[evolution.jpg] Copyright ©2005 The Bhaktivedanta
Book Trust
International, on the web at http://www.krishna.com.
Used with permission.
[evolution.jpg] Copyright ©2005 The Bhaktivedanta
Book Trust
International, on the web at http://www.krishna.com.
Used with permission.
Was Darwin's Theory On
Evolution A Full Conclusion On Causation?
Research Findings Establish
Reincarnation as a Scientific Fact
We're not these bodies:
You Know You're Not That
Body... (excerpt from The Life & Legacy of Srtpad Ananda Tirtha Madhwacarya
by JTCd)
It is confirmed in Padma Purana that the species of life evolved from aquatics to plants, vegetables, trees; thereafter insects, reptiles, flies, birds, then beasts, and then human kind. This is the gradual process of evolution of species of life.His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Los Angeles 9 March, 1970
Columbus, Ohio
My Dear Hayagriva,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4 March, 1970, along with the edited copy of the Foreword to KRSNA. Thank you very much. The few alterations of dates is approved by me, so it is alright.
Regarding your question do the Vedic histories refer to this planet only. No. Vedic history means of this universe. Our history begins from the beginning of the creation because the creation takes place with the birth of Brahma from the abdomen lotus flower of Lord Visnu. Then Brahma gradually creates. He begets so many sons known as Prajapatis who are supposed to be the generators of living entities, and therefore the history begins from Brahma. In the Bhagavad-gita this is confirmed in the 15th chapter. It is said there that the root of this big universal banyan tree is on the top; therefore history begins from the top.
Yes. This planet comes later on. We can take the idea from the tree--the tree grows gradually, and the different fruits, branches, and twigs gradually appear. Therefore it is to be understood that this planet has grown later on. Besides this we understand that although the planet was later on grown up, it was covered with water--pralaya payodhi jalemerged into the water after devastation. Then gradually it emerges from water. That we can experience, that gradually land is coming out of the oceans. Because of its being merged into water, it is natural to conclude that the beginning of life was aquatic. This is confirmed in Padma Purana that the species of life evolved from aquatics to plants, vegetables, trees; thereafter insects, reptiles, flies, birds, then beasts, and then human kind. This is the gradual process of evolution of species of life.
But we do not accept Darwin's theory. According to Darwin's theory, homo sapiens came later on, but we see that the most intelligent personality, Brahma, is born first. So according to Vedic knowledge, Darwin or similar mental speculators are rejected so far the fact is concerned.
I am so glad to learn that the Gita is going on nicely. Perhaps you know that Mandali Bhadra wants to translate into German, so as you finish one chapter you may send one copy to him immediately for being translated into German.
Mayapur is the birth-site of Lord Caitanya. It is a small village You cannot find it on the map, but near Calcutta you may find the place "Navadvipa," and Mayapur is part of this Navadvipa district. So far your planning to go to India, not only you, but I think several others, including Kirtanananda Maharaja and other advanced students, will go to India for preaching Krsna Consciousness. That will be a lesson to our so-called "secular" government. I came here with this purpose, so you have to fulfill my desire. I think it is coming to be true by the will of Lord Caitanya.
Acyutananda is getting good opportunities to move amongst enlightened circle in Calcutta, so if some of our advanced students go to India for this purpose, that will be a great achievement. I am thinking of that plan always. In the meantime, let us publish as many books as possible within this year. I wish to go to India for this purpose in the beginning of next year.
So far life-size Deities are concerned, even if you do not go, that can be imported. We have got addresses of supplier, and if you give me the size of the Deity you want, that can be imported. In the meantime you try to construct some temples in New Vrindaban. I want to publish one catalog of our ISKCON movement, giving pictures of all important centers and especially of New Vrindaban. This idea I gave you long ago when I was in New Vrindaban. I have advised Brahmananda also in this connection. So get this catalog printed as early as possible.
Another important thing is our theistic school in New Vrindaban. If you can establish a nice educational center, I know many parents of your country will be glad to send their children in New Vrindaban. But we have to create a nice atmosphere and educational system there. Satyabhama is very much enthusiastic in this connection. So you organize this institution systematically.
Hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS:db
LIFE, OR SOMETHING LIKE IT
In Charles Darwin's time, nothing was known about life at the cellular
level. Protoplasm was the smallest unit they understood. Yet Darwin's theory
of natural selection stated that all of life--every living entity known
then or to be discovered in the future--simply had to function from birth
to death by "natural laws" that could be defined and analysed. This would
of course include the origin of life. Darwin suggested life might have
gradually assembled itself from stray parts lying about in some "warm pond"
when the planet had cooled enough to make such an assemblage possible.
Later it was realised that nothing would likely have taken shape (gradually
or otherwise) in a static environment, so a catalytic element was added:
lightning. Throughout history up to the present moment, scientists have
been forced to spend their working lives with the "God" of the Creationists
hovering over every move they make, every mistake, every error in judgment,
every personal peccadillo. So when faced with something they can't explain
in rational terms, the only alternative option is "God did it", which for
them is unacceptable. So they're forced by relentless Creationist pressure
to come up with answers for absolutely everything that, no matter how absurd,
are "natural". That was their motivation for the theory that a lightning
bolt could strike countless random molecules in a warm pond and somehow
transform them into the first living creature. The "natural" forces of
biology, chemistry and electromagnetism could magically be swirled together--and
voilla!... an event suspiciously close to a miracle.
Needless to say, no Darwinist would accept terms like "magic" or "miracle",
which would be tantamount to agreeing with the Creationist argument that
"God did it all". But in their heart-of-hearts, even the most fanatical
Darwinists had to suspect the "warm pond" theory was absurd.
And as more and more was learned about the mind-boggling complexity
of cellular structure and chemistry, there could be no doubt. The trenchant
Fred Hoyle analogy still stands: it was as likely to be true as that a
tornado could sweep through a junkyard and correctly assemble a jetliner.
Unfortunately, the "warm pond" had become a counterbalance to "God
did it", so even when Darwinists knew past doubt that it was wrong, they
clung to it, outwardly proclaimed it and taught it. In many places in the
world, including the USA, it's still taught.
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
The next jarring bump on the Darwinist road to embattlement came when
they learned that in certain places around the globe there existed remnants
of what had to be the very first pieces of the Earth's crust. Those most
ancient slabs of rock are called cratons, and the story of their survival
for 4.0 billion [4,000,000,000] years is a miracle in itself. But what
is most miraculous about them is that they contain fossils of "primitive"
bacteria! Yes, bacteria, preserved in 4.0-billion-year-old cratonal rock.
If that's not primitive, what is? However, it presented Darwinists with
an embarrassing conundrum. If Earth began to coalesce out of the solar
system's primordial cloud of dust and gas around 4.5 billion years ago
(which by then was a well supported certainty), then at 4.0 billion years
ago the proto-planet was still a seething ball of cooling magma. No warm
ponds would appear on Earth for at least a billion years or more. So how
to reconcile reality with the warm-pond fantasy?
There was no way to reconcile it, so it was ignored by all but the
specialists who had to work with it on a daily basis. Every other Darwinist
assumed a position as one of the "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil"
monkeys. To say they "withheld" the new, damaging information is not true;
to say it was never emphasised in the popular media for public consumption
is true.
That has become the way Darwinists handle any and all challenges to
their pet theories: if they can no longer defend one, they don't talk about
it, or they talk about it as little as possible. If forced to talk about
it, they invariably try to "kill the messenger" by challenging any critic's
"credentials". If the critic lacks academic credentials equal to their
own, he or she is dismissed as little more than a crackpot. If the critic
has equal credentials, he or she is labelled as a "closet Creationist"
and dismissed. No career scientist can speak openly and vociferously against
Darwinist dogma without paying a heavy price. That is why and how people
of normally good conscience can be and have been "kept in line" and kept
silent in the face of egregious distortions of truth.
