Buddha Nature is the origin of Buddha. It will not be necessary for M close to infinitesimal when thoughts can be materialized from your energy. To a certain point you can transform materials instantaneously with your energy. At this stage, mass and energy can be interchanged freely, and this is the Bodhisattva of the third realm. You may cultivate your energy and reach to an infinite state while enhancing the state of matters also to infinity. The ultimate state you can attain is the whole universe, the entire Dharma realm. In this state also includes all your own energy. "To unite the body, the mind and the whole universe together. To feel the whole world with all your heart in all directions." (from the repentance prayer of Forshang doctrine) Unlimited changes of the history of the universe shall include the past, the present and the future.

(B) When M is near infinite then E¹/_M = ¹/ --> 0 ; means infinite. The energy is near zero under this conditions.

(C) If M equals to zero then E¹/_M = 1 0. It means infinity in mathematics. It also stands for stillness. But this will not happen in this world. If so, we will ask why the universe is created by the nature of Buddha? How the universe was formed? If the universe was not created, the virtue of Buddha Nature can not be expressed. So the universe could not be still otherwise The Ten Great Characters will not be fulfilled. There is no virtue, there is no principle. To whom you are going to pass the Dharma? If the whole Dharma realm (i.e. the universe) is not there and The Ten Great Characters are not satisfied, there is no Buddha Nature. Considering The Ten Great Characters of Buddha Nature themselves and the virtue of the Dharma realm, the universe, therefore could not be in a state of motionless. Buddha Nature is fulfilled with the ten great characters. Once The Ten Great Characters are completed, the Dharma realm can not be empty or motionless. This is why that M can only be near or close to zero but not zero. All virtues of compassion, equality, etc., can have some related objects to realize them and the Dharma could be passed on.

(D) Since Buddha Nature can be anything, then under what kind of conditions, the M equals to zero? Does this happen? Yes, it does. When you unite yourself with the Buddha Nature, failure and successes will not conflict with each other. Because contradiction is meaningless at this moment. As a matter of fact, we all talked about Buddha and wanted to be one but there is no attaining to Buddha. In the aspect of Buddha Nature, the time and space are unified. Altogether you will find that you are actually a Buddha in the past, the present and the future. Now you do not think you are a Buddha just because you have not realized the fact yet. When you finally reached the state of Buddhahood, there was actually nobody made it. In other words the achievement of self-realization and enlightenment were not even exist. Does the meaningless state of 1 0 really exist? Yes. It does. That is when you finally reach to the state of Buddhahood, that is the case of 1 0. It is empty without emptiness. Perhaps this does not make any sense but it does exist.

(E) The definition of the meaningless state of 1 0 can be easily expressed in mathematics. This phenomenon includes all the possibilities. It concludes that everything is possible:

In the aspect of self cultivation, this can be extended. All your paths to self-realization and enlightenment should be in a "Dharma of formless", just as what Heart Sutra says, and what 1 0 means. Because all Dharma come from your own Buddha Nature. Every method of self cultivation was extrinsic. When you can dwell in a state of self realization of Buddha Nature, all methods of Dharma can be relinquished. There will not be anything that can hinder you from realizing the goal of Buddhahood, and this is what exactly happens.

Equation 2 : 0 = N * 0 , The "Emptiness" of Buddha Nature

The second equation 0 = N * 0 deals with the "emptiness" of Buddha Nature. N represents every possibility of any thing, any thought, life or death. All these can be resulted in Buddha Nature. This is just one of the characters of Buddha Nature. Because of its "emptiness", Buddha Nature does not persist in anything or any thought. Just as N * 0 equals to zero in mathematics, Buddha Nature's zero (the character of emptiness) multiplies N makes zero, too. These two zeros are exactly the same.

Equation 3:

= (N or 1/N) * , The "Possession" of Buddha Nature

The third equation = (N or ¹/_N) * deals with the "possession" of Buddha Nature. What is the "possession" in Buddha Nature? It is a state of unlimited understanding and acceptance, differentiation and evolution. Any consequences he faces with infinite tolerance and differentiation. So this equation = (N or ¹/_N) * explains the character of possession of Buddha Nature.

Equation 4:

N * 0 and = (N or 1/N) * , The "Existing" and "Non-existing" Are all in One

The fourth equation talks about the "existing" and "non-existing" are all in one. Since it is Buddha Nature, the character of "emptiness" and "possession" means the same. The following equations are dependents under the same condition:

(A) 0 = N * 0 (B) = (N or 1/N) * In equation A the N can be taken as 1/N

In mathematics, If these equations A and B are dependents mean that we can do any operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For example, you can assume that

0 * = (N or ¹/_N)² * 0 *

At the end you will find something, that is, if you have to satisfy any N and be able to eliminate both parts of the 0 * in this equation, the N must equal to one: 1 = N. In Buddhism, this means "one is infinite and infinite is one". Here N can be anything that is possible. So these dependent equations explained that Buddha Nature can create anything possible, such as anything may come upon in your knowledge.

The real mathematics in the universe not just deals with these two parallel equations. They are often in a form of cubic. A set of equations is related with or dependent on each other in a cubic form. Once the equation comes out of, it appears in two rolls. Both rolls are in a stereotype and then it becomes two strings. There is no equal signs of and it is just not needed. Then these two set of strings of equations are rotating in a cubic way. They are rotating and circling around and around, and you just know it.