The story about Penicillin is absolutely true and it's a good example.
That's what i was pointing about opportunities, they should be a matter of present time, not in dreams of perpetual existence :) Good to see that we agree.
My mother is very interested in Buddhist philosophy and theology so I have been exposed to it a little bit in the past. Very interesting indeed, i think the way Buddhism (or Buddhist authorities) deal with scientific discoveries and changes in the world is a lot healthier than in monotheist religions (but they are so different, it's hard to compare).
I would be very interested in learning more about the cultural/political/historical differences that led two religions (i consider Christianity, Islam and Judaism to share the same system of values) to emerge and develop such different philosophies and relationships to the world.