Complete and perfect knowledge of evolution in minute detail is available in the Vedic literatures. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has kindly supplied the following Vedic quotations:
"One attains the human form of life after transmigrating through 8,400,000 species of life by the process of gradual evolution. That human form of life is spoiled for those conceited fools who do not take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda [Krsna]."1. Brahma-vaivarta Purana .1
jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati
krmayo rudra-sankhyakah paksinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani pasavah catur-laksani manusah
"There are 900,000 species of aquatic life; 2,000,000 species of plants and trees; 1,100,000 species of insects; 1,000,000 species of bird life; 3,000,000 species of beasts, and 400,000 species of human life."Padma Purana .2 The meaning of "species" understood by biologists is different from the meaning implied here. The meaning used by biologists applies to the gross physical appearance or the gross morphological feature of the living material bodies. The Vedic meaning, however, which is derived after thorough and careful analysis, is based on the level of consciousness of the living being. For example, biologists say that all human beings belong to one species, whereas the Vedic literatures list 400,000 species. In other words, there are 400,000 grades of human beings on different levels of consciousness.
The process of evolution through these 8,400,000 species of life has been going on since time immemorial. As we noted earlier, the spirit soul never dies and is never born; it is eternal. It transmigrates from one body to another. Lord Sri Krsna, the supreme knower of everything, says: "As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones." [Bg. 2.22] In this way the transmigration of the soul is going on.
As we noted from Brahma-vaivarta Purana, the most important species of life is the human being. The Vedanta-sutra instructs, athato brahma-jijnasa: "Now, therefore, in this human form of life, it is time to inquire about spiritual realization."Vedanta-sutra 1.1.1.4 Who am I? What is the real mission of human life? What is the ultimate purpose of our existence? Every intelligent person must ask these questions and should search for the right answers from the right source. So-called modern educators claim that the purpose of education is to solve the problems of life. But in actuality they are teaching their students how to increase sense gratification more and more, thereby creating more and more paths to degradation. "Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions [in terms of increased sense gratification], one becomes too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and falls down into hell." [Bg. 16.16] In modern universities and colleges no one teaches the science by which to answer the question "Who am I?" Srila Prabhupada kindly points out, "There are so many departments in a university: technological, medical, engineering, etc. But where is the department to know and understand what this life is, what God is, and what our relationship is?"A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, "It is for the Greatest Scholar, It is for the Innocent Boy," Back to Godhead no. 44, p,4.6 The most important department of education, that which teaches the real mission of human life, is completely left out. Scientists claim that modern science is a product of man's curiosity to know. Why aren't they curious to know who we are and what our relationship is with the Supreme Lord, the supreme scientist, Sri Krsna? The Vedas give all the answers perfectly.
Lower forms of life such as animals, birds and plants do not suffer from sinful activities because they never violate the laws of nature. A tiger, for instance, does not commit sinful activity by killing its prey because his body is meant to act in that way; it is properly equipped for that purpose. However, when the spirit soul comes to the level of a human being, the living entity is then subject to the results of his actions (karma-phala). From this human platform the living entity has, therefore, a choice. If the spirit soul wants to leave his material body and attain a spiritual body, he can do so from this human platform; otherwise, at the time of death he can transmigrate to one of the 8,400,000 species according to the desires and consciousness he has developed. Lord Krsna says: "Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail." [Bg. 8.6] From the human platform the spirit soul can escape the miserable wheel of birth and death by developing Krsna consciousness. "And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." [Bg. 8.5] This is evolution from the material platform to the spiritual platform.
Lower forms of life (animals, birds, plants, etc.) are not favorably situated for taking to Krsna consciousness because they are not intelligent enough to understand this great science. On the other hand, it is understood from Vedic literature that there are demigods who are more elevated than human beings, but their position is also not favorable for taking to Krsna consciousness because they are too materially opulent. Too much material opulence is also a disqualification for taking up Krsna consciousness. "In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination of devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place." [Bg. 2.44] That is why it is an absolute necessity for all sane human beings to take up Krsna consciousness from this human platform, which is the intermediate birth between the demigods and the lower forms of life. Otherwise, the precious human form of life will simply be wasted.
We understand that our knowledge and intelligence are extremely limited. Our brains are tiny, our senses and scientific equipment are imperfect, and our vision is limited. With all these imperfect means, how will it be possible to comprehend the knowledge (science) beyond? Attempting to understand unlimited knowledge by one's own limited means in the name of doing research is simply a waste of valuable time and energy. Srila Prabhupada very kindly explains that by the mature research work of Srila Vyasadeva, an avatara (incarnation) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Lord Sri Krsna, complete and perfect knowledge (science) is available in the Vedic literatures.