If that system of merciless censure weren't so solidly in place, then
surely the next Darwinist stumble would have made headlines around the
world as the final and absolute end to the ridiculous notion that life
could possibly have assembled itself "naturally". They couldn't even be
sure it happened on Earth.
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
The imposing edifice of Darwinian "origin of life" dogma rested on
a piece of incontrovertible bedrock: there could be only one progenitor
for all of life. When the fortuitous lightning bolt struck the ideally
concocted warm pond, it created only one entity. However, it was no ordinary
entity. With it came the multiple ability to take nourishment from its
environment, create energy from that nourishment, expel waste created by
the use of that energy and (almost as an afterthought) reproduce itself
ad infinitum until one of its millions of subsequent generations sits here
at this moment reading these words. Nothing miraculous about that; simply
incalculable good fortune. This was Darwinist gospel--preached and believed--until
the bacteria fossils were found in the cratons. Their discovery was upsetting,
but not a deathblow to the Darwinist theory. They had to concede (among
themselves, of course) that the first life-form didn't assemble itself
in a warm pond, but it came together somehow because every ancient fossil
it spawned was a single-celled bacteria lacking a cell nucleus (prokaryotes).
Prokaryotes preceded the much later single-celled bacteria with a nucleus
(eukaryotes), so the post-craton situation stayed well within the Darwinian
framework. No matter how the first life-form came into existence, it was
a single unit lacking a cell nucleus, which was mandatory because even
the simplest nucleus would be much too "irreducibly complex" (a favourite
Intelligent Design phrase) to be created by a lightning bolt tearing through
a warm pond's molecular junkyard. So the Darwinists still held half a loaf.
In the mid-1980's, however, biologist Carl Woese stunned his colleagues
with a shattering discovery. There wasn't just the predicted (and essential)
single source for all forms of life; there were two: two types of prokaryotic
bacteria as distinct as apples and oranges, dogs and cats, horses and cows...
Two distinct forms of life, alive and well on the planet at 4.0 billion
years ago. Unmistakable. Irrefutable. Get over it. Deal with it.
But how? How to explain separate forms of life springing into existence
in an environment that would make hell seem like a summer resort? With
nothing but cooling lava as far as an incipient eye might have seen, how
could it be explained in "natural" terms? Indeed, how could it be explained
in any terms other than the totally unacceptable? Life, with all its deepening
mystery, had to have been seeded onto Earth.
Author's web site is http://www.lloydpye.com
[from Nexus Dec-Jan issue]
Modern humans do not have Neanderthal ancestors in their family tree, a new DNA study concludes. The DNA extracted from the ribs of a Neanderthal infant buried in southern Russia 29,000 years ago was found to be too distinct from modern human DNA to be related. BBC (12-11-2002)
"There wasn't much, if any mixture, between Neanderthals and modern humans," said William Goodwin, of the University of Glasgow, UK. "Though they co-existed, we can't find any evidence of genetic material being passed from Neanderthals to modern humans." The new work, published in the journal Nature, contradicts recent evidence from ancient remains of a child found in Portugal, which appeared to combine Neanderthal and human features. Those researchers concluded that some interbreeding must have taken place.
Last of the Neanderthals
The bones from the Neanderthal infant were very well preserved and
the child must have been among the last of the Neanderthals as they died
out about 30,000 years ago.
Exactly what happened to them is a mystery. Conflicting theories suggest that they were massacred, out-competed for food or simply absorbed by interbreeding with modern humans.
The research by Dr Goodwin and his Swedish and Russian colleagues agrees
with the findings of the first analysis of Neanderthal DNA in 1997.
That study of DNA, taken from the first Neanderthal skeleton found
in the Feldhofer Cave in Germany in 1856, supports the theory that modern
humans replaced Neanderthals.
Little diversity
According to Dr Goodwin, the DNA sequence from the infant was very
similar to the specimen from the Feldhofer Cave, proving that there was
little diversity among Neanderthals. "If they had been very diverse at
the DNA level, they could have encompassed modern humans. The fact that
these two Neanderthals are closely related and not related to modern humans
implies that they don't have the diversity to encompass a modern human
gene pool," said Dr Goodwin.
