Question to Radhanath Swami: We have heard that in Hinduism, you can find yourself through meditation. If more people get the right values and follow this path of spirituality, then there would be much greater peace in the world. Why don’t we use a tract of science to prove these values and the way they work?
Answer by Radhanath Swami: Science and technology are potentially a reason for great benefit to humanity and all living beings, or potentially they could be a reason for great devastation; it depends on the character in the hearts of the people who use it. I will give a simple example- a knife. One person who has that knife can kill someone, cut their throats and take everything away from them what they have. So when the knife is in the hands of a thief, it is destructive. But, the same exact knife when fits in the hands of a surgeon, it will save a person’s life with compassion. So is the knife good or bad? The knife is as bad as the person who holds it or as good as the person who holds it. That’s the way everything in this world is.
Knowledge, fame, strength, science, and technology, have a tremendous strength. But we could use that science and technology out of greed and we can actually pollute the environment, cost so much suffering to so many living beings including humanity, or we could use it to create great health, prosperity, and enlightenment.
So science and technology, especially when it is harmonized with the universal spiritual principles and character, we can have such great value within the world.
The destiny of the world is very much in hands of the students who are going to universities and learning technology, learning science, and destiny is going to be determined by the values, the character, and the spirit of compassion that they have actually imbibed within their hearts. Question is, whether we want to be a part of the problem or a part of a wonderful holistic solution.
So the practice of meditation, the practice of chanting God’s names or mantras, puja, seva, are all ways of reconnecting to that deep enlightened state that is within us. That is our true potential. There have been many medical and scientific researches of how meditation actually affects in a very positive way to the brain and the cells of the body. There is a great detailed research about this chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, how it affects in such a positive way on the cells in the brain and the whole way we think. So science is beautiful if we are beautiful; and science can be very ugly if we are ugly. So this is holistic form of education along with the tools to discover and accomplish great things in this world.
We should also educate ourselves in how we can actually make those interconnections and share them and live with character, live with values, live with gratitude, and live with humility.
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