HH Bhanu Swami Maharaja is one of the senior disciples of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder acharya of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He holds a BA Degree in Oriental fine arts history from the University of British Colombia. He joined the Hare Krishna movement in India in 1970. Initiated in 1971 by Srila Prabhupada, he took sannyasa vows in 1984. Bhanu Swami was personally instructed in the art of Deity worship by Srila Prabhupada, and within ISKCON he has become an authority on the topic. He is a great inspiration for many devotees around the world and he preaches Krishna consciousness in Japan, Malaysia, Russia and India.
And Chaitanya Charan Prabhu succinct from 1.19.44:
“So we tried to discuss our left brain, right brain approaches to Scripture. And then you started by how this brain researcher, she had a different way of looking after a stroke. So, that’s one scientific way of saying that, you know, the science way of looking at reality is not the only way. The another layers of chances are through all paranormal research, where there is various kinds of research done in Stanford and other places.
We could say that our Bhagavatam cosmology is also another way of looking at reality. And within science itself, there are different ways. There is quantum physics which sees reality very differently from Newtonian physics. So if within science itself, there are different ways of looking at reality, then there could be some ways which are outside science also. And scripture offers us that view. Sukadev Goswami is himself a yogi, so he’s giving a vision of the universe that is meant to increase appreciation for the Lord; that how the Lord accommodates various living beings at various levels. And from that purpose, that is way the 5th fifth Canto cosmology is described. Even in our tradition, they have been comfortable with different ways of looking at the universe. The scientists like Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya, they were both Brahmins, so they accepted the Puranas, and they also accepted Jyotish Shastras.
Then there is the question that, how much of this is depictable? It’s very difficult to depict because it’s more in terms of visuals or images. Some depictions can be done. But we don’t have to literally insist that this is the way it is. And certainly we don’t have to think that the scientific way is wrong.
The Bhagavatam’s description can be both symbolic and real, or metaphorical and metaphysical – both. Then you talked about the pendulum; say one way is that to say that science is wrong; and the other is to say scripture is imaginary. But the balanced way would be to say that science has one way of looking and the scripture has another way of looking. And then with respect to tradition- if it’s traditional, it needn’t be made into a major faith issue that if you can’t accept this, then you are a heretic, but rather accept the principles accept the principles. You can put aside the other details if you can’t accept them. There are ways in which the conflicts and the details can be resolved.
And you talked about how religion without realization becomes fanatical. The “Bharavahi and Saragrahi”. So the Sahagrahi means to focus on gaining the realisation and to encourage people to take up the process by which they can get the realization and not put in unnecessary obstacles. So we can have a compartmentalization that science has a jurisdiction for empirical knowledge, and scripture talks about transcendental matters. When scripture gives us a view of the material universe, that is a different model. We accept that model, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to reject science. And in that way we can both go together. Yes, any concluding words, Maharaj?”
HH Bhanu Maharaj: “One thing is that ultimately our aim is to show that if you get a spiritual insight, then you can actually solve your scientific problems in a more absolute way. In other words, science is not always going to change in the future, depending on “Pradaksha anuman” it will keep changing. But if we understand behind that there is the spiritual essence, and spiritual realization, and if we can introduced that into science, we can have a more accurate science. So in other words, spirituality can contribute to science by giving a higher vision to it. So we can get more perfect science in the material world by recognizing spirituality analogy.”
CC Pr : “Yes Maharaj, that will be a profound contribution. I think that will also require a lot of dedicated study of both science and scripture. If we are actually be able to do that, but that will be significant contribution. Thank you very much for your time, it’s been an illuminating the discussion with you. My humble obeisance’s Maharaj.”
HH Bhanu Maharaj: “Hare Krishna”.
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=88962
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