DNA comparisons also showed that different ethnic groups do not have any links to Neanderthals.
In a commentary on the research in Nature, Matthias Hoss, of the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, said the two studies provide the most reliable proof so far of the authenticity of ancient DNA sequences.
The similar features of the two samples "argues against the idea that
modern Europeans are at least partly of Neanderthal origin," he said.
BBC
He does not know. The apartment does not change. The owner of the apartment goes from one apartment to another. That he does not know. Therefore he's cheating. He does not, he has no perfect knowledge, and he's cheating. Cheater. He does not know. The soul, from the monkey's body is coming to human body. That is nice. Not that the monkey's body is changing into human body.His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (07-12-02)
Prabhupada:There is no history that anyone has produced life from chemicals.
What do your, what do you think, that life is a product of chemicals? Do
you mean to say?Dr. Hauser:That is what I've been taught. Yes. About the
evolution of the earth. And...
Prabhupada:Therefore, if...
Dr. Hauser:...all the different stages of life.
Prabhupada:Do you think that's a fact...
Dr. Hauser:It's not a fact. I don't know whether it's a fact. I...
But that's...
Prabhupada:Then that means illusioned. You are not confident, but you
accept that theory. This is illusion.
Dr. Hauser:But... Yes. But...
Prabhupada:But you should apply your reason, from practical life, whether
life is produced from matter, or matter is produced from life. Our proposition
is: matter is produced from life, not life is produced from matter. In
the Vedanta-sutrait is said: janmady asya yatah.Absolute Truth is that
from whom or from which everything emanates. Now that Absolute Truth, whether
he's life or dead stone. So that is discussed: janmady asya yato 'nvayad
itaratas carthesv abhijnah.That Absolute Truth must be cognizant. So as
soon as you say cognizant, then He's alive. Abhijnah.That, that means if
I say: "I have produced all these things that is within the room," then
means I must have brain. I must be experienced how to do it. How I can
be dead, matter? Has the matter has got such thing? The origin of creation
must be a living being.
Dr. Hauser:But somewhere... If I can... But in this, there is also
the creation of life, when...
Prabhupada:Where is that evidence, creation of life from matter? Is
there any evidence in the history?
Dr. Hauser:No, but as we know, the evolution of life has gone through
different stages of... How do you...?
Prabhupada:Darwin's theory. Do you mean to say, Darwin's theory?
Dr. Hauser:Yes, yes.
Prabhupada:That is nonsense. Darwin was a number-one nonsense. Yes.
Rascal. He has confused the whole world.
Dr. Hauser:Hmm. Why...?
Prabhupada:Evolution of matter. Matter cannot evolve. That is not possible.
Dr. Hauser:But evolution of life...
Prabhupada:What is that life? That is different from matter. That is
a different energy. That I am speaking. Matter is... Life is the origin
of matter. The evolution is not of the matter, but of the life. That Darwin
does not know. Therefore I say nonsense. He does not know that.
Dr. Hauser:Yes. But I feel in the...
Prabhupada:Just like this is an apartment. So from this apartment,
you go to another apartment. So it does not mean that this apartment has
evolved to that apartment. I, the person, I create that apartment, or I
prefer that apartment. Not that this apartment has evolved into that apartment.
Dr. Hauser:Yes, I can see what you mean. Yes.
Prabhupada:Yes. Darwin's nonsense is there. He is changing the apartment.
Apartment is becoming a different apartment. That is not a fact. Just try
to understand. This room cannot develop into another room. But I, the resident
of this room, I can go from this apartment to another apartment. Or I can
create another apartment. This is evolution.
Dr. Hauser:And I can create a bigger apartment.
Prabhupada:Yes, bigger, smaller, as I like. Not necessarily bigger.
That is also another nonsense.
Dr. Hauser:And my intelligence might grow also.