The Vedas were originally spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself to Brahma, the first living being in the material universe, from within his heart. Vedic knowledge is called sruti, indicating that it is learned by aural reception. Therefore the Vedic knowledge has to be received from higher authorities by hearing (sravanam). In previous ages people were very intelligent. Their memories were extremely sharp. Just by hearing once from a spiritual master, disciples could remember everything. Therefore, there was no necessity for keeping the Vedas in written form during those ages. However, Srila Vyasadeva could see beforehand that people in this present age of Kali, the age of quarrel and misunderstanding, situated amidst the disturbing noise of science and technology, would be much less intelligent, possessing extremely short memories. Therefore about 5,000 years ago he compiled the Vedas in written form for the benefit of all inquisitive souls of this present age.
Veda actually means knowledge, and Vedanta means the end of knowledge, which is to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna. Bhagavad-gita is the essence of all Vedic knowledge. It was spoken by the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna Himself, to His intimate friend and disciple Arjuna. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the ripened fruit of all the Vedic literatures. It is the summum bonum of life, Lord Sri Krsna personified. It describes the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Lord. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained to Sanatana Gosvami, "Srimad-Bhagavatam is the sound representation of the Supreme Lord, Krsna. So, as Krsna is unlimited, similarly, in each word and each letter of Srimad-Bhagavatam there are unlimited meanings, and one can understand them by the association of devotees."Prabhupada, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, p. 151.1 Lord Sri Krsna says: "I am situated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." [Bg. 15.15] Thus the words of the Vedas are the supreme authority.
One may ask, "How may one accept authority?" The answer is given by Srila Prabhupada: "The answer of the genuine mother to the question of who is one's father is authoritative." One cannot argue about or object to this point. Similarly, when a child learns that two times two is equal to four from his father and he tells the same thing to a professor of mathematics, the professor has to agree that the child is speaking perfectly. The child may not be perfect, but the knowledge that he is speaking is perfect because he has taken it from an authority. Similarly, all the Vedic knowledge is infallible. For example, it has been mentioned in the Vedas that cow dung is pure whereas other stool is impure, and modern science has found this to be true. It has been scientifically confirmed by chemical analysis that cow dung indeed contains various antiseptic properties.
There are four principal defects inherent in the conditioned soul, namely, imperfect senses, the propensity to cheat, surety of committing mistakes and surety of being illusioned. Therefore, the conditioned soul is completely unfit to make any rules and regulations. The injunctions laid down in the sastras (authoritative scriptures) are above these four defects. Therefore, all the great saints and acaryas (holy teachers) accept the scriptural injunctions completely, without adulteration. Our position is simply to accept the supreme authority without question. In this way, one can understand the Supreme Lord and supreme scientist, Lord Sri Krsna, through authority. One can perceive or detect Him through authority, one can see Him through authority, and one can associate with Him through authority. Similarly, one can also speak through authority, argue and defend through authority, and prove and demonstrate through authority. The supreme authority is the ultimate judgement, and Sri Krsna is that supreme authority.
Men who have a poor fund of understanding further ask, "How does one know that Krsna is the supreme authority?" Lord Brahma, the first living being and the engineer who creates all the living entities in the material universe, sings as follows:
isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam
"Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the very form of eternal being, full of knowledge and bliss. He is the primeval Lord Govinda and the cause of all causes." [Bs. 5.1] Srimad-Bhagavatam says, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam: "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself."[S.B. 1.3.28] Arjuna, the great devotee of the Lord, also says to Lord Krsna: "You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me." [Bg. 10.12-13] In the same way, all the mahajanas (great self-realized personalities) like Prahlada Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami and Bali Maharaja, the great acaryas (holy teachers) like Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all my predecessor gurus (spiritual masters) in disciplic succession and now my spiritual master and eternal father, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, declare the same thing--that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore there should be no tinge of doubt. Our duty is just to follow the kind footsteps of these greatest of saintly personalities. In this way we can understand the science of Krsna.
In spite of this, the project to control nature continues. Rather than researching to find out the plan of the Supreme Being, rather than accepting the laws of nature as laws of God, the scientific mentality seeks to put mankind in the place of God in order to improve on nature. But when we inspect these activities closely, we can see that the two admitted goals, knowledge and pleasure, have not been achieved after so many years of trying. The materialists enjoin us to be patient, saying that very shortly the answer will be known and the pleasure will be available for all. To keep us amused in the meantime, there are technological trinkets galore. If it happens that we die waiting, still the scientist does not admit the tragedy, since for him life is only a molecular peculiarity anyway.
Thus the insensitive fritter away the valuable time of human life, time meant for discovering the answer to the most pressing of all questions--"Why am I suffering?" In fact, they won't even admit that they are suffering. Life thus wasted becomes a painful paradox, in which each minute that passes increases the misery, until finally the body collapses in agonized bewilderment.
