(This is the first draft of part of an introduction to either an article or a book.)
This book (or article) aims to explain the basis of a perfectly harmonious relationship between spirituality and science.
Chogyam Trungpa’s classic book Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism was about materialist values. This is not: this is materialist metaphysics. These are certainly connected, and materialist metaphysics is often seen as encouraging materialist values, but this moves in the opposite direction: when both are properly understood, materialist metaphysics and spiritual (and humanist) values are perfectly compatible.
However, a proper understanding of spirituality, in my opinion, means cutting out all inessentials, leaving just the bare bones. This is not a philosophy for the faint-hearted, and some will find it quite tough-going at times. An appreciation of the positive aspects of the Buddhist concept of emptiness will be found invaluable.
There is not, actually, very much about Buddhism here. [Short explanation of Buddhism Without Beliefs.] I was trained in the English language tradition of academic philosophy, and though I was never a professional philosopher, that is the way in which I tend to think. But I’ve been aware all along of something lacking in that way of thinking. [Continuing with a few paragraphs on my background.]