Prabhupada:Intelligence, maybe. But there must be means. You may be
very intelligent, but if you have no means to erect another nice apartment,
how it will?
Dr. Hauser:Trial and error.
Prabhupada:Eh?
Dr. Hauser:Trial and error.
Prabhupada:Just like you have got the desire to purchase another dress,
garment, nicer, but if you have no money, then how you can purchase? You
have to purchase something inferior. So these different species of life
is the evolution of the living soul according to his karma.That is Vedic
instruction. Karmana daiva-netrena.So I am a living entity. If I want to
go to better condition of life, then I'll have to pay for it. Better condition
is there already. Not this inferior condition changes into that better
condition. That is another thing. Just like the condition in moon planet
is different from the condition of this earthly planet. That is already
there. You have to transfer yourself from this planet to that planet. So
that point is missing in Darwin's theory. He says that body is evolving.
That is nonsense. The body is evolving, then why the monkey body is not
producing a human body at the present moment? Where is the evidence? The
monkeys are already there. Where is the evidence in the zoo that a monkey
has produced a human being? Do you think it is all right?
Dr. Hauser:Yes, that, that life might have taken different forms, that
I'm quite sure of. And that the human being might not have existed for
about a hundred thousand years ago.
Prabhupada:No human beings exists eternal. He's existing. But he accepting,
he's accepting different situation.
Paramahamsa:There's proof of this in that recently there was a discovery
in South America. I think it was in Kenya. Where they discovered a skeletal
remains that were over hundreds of thousands of years old that was pre,
what is it? Mag... What is it?
Hamsaduta:Cro-magnon.
Paramahamsa:Cro-magnon, and it was the same human body as now, as we
have now. They have discovered. And with this discovery, they say, completely
all of Darwin's theories have been destroyed. This is a fact. Immediately
see. He overlooked. He says: "I do not see any proof that human beings
lived, millions of years ago. Therefore I think apes were existing." But
what proof does he have? And how they have discovered bones and they have
proven by tests that Cro-magnon era there was the same human body. It's
a fact. And completely his, all his theories have been destroyed. Because
he again, he was working with his illusory senses.
Dr. Hauser:Hmm. But there are the dinosaurs for example. The dinosaurs,
yes. Which died and disappeared from the earth. And that is also a kind
of evolution that has taken place.
Hamsaduta:He says there are these prehistoric animals like dinosaurs,
these big, gigantic animals, they are no longer existing now, but they
existed at one time. So there, there was some evolution there.
Dr. Hauser:Yes.
Hamsaduta:But the point is Vedic, Vedic conclusion is...
Prabhupada:No, but, apart from Vedic conclusion, this example, that
practically, when I go from this apartment to another apartment, so this
apartment does not become another apartment. I go from this apartment to
another apartment. He's missing that "I". Or "you". That is his nonsense.
Dr. Hauser:He's only talking about apartments.
Prabhupada:Yes, that is his rascaldom.
Dr. Hauser:Yes, I can see what you mean.
Prabhupada:---
Dr. Hauser:But some of this cheating, as you call it, must have, have
still been a great use to mankind because it has not been proven at the
time when this theory has been evoked by some scientist, it has not been
proven that he's right, but he works according to this principle that he
has got, and then later...
Prabhupada:Yes. That, that is explained in Bhagavatamthat in the jungle
one big animal is the leader of other animals. That's all. But they're
animals. Is it not?
Dr. Hauser:But I don't really understand.
Prabhupada:In the jungle, in the forest,...
Dr. Hauser:Yes.
Prabhupada:...the lion is considered to be the king of animals. So
lion is also animal, only big animal. That's all.
Dr. Hauser:So you mean the scientist is a big lion.
Prabhupada:Yes. A big rascal. That's it. A big rascal. A big rascal
is eulogized by small rascals. That's all.
Dr. Hauser:Seducing a small rascal.
Prabhupada:Eh?
Dr. Hauser:Seducing a small rascal.
Prabhupada:Another small rascal. This is the position. Everything is
going on like that. Not only in science, philosophy, religion, sociology