In a jeep, in the 1940's, several scientists rode through the New Mexico desert. They were tense, trying to resolve the nerve-wracking conflict of fear and dizzy elation in their minds. The Manhattan Project had come to an end, and they were to witness the first explosion of a nuclear device, which was being considered for use as the "ultimate weapon" to win the war. In their bunker, as they confronted the terrifying, spectacular power of the bomb, Dr. Oppenheimer quoted a verse from the Bhagavad-gita, "Time I am, the destroyer of the worlds...," no doubt fearing that it would take a person as intelligent as God to be able to use atomic energy properly, and that humanity might not be equal to the task. To know that answer for certain, which evidence will be sufficient for us? The sublime words of the Gita, or the brute force of history?
-------Extracted from 'The Scientific basis of Krishna Consciousness'
When we think calmly and carefully about this wonderful universe, we can see that everything is working under the control of a supreme brain. The arrangements in nature are perfectly ordered. Things would be at random without the careful planning of a scientific and engineering brain. It is a common understanding that there is a cause behind each action. A machine cannot run without an operator. Modern scientists are very proud of automation, but there is a scientific brain behind automation also. Even Albert Einstein agreed that there is a perfect brain behind all the natural physical laws. When we talk about "brain" and "operator," these terms imply a person. They cannot be impersonal. One may inquire who this person is. He is Lord Sri Krsna, the supreme scientist and supreme engineer, under whose kind will the whole cosmos is working. Sri Krsna says: "The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will it is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end." [Bg. 9.8]
Now let us look into a few samples from the Lord's creation, and upon contemplating these exemplary aspects, one should develop a better understanding and appreciation of the existence of the most powerful brain, Lord Sri Krsna. The sun that we see daily is the nearest star. It is one hundred earth diameters across and is ninety-three million miles away from the earth. Every day the sun supplies the solar system with a tremendous amount of heat, light and energy. "The very tiny fraction of the sun's energy that falls on the earth--estimated at about five parts in a hundred million million--is about I 00,000 times greater than all the energy used in the world's industries. The total energy the sun emits in a single second would be sufficient to keep a one kilowatt electric fire burning for 10,000 million million years. Put in a different way, the energy the sun emits in one second is greater than the whole amount of energy the human species has consumed throughout its entire history."Fred Hoyle, Astronomy (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1962), p. 232.2 Yet it is only one of the countless number of stars floating in the sky in every direction. With the material scientific brain, the thermal, electrical and nuclear powerhouses have been made. These can supply heat, light and energy to a small, limited extent, but Lord Krsna is supplying the whole planet with an unlimited source of energy just from one sun. Krsna says: "The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me." [Bg. 15.12] The planets are revolving in a systematic path around the sun. Even within the smallest atom, the electrons are orbiting around the nucleus in a perfect manner.
Thus, from the submicroscopic realm of the atom to the expanding reaches of the galactic objects, this material universe is running like intricate, well-oiled clockwork according to great natural physical laws and principles. Scientists have gained great acclaim for making a few spaceships, whereas Krsna effortlessly produces gigantic spaceships, such as planets and stars, which are perfectly equipped and maintained. In Bhagavad-gita Krsna says, gam avisya ca bhutani dharayamy aham ojasa: "I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit." [Bg. 15.13] The laws made by the supreme brain always remain perfect; they are never violated. We never see the sun rising in the west and setting in the east. The colorful rainbow that we observe when the sun is shining during a shower is only visible when the sun is behind the observer, due to the laws of refraction. Also, each year the seasons change quite periodically, producing symptoms unique to each season.
Now let us look into some aspects of the Lord's creation at the molecular level. Chemists find that the different colors in flowers are due to chemicals called anthocyanins, and the different aromas are mostly due to chemicals called terpenes and terpenoid compounds. The molecular frameworks for these compounds range from very simple structures to very complex networks. Camphor, for example, is a terpenoid compound, and the characteristic odor of lemons is due to the molecule called limonene, which is one of the simple terpenes. Similarly, the characteristic colors in carrots and tomatoes are due to molecules called carotenoids, which are higher forms of terpenes. The molecular framework for each definite color or aroma is wonderfully unique. A little change in position of a few atoms in the molecule, a little variation in the geometry of the molecule or a slight change in the size of the molecule can cause a color to change from orange to red, a mild, pleasing aroma to become repellent and pungent, and a flavor to change from sweet to bitter. On one extreme we find the smallest molecule, the hydrogen molecule, which contains only two atoms of hydrogen. On the other extreme we find giant molecules such as the proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), the building blocks of all living material bodies, which contain innumerable atoms made for a definite function. Similarly, the crystalline pattern of each different molecule is unique. The geometrical shape for sodium chloride (common salt), for example, is cubical. Charcoal, graphite and diamonds are all derived from the same element, carbon, and yet the shining and transparent diamond is extremely hard, whereas graphite is soft, black and opaque. This is due to the difference in the crystalline forms of these molecules. In the crystal lattice of the diamond, each carbon atom is tetrahedrally surrounded by four other carbon atoms at a distance of 1.54 angstroms (one angstrom = 10<-8> cm.). In graphite, by contrast, the three bonds of each carbon atom are distorted so as to lie in the same plane, the fourth bond being directed perpendicularly to this plane to link with a carbon atom of the neighboring layer.
