Can Buddhism be "modernized" by discarding the supernatural mythological content?

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Here's a quote from Science at the Crossroads by Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama,

Because of this methodological standpoint, I have often remarked to my Buddhist colleagues that the empirically verified insights of modern cosmology and astronomy must compel us now to modify, or in some cases reject, many aspects of traditional cosmology as found in ancient Buddhist texts.

I don't know whether this quote (therefore this answer) addresses the "metaphor" and "upaya" and "supernatural" parts of your question, but I think it's partially relevant given your mention of cosmology.

This speech was composed for "the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience".

ChrisW 45647

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Can Buddhism be "modernized" by discarding the supernatural mythological content?

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