{"id":51808,"date":"2022-09-23T05:37:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T12:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nalandabodhi.org\/?p=51808"},"modified":"2026-04-01T09:38:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T16:38:06","slug":"short-circuiting-nerdy-logic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nalandabodhi.org\/nl\/2022\/09\/23\/short-circuiting-nerdy-logic\/","title":{"rendered":"Short-circuiting Nerdy Logic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Having studied science since I was very young, I became inoculated by what I call the \u201cWestern vaccine\u201d of the \u201cGalilean Method.\u201d I practiced this approach for decades with discipline, diligence and exertion. In a way, one could call it a path. The Galilean Method is also known as the Scientific Method, which uses empirical evidence and logic to prove something is true. As a result, one gets used to leaving no room for fuzziness. There must be a reason based on evidence for things to happen or exist. It\u2019s simply a matter of applying logic and sticking to the process.<\/p>

It follows that you strongly believe there\u2019s no reason why one can\u2019t arrive at the proper explanation of any phenomenon. You just need to unsheathe the \u201cscientific sword\u201d and empirically, logically, progressively split the problem into smaller pieces until you get the answer. That\u2019s your practice, so to speak.<\/p>

From this perspective, it is not surprising how the teachings of the Buddha got my attention. They caught me with the hook of logic: There is no blind faith, no gods, no saviors, just a clear reasoning process. I remember saying to my mates that Dharma is for engineers, and they should check into it themselves.<\/p>

As I got more involved in study and a formal daily meditation practice, something began happening: I became curious about looking into what I couldn\u2019t explain. My strong habit of believing there was only one solid answer was softening, allowing for a gap that opened me up to other possibilities, and that felt very interesting.<\/p>

Logic as a tool to dismantle logical fixations\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Logic drew me to the Dharma, and at the same time, it was the tool to slowly dismantle my fixations and certainties \u2014 thinking something was only this or that. The first time I had this thought, I felt a spark of openness and freedom.\u00a0<\/p>

Openness comes out of this process and brings about humility. I felt grateful realizing how skillful and loving the teachings of Buddha can be. By leveraging one\u2019s characteristics or habitual patterns, it allows one to slowly dismantle them.<\/p>

I used to think logic brought about objective equality, where there was no space for subjective, self-centered views. Now, I think it\u2019s the other way around. Why? Because when logic is applied blindly, merely for the sake of being right, it lacks openness and equality, making it really all about us and our pride.<\/p>

The best practice for me became allowing myself to think, and sometimes even say, \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d and eventually asking, \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>

When we leave a space between black and white, this or that, then kindness can perfectly fill it in and create a colorful bridge. We can try this to overcome our self-centered view, to pause and step back from our ego. That helps us to listen with an open heart. We\u2019re able to appreciate the opportunity to get closer to others, and possibly even be helpful to them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Paolo\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPaolo Mazza\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Paolo Mazza has been a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche since 2018, living in northern Italy. Paolo is a father of three, working in Innovation and Technology. Paolo loves hiking in the mountains and woods of the Alps.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A follower of the scientific method discovers that studying the Buddha\u2019s teachings leads to a surprising logical development. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":51800,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3009],"tags":[3412,3417,3410,3407],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nShort-circuiting Nerdy Logic - Nalandabodhi International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A follower of the scientific method discovers that studying the Buddha\u2019s teachings leads to a surprising logical development.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nalandabodhi.org\/nl\/2022\/09\/23\/short-circuiting-nerdy-logic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"nl_NL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Short-circuiting Nerdy Logic - 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