In this way we can cite innumerable examples of molecular networks so fantastically and delicately arranged that chemists cannot but wonder about the most expert hand and brain who is making all these wonderful artistic arrangements in His laboratory. Indeed, the intelligence and ability of the supreme scientist, Sri Krsna, are inconceivable (acintya). There is no scientist who can deny it. How then can any chemist abstain from appreciating the wonderful works of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna? In Bhagavad-gita we find: "One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as the one who knows everything, as He who is the oldest, who is the controller, who is smaller than the smallest, who is the maintainer of everything, who is beyond all material conception, who is inconceivable, and who is always a person. He is luminous like the sun and, being transcendental, is beyond this material nature." [Bg. 8.9]
At best, scientists can only try to imitate the wonderful artistic works of the Supreme Lord. They cannot even do this properly, and most of their attempts lead to failure and disappointment. Even when they are partly successful, it is only with the greatest difficulty. For example, Professor R.B. Woodward of Harvard, a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry (1965) and Professor A. Eschenmoser of Zurich took eleven years to synthesize the vitamin B12 molecule. Altogether, ninety-nine scientists from nineteen different countries were involved just to accomplish this one small task.James H. Krieger, Chemical and Engineering News, March 12, 1973, p.16.6 Yet Krsna is making all these complex molecules at will.
Interestingly enough, when scientists fail again and again in their attempts to make something, they consciously or unconsciously pray to God for help. Does this not indicate the existence of the supreme scientist, Lord Sri Krsna, and the natural subordinate position of all other living entities? A crude example is the explosion that occurred inside the Apollo 13 spacecraft during its attempt to land on the moon on April 11, 1970. The Apollo capsule was made by hundreds of scientific and technological brains and cost millions of dollars. No one could predict that there would be an explosion. When it happened, however, and the lives of the three astronauts were in danger, those involved in the mission requested all the people on earth to pray to God for the safe return of the astronauts. Such is the situation. At times of danger, most people tend to remember God, although at other times they forget Him.
Now, let us look into some very simple and graphic examples of the artistry of the Lord's creation. We see that among the lower forms of living entities, social organization is very smoothly maintained. For example, in a bee colony the queen bee is nicely taken care of by the drones (male bees), while the workers collect nectar from flowers all day long. It is quite amazing to consider how the bees, with their tiny bodies, can collect such a great amount of honey for themselves as well as for other living entities. In this way, the colony is maintained with beautiful order. Similarly, the loving relationship between a mother and her baby is quite clearly visible even in very small forms of living entities. During the monsoon season in tropical countries, when there are torrents of rain, the small ants run to find shelter, carrying their eggs on their heads. The spider makes its wonderful webs with great architectural skill to serve as a shelter as well as to catch its prey for survival. Silkworms spin hundreds of yards of fine threads to form cocoons for their shelter during the pupa stage. Inside a tiny seed, smaller than the size of a mustard seed, the whole potency of a big banyan tree is present. In this way, we can see the wonderful arrangements of the Supreme Lord, who is creating, maintaining and guiding all living entities, small or big. Krsna says: "Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being--moving or unmoving--that can exist without Me." [Bg. 10.39]
The main trouble with material scientists is that they generally neglect the most important and fundamental aspect of their inquiries. For example, when Newton saw the falling of the apple, he asked why and how the apple fell. However, he did not inquire who caused the falling of the apple. As an answer to his inquiry, he discovered the laws of gravitation. His answer was that the apple fell because of the laws of gravitation. But who made the laws of gravitation? Srila Prabhupada kindly explains that the apple did not fall while green but while ripe. Therefore Newton's gravitational theory was not enough to explain the falling of the apple. There is some other cause behind the total scene of the falling and, thereby, behind the law of gravitation. That cause is Lord Sri Krsna. In Bhagavad-gita we find, vasudevah sarvam iti: "Krsna is the cause of all causes." [Bg. 7.19] Furthermore, scientists have to know that the little ability they have is also given by the Lord. Krsna says, paurusam nrsu. "I am the ability in man." [Bg. 7.8]
By various mechanical means (telescopes, etc.), assumptions, empiric theories and conceptual models, cosmologists and astronomers are trying with tremendous vigor to understand what the universe is, what its size is, and the time scale of its creation. At the present time they are speculating that there may be a tenth planet in the solar system, and they are trying to locate it.D. Rawlins and M. Hammerton, "Is There a Tenth Planet in the Solar System?" Nature, December 22, 1972, p. 457.10 How far they will be successful in finding a real answer to their attempts only time can tell. But the fact is that they will never be able to fully discover the secrets of nature, which is the product of creation of Krsna, the supreme scientist. Any thoughtful person can understand how foolish he is even to dream of measuring the size of this universe, since he does not know completely the nature of the sun, the nearest star. Srila Prabhupada cites the example of the philosophy of Dr. Frog, who lives in a well of three feet and has no idea how vast the Pacific Ocean is but who speculates that the Pacific Ocean might be five feet wide, ten feet wide, etc., comparing it to his well. The point is that comprehending the unlimited knowledge beyond by our limited means is simply a waste of time and energy. All the knowledge is already there in the authorized scriptures, the Vedas. One simply has to take the knowledge from the supreme authority, Krsna.
