user12020: I come from a background where my interpretation of the world naturally fall as into the reductive methods of its determination and have subsequently had an interest in mathematics and physics which are a pinnical of this reductive process and a major approach of the western world. Now I don't now if This natural approach I have is a function of western conditioning in education.
I am able to concieve of its opposition as that of wholism which its source is Persian and eastern and have had personal revelations along these lines. Like when a tree falls in the woods. There is no sound because physically sound is the interpretation of pressure differences in the air that the consiousness is provided with and is personal to that consiousness etc. That may be a reductive view. 
My question is iam at a crossroads in life and iam not certain in which direction I should take, with my age I should be mature enough to a sensible descision but I have had supernatural experiences like that that make the path I should take a difficult choice. Iam adult and should need no guidance but iam at a loss lol

user157: I have felt a similar sort of conflict between scientific rationalism and some aspects of Buddhist thought. I find this quote from the 14th  Dalai Lama really helpful

Don’t try to use what you learn from buddhism to be a buddhist; use it
  to be a better whatever-you-already-are.

For me the conflict comes from trying to be a Buddhist and getting hung up on what one does and doesn't need to believe and accept be a part of this religion. If you are conflicted than don't worry and don't be a Buddhist. But do learn from Buddhism and try to put it into practice in your daily life if that's what you feel is right. Jack Kornfield similarly says

Don't be a Buddhist, be a Buddha

which I think points to the same thing (no reference - sorry; he just said it a lot in his podcasts)

user10304: Sometimes a highly intelligent, or highly developed mind could find it hard to sustain in the mundane world. The antidote is cultivating compassion. It's impossible for a mind keep striving for higher and higher pure intellectual understanding of the world, man, and life. It will backfire. Maybe there is a safety valve embedded in the totality of this whole mass of existence, that the cosmos could leap into being, explosion, collapse and re-exist again. When you find stifled by your intellect and reason, it's always a sign you should go back down and land on the earth, care about the simple ordinary life and surrounding, including other beings. This is the way of acquiring wisdom. 
I believe the Buddha was a very very intelligent man, it would be unbearable for him to live in the world if he didn't cultivate compassion.    

user43: My teacher always insisted, there's no conflict between Buddhism and the rational world, no conflict between Buddhism and the scientific method. He said, one can be saint and a successful businessman. The Buddhism's teaching on karma, emotional intelligence, and the nature of phenomena, are all continuation of the rational approach we know from western discourse.
The only difference I know of is in the goal. The implied goal of mainstream culture these days is what's known as success: personal and professional realization. The goal of Buddhism, in Theravada school is the peace of Nirvana and in Mahayana school is the endless service to the world and people. And yet, my teacher said, you can have it all: peace, service, and realization. 
The only choice we have, he said, is to try and achieve something greater, and what can be greater than spiritual realization? The other alternative, the life of mediocrity, is not a serious choice. 

user151: 
If you're just starting out then I'm not sure you need to make any strong choices. You could go on a temporary retreat where the teacher guides you to learn how to guide yourself. 

Everyone needs guidance. The Dhamma is all about guidance. I wasn't even on the path to being an adult until the guidance of the Dhamma.

The Dhamma is all about science. I never new the reductive method until I practiced reductive insight meditation. 

Staying in the outer world with no method to understand the inner world is perfect conditions for suffering. The Dhamma is a scientific way to transcend suffering. One doesn't have to give up much in the beginning. I mean, the whole teaching is just that: Learning how to let go.

12020: <p>I come from a background where my interpretation of the world naturally fall as into the reductive methods of its determination and have subsequently had an interest in mathematics and physics which are a pinnical of this reductive process and a major approach of the western world. Now I don't now if This natural approach I have is a function of western conditioning in education.</p>

<p>I am able to concieve of its opposition as that of wholism which its source is Persian and eastern and have had personal revelations along these lines. Like when a tree falls in the woods. There is no sound because physically sound is the interpretation of pressure differences in the air that the consiousness is provided with and is personal to that consiousness etc. That may be a reductive view. </p>

<p>My question is iam at a crossroads in life and iam not certain in which direction I should take, with my age I should be mature enough to a sensible descision but I have had supernatural experiences like that that make the path I should take a difficult choice. Iam adult and should need no guidance but iam at a loss lol</p>
 157: <p>I have felt a similar sort of conflict between scientific rationalism and some aspects of Buddhist thought. I find <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/887986-do-not-try-to-use-what-you-learn-from-buddhism" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this quote</a> from the 14th  Dalai Lama really helpful</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Don’t try to use what you learn from buddhism to be a buddhist; use it
  to be a better whatever-you-already-are.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For me the conflict comes from trying to be a Buddhist and getting hung up on what one does and doesn't need to believe and accept be a part of this religion. If you are conflicted than don't worry and don't be a Buddhist. But do learn from Buddhism and try to put it into practice in your daily life if that's what you feel is right. Jack Kornfield similarly says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Don't be a Buddhist, be a Buddha</p>
</blockquote>

<p>which I think points to the same thing (no reference - sorry; he just said it a lot in his <a href="https://jackkornfield.com/category/podcasts/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">podcasts</a>)</p>
 10304: <p>Sometimes a highly intelligent, or highly developed mind could find it hard to sustain in the mundane world. The antidote is cultivating compassion. It's impossible for a mind keep striving for higher and higher pure intellectual understanding of the world, man, and life. It will backfire. Maybe there is a safety valve embedded in the totality of this whole mass of existence, that the cosmos could leap into being, explosion, collapse and re-exist again. When you find stifled by your intellect and reason, it's always a sign you should go back down and land on the earth, care about the simple ordinary life and surrounding, including other beings. This is the way of acquiring wisdom. </p>

<p>I believe the Buddha was a very very intelligent man, it would be unbearable for him to live in the world if he didn't cultivate compassion.    </p>
 43: <p>My teacher always insisted, there's no conflict between Buddhism and the rational world, no conflict between Buddhism and the scientific method. He said, one can be saint and a successful businessman. The Buddhism's teaching on karma, emotional intelligence, and the nature of phenomena, are all continuation of the rational approach we know from western discourse.</p>

<p>The only difference I know of is in the goal. The implied goal of mainstream culture these days is what's known as success: personal and professional realization. The goal of Buddhism, in Theravada school is the peace of Nirvana and in Mahayana school is the endless service to the world and people. And yet, my teacher said, you can have it all: peace, service, and realization. </p>

<p>The only choice we have, he said, is to try and achieve something greater, and what can be greater than spiritual realization? The other alternative, the life of mediocrity, is not a serious choice. </p>
 151: <blockquote>
  <p>If you're just starting out then I'm not sure you need to make any strong choices. You could go on a temporary retreat where the teacher guides you to learn how to guide yourself. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Everyone needs guidance. The Dhamma is all about guidance. I wasn't even on the path to being an adult until the guidance of the Dhamma.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Dhamma is all about science. I never new the reductive method until I practiced reductive insight meditation. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Staying in the outer world with no method to understand the inner world is perfect conditions for suffering. The Dhamma is a scientific way to transcend suffering. One doesn't have to give up much in the beginning. I mean, the whole teaching is just that: Learning how to let go.</p>