The details of the creation of this material universe and the living entities like demigods, men and others have been given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, Chapter Three, verses 1-5. The description of the material and spiritual universes is completely given in the Brahma-samhita, Fifth Chapter, and from Bhagavad-gita we get the clear information that the entire material universe is only one fourth of the creative energy of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. The other three fourths of the creative energy of the Lord are manifested in the spiritual sky, called the Vaikunthaloka.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatara (incarnation) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, clearly explained to Sanatana Gosvami, one of the Lord's intimate disciples, about the nature of these universes. The Lord explained that the material universes have a limited length and breadth, whereas no one can measure the length and breadth of all the Vaikuntha planets. These Vaikuntha planets are like the petals of a lotus flower, and the principal part of that flower is the center of all the Vaikunthas. This part is called Krsnaloka, or Goloka Vrndavana. The Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, has His original eternal abode on this planet. The other Vaikunthas are also inhabited by residents who are full with six opulences--wealth, strength, knowledge, beauty, fame and renunciation--and in each and every Vaikuntha planet a different expansion of Krsna has His eternal abode.Prabhupada, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, pp. 82~83.11 Material scientists have no information of this vast knowledge.
Certainly, the secrets of the universe cannot be unfolded by the tiny brains of material scientists. We should agree without a doubt that man's vision in all directions is extremely limited by the inadequacies of his senses, his technology and his intellect. None can deny the existence of the supreme scientist, Sri Krsna. He is the proprietor and knower of everything. Krsna says: "O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men [Bg. 7.10] ...O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread." [Bg. 7.7] Only fools would argue about the existence of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. In Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krsna says: "Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me." [Bg. 7.15]
Therefore, instead of denying and challenging the existence of the supreme scientist, Lord Sri Krsna or God, it should be the prime duty of all our scientist friends to appreciate the inconceivable brain of the Lord and His wonderful manifestations everywhere. One may falsely claim the credit for the discovery of radio, television, computers, penicillin, etc. But the fact is that everything was already there because nothing can come out of nothing. If someone claims that anything belongs to him, he is the greatest thief. He is stealing property from the supreme father, Sri Krsna, and claiming it to be his. Nothing belongs to us. Everything belongs to Krsna. Sri Isopanisad says: "Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.isavasyam idam sarvam yat kincat jagatyam jagat tena tyaktena bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam (Iso. 1)15
The greatest disease in the minds of the scientists is that they do not believe that something is a fact unless it is proved by scientific experiments. When a scientist makes a statement and he supports that statement with scientific experiments, everyone is completely convinced, and no questions are asked. When we talk about the spirit soul to these scientists, their usual response is, "How can one detect the presence of the soul?" Because they have been conditioned to working with machines, they wonder whether the soul can be detected by scientific experiments. However, scientists have to agree that even in their own scientific realm there are many facts that cannot be proved by experiments. The fact is that the soul is there, but in order to understand its existence we have to accept knowledge from the right person, Sri Krsna, or God, and His representative in disciplic succession, the spiritual master.
Everyone in the scientific community knows that mathematicians work with an imaginary number called "i," which is the square root of minus one. This number does not figure among the natural numbers (1,2,3, etc.). However, important branches of mathematics--for example, the theory of analytical functions--are based on this imaginary unit. Without the help of this branch of mathematics, various complex theories and problems cannot be solved. Thus the existence of this number cannot be denied; yet there is no experiment to prove it. In a similar manner, scientists in the field of statistical mechanics also utilize various conceptual models--ensembles, for example--to explain their theories and arguments. These are all beyond the realm of experimental science. If scientists are willing to accept these imaginary and conceptual models, what is the difficulty in accepting the perfect knowledge given by Lord Krsna, the supreme scientist?
Another scientific theory that is beyond the limit of experimental science is Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. The statement of this principle is that it is impossible to simultaneously determine the position and momentum of any object. In mathematical language, it is stated that the product of the uncertainties in the measured values of the position and momentum (product of mass and velocity) cannot be smaller than Planck's constant. No existing experimental technique can prove this principle. However, scientists all over the world accept this statement as a fact, knowing that the experimental proof is beyond their ability. Similarly, there is no scientific experiment to prove the Third Law of Thermodynamics. This law, as formulated by Planck, states that the entropy of a perfect crystal at absolute zero degrees is equal to zero. Factually, there is no means available for measuring directly the absolute entropies. Therefore the proof of this law is beyond the realm of experimental science.
It is also to be noted that so-called scientific theories are changing constantly. For example, at the beginning of the Nineteenth Century (1808), John Dalton, in developing his atomic theory, stated that atoms could not be further divided. However, toward the end of the Nineteenth Century and the beginning of the Twentieth Century, it was found that Dalton's atomic theory could no longer be considered correct. It was observed that atoms could be further divided into fundamental particles like electrons, protons and neutrons. It was also found that some atoms could emit alpha and beta particles, thereby producing new atoms, and so on. As a matter of fact, the so-called nuclear bombs are a result of these findings. In a similar manner, during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries Newton's mechanics had a tremendous influence on the minds of scientists, since they could be applied to gross material objects. However, at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, with the discoveries of the fundamental particles, it was realized that Newton's mechanics failed in describing the motions of these particles. Thus quantum mechanics has been developed to explain the phenomena they exhibit. These theories are filled with speculation, and they are also changing. Just as past and present scientific theories are changing, so we can understand that future scientific theories will also change.
This simply shows that the brains of the highly honored material scientists are imperfect, and, as a result, the theories proposed by these brains will always be imperfect. Actually, perfect knowledge cannot be changed. In order to get perfect knowledge, one has to take knowledge from the perfect scientist, Lord Krsna, and His bona fide representative, the spiritual master. Krsna says: "I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts." [Bg. 10.8] Furthermore: "Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna. Of all sciences I am the spiritual science of the Self, and among logicians I am the conclusive truth." [Bg. 10.32]
Scientists have to understand that the knowledge and ability they have is extremely limited and in fact quite insignificant. With this insignificant and limited knowledge, how will it be possible to understand knowledge beyond the material context? Actually there is no question about the existence of the soul. The living entities are fragmental spirit souls, whereas Lord Krsna is the supreme soul, supreme person and supreme scientist. Krsna says: "The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind." [Bg. 15.7] Also: "It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father." [Bg. 14.4]
Just as the existence of air can be felt by touch and the existence of certain molecules by fragrance and aroma, similarly consciousness is the clear symptom of the existence of the soul. "O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness." [Bg. 13.34] Biologists also confirm that even the smallest microorganisms, such as bacteria, have consciousness. When consciousness enters into a material body. we call it a living body. However, when there is no consciousness in the body--in other words, when the spirit soul leaves the body--simply a lump of matter is left over. This phenomenon we call death. Therefore the spirit soul never dies and is never born. It is eternal. What we call birth and death are nothing but the changing of different material bodies, the replacement of old bodies with new ones. "The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another as the air carries aromas." [Bg. 15.8] Thus birth, death, old age and disease are the signals of the changing of the material body.
When our scientific friends readily accept Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the imaginary unit and the various conceptual models of statistical mechanics, which are all beyond experimental science, what is the difficulty in accepting the existence of the spirit soul? The supreme scientist Sri Krsna says: "For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." [Bg. 2.20] Its size has been described thus: "When the upper point of a hair is divided into one hundred parts and again each of such parts is divided into one hundred parts, each such part is the measurement of the dimension of the spirit soul."balagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca bhago jivah vijneyah sa canantyaya kalpate (Svetasvatara Upanisad, 5.9)8
Scientists are familiar with the law of conservation of energy which states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed. The living entities are the superior energy of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. Therefore the soul is eternal. "Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul." [Bg. 2.17] The nature of the spirit soul is elaborately described in the Second and Thirteenth Chapters of Bhagavad-gita. One simply has to take the knowledge from the supreme scientist, Sri Krsna, the speaker of Bhagavad-gita.
Before Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution in 1859, he frequently corresponded with A.R. Wallace, one of his contemporary naturalists. In one of his letters to A.R. Wallace (December 22, 1857), Darwin wrote, "...I am a firm believer that without speculation there is no good and original observation....'Philip Appleman, ed., Darwin (New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1970), p. 66.1 Thus, one does not need to make an extensive study in order to understand his theory. His theory was completely based on his own speculation and mental manipulation, based on some data collected during his "Voyage of the Beagle" (1831-1836). Every sensible person knows that speculative knowledge is quite fallible.
How his theory was developed is given in his own words: "When onboard H.M.S. Beagle as naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the organic beings inhabiting South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts ...seemed to throw some light on the origin of species, that mystery of mysteries. On my return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question by patiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which could possibly have any bearing on it. After five years work I allowed myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these I enlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which seemed to me probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursued the same object. In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist might come to the conclusion that species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties from other species."Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1883), pp. 1-2 (italics added).2
Darwin has no knowledge about the nature of the spirit soul. He has no clear information as to how the living entity (spirit soul) is transmigrating from one species to another. He does not know whether there is further evolution from the human platform, and he hasn't the slightest idea as to the total number of species through which the cycle of evolution goes on. He also has no infonnation whether the spirit soul can transmigrate from the human platform to lower species of life.
There has been great confusion regarding Darwin's Theory. His critics are very legitimately asking, "If the theory of natural selection of Darwin is correct, why can't we see the intermediate forms of species, the connecting links?" Darwin himself was completely confused in this respect. He could not provide any logical answer except his speculative argumentation. His own answer was that "extinction and natural selection will ...go hand in hand."Alvar Ellegard, Darwin and the General Reader (Goteberg: Elanders Boktryckeri Aktiebolag, 1958), p. 217.3 He did not know that all the species of life have been existing since the dawn of creation. "The different species of life are created immediately along with the universe. Men, animals, beasts, birds--everything is simultaneously created, because whatever desires the living entities had at the last annihilation are again manifested."A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita As It Is (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1972), p. 456.4 As a crude example, the species portrayed in the ancient Egyptian pyramids were the same as those we meet at the present day. Similarly, since time immemorial the peacock, whose colorful feathers so nicely decorate the transcendental head of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, has been the same as the species we find today. With his poor fund of knowledge, Darwin concluded that some species became extinct in the process of evolution. This is completely wrong.
Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
but even thou lets be optimistic! In some places present scientists fail but in some places they are doing so much that Devotees can use and better serve to Krishna.
For example, they created these Internet connections, telephones, mass media, tape recorders, computers...
and we are using them. Srila Prabhupada also told that when we join west's technology with east's spirituality we will achieve success.
If there were no any airplanes, ships, cars how we could so often and regularly meet with pure Devotees who travel all around the world?
Your servant,
I agree, but still I doubt isn't life would have been better than this with out this technical advancement. Instead of going to a Collage my parents would have sent me to Jagganath Puri or Navadwip Mayapure to learn Scriptures With a single Aim in life to Visit Vrindavan Once and waiting for the result after death.
And people who deserve Sadhus association they would surely get it by some other means (probably we don't need airplane for it) . There is good enough science in our culture we don't have it's engineering application because we don't need it.
Mohini Madhavi > Bramharpan BindaputraJune 9, 2012 at 4:17pm
yes, in this way Srila Prabhupada also would stay in Radha Damodar Temple and peacefully practice his Krishna Consciousness.
It would be ok for him. But millions of people would suffer miserable even today if they did not have the Holy Names.
Because of us he used planes, printing machines, computers...and preached the glories of the Holy Names. Srila Prabhupada did not use it for his own pleasure. But for the pleasure of Lord Gouranga Mahaprabhu who is the merciful Avatar, who just suffers seeing others' sufferings.
--------
There are 2 types of Devotees, which both of them are correct.
1. likes to do his own bhajana and doing that will achieve the goal
but another one is
2. that who does his own bhajana but also preaches to others and wants them also become happy and go back to Godhead.
i do not think that these days without using technology we will be able to preach much, globally.
It is impossible or hardly possible.
Before one sage used to sit and talk and other thousands of sages could hear him without any microphones and also there was no need for writing.
But now we have less memory and hearing or speaking capacities because of that we replace them with technology.
Mohini Madhavi > Bramharpan BindaputraJune 20, 2012 at 1:27pm
mostly. But for Him everyone is dear.
But even though He says that He likes second type. But even though everyone is His children but ...but...again the same...Because Radha is also Krishna in His Female Form. In this way She is the symbol of compassion.
In the reality we are not able to preach and make others to chant. Such like power comes only from Krishna. So if Krishna wants to glorify some of His Devotees then He will give to them qualities. But if He wants some of their Devotees not to preach but only serve to Him then it will also please Him.
In this way it is not true to say that Devotee who is washing pots is lesser than a great preacher...and vise versa.
About this dimension of soul it is said it is one of ten-thousandth part of tip of a hair
one Sripad (Dr. T.D. Singh) disciple had access to Electron Microscope In one of the Institute in Kanpur. With the help of that he found his won tip of hair to be little more than 1 micron, 10-6 Meter. then 1/10000 part of it is 1 angstrom, 10-10 Meter which is dimension of a standers atom. With This Query That Pabhu went to his Guru Maharaj then Sripad Maharaj Explained ...soul is not a part of materiel world so by material means it cannot be seen.
We see objects because they respond of light and reflects them, in similar way in case of electron microscope object have to respond with electrons and reflect them. But soul is out of material existence that’s why it cannot be perceived by material means. For example like our mind & intelligence they are subtle element and cannot be perceived physically.
It,s not like that prabhu... Yes Material Energy is Lords Potency......But They work in a Mathematical Harmony That's why we Say "GOD IS A MATHEMATICIAN ". That's why P=mf is true for everyday....... and god whimsically doesn't changes it to something else to show his existence.
Gour-premanande HariBol (Correct me If I am Wrong) YS APN
modern scientists even themselves get shocked by the power of their brains. it seems that brain can achieve something more, but yet we do not know the process of working with brain.
brain can do great openings but we use still very small percentages of it.
Anyways, Jitender Prabhu, Your researches shakes mind, please do more so that we could prove even materially that God is God and He is there!
Thank You!
Your servant,
Replies
Complete and perfect knowledge of evolution in minute detail is available in the Vedic literatures. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has kindly supplied the following Vedic quotations:
but even thou lets be optimistic! In some places present scientists fail but in some places they are doing so much that Devotees can use and better serve to Krishna.
For example, they created these Internet connections, telephones, mass media, tape recorders, computers...
and we are using them. Srila Prabhupada also told that when we join west's technology with east's spirituality we will achieve success.
If there were no any airplanes, ships, cars how we could so often and regularly meet with pure Devotees who travel all around the world?
Your servant,
I agree, but still I doubt isn't life would have been better than this with out this technical advancement. Instead of going to a Collage my parents would have sent me to Jagganath Puri or Navadwip Mayapure to learn Scriptures With a single Aim in life to Visit Vrindavan Once and waiting for the result after death.
And people who deserve Sadhus association they would surely get it by some other means (probably we don't need airplane for it) .
There is good enough science in our culture we don't have it's engineering application because we don't need it.
(Correct me If I am wrong) Ys APN
yes, in this way Srila Prabhupada also would stay in Radha Damodar Temple and peacefully practice his Krishna Consciousness.
It would be ok for him. But millions of people would suffer miserable even today if they did not have the Holy Names.
Because of us he used planes, printing machines, computers...and preached the glories of the Holy Names. Srila Prabhupada did not use it for his own pleasure. But for the pleasure of Lord Gouranga Mahaprabhu who is the merciful Avatar, who just suffers seeing others' sufferings.
--------
There are 2 types of Devotees, which both of them are correct.
1. likes to do his own bhajana and doing that will achieve the goal
but another one is
2. that who does his own bhajana but also preaches to others and wants them also become happy and go back to Godhead.
i do not think that these days without using technology we will be able to preach much, globally.
It is impossible or hardly possible.
Before one sage used to sit and talk and other thousands of sages could hear him without any microphones and also there was no need for writing.
But now we have less memory and hearing or speaking capacities because of that we replace them with technology.
Your servant,
and krishna likes that second type of devotee right?
mostly. But for Him everyone is dear.
But even though He says that He likes second type. But even though everyone is His children but ...but...again the same...Because Radha is also Krishna in His Female Form. In this way She is the symbol of compassion.
In the reality we are not able to preach and make others to chant. Such like power comes only from Krishna. So if Krishna wants to glorify some of His Devotees then He will give to them qualities. But if He wants some of their Devotees not to preach but only serve to Him then it will also please Him.
In this way it is not true to say that Devotee who is washing pots is lesser than a great preacher...and vise versa.
Your servant,
About this dimension of soul it is said it is one of ten-thousandth part of tip of a hair
one Sripad (Dr. T.D. Singh) disciple had access to Electron Microscope In one of the Institute in Kanpur. With the help of that he found his won tip of hair to be little more than 1 micron, 10-6 Meter. then 1/10000 part of it is 1 angstrom, 10-10 Meter which is dimension of a standers atom. With This Query That Pabhu went to his Guru Maharaj then Sripad Maharaj Explained ...soul is not a part of materiel world so by material means it cannot be seen.
We see objects because they respond of light and reflects them, in similar way in case of electron microscope object have to respond with electrons and reflect them. But soul is out of material existence that’s why it cannot be perceived by material means. For example like our mind & intelligence they are subtle element and cannot be perceived physically.
Gour Haribol (Correct me If I am Wrong) YS Arpn
It,s not like that prabhu...
Yes Material Energy is Lords Potency......But They work in a Mathematical Harmony That's why we Say "GOD IS A MATHEMATICIAN ". That's why P=mf is true for everyday....... and god whimsically doesn't changes it to something else to show his existence.
Gour-premanande HariBol (Correct me If I am Wrong) YS APN
brain can do great openings but we use still very small percentages of it.
Anyways, Jitender Prabhu, Your researches shakes mind, please do more so that we could prove even materially that God is God and He is there!
Thank You!
Your servant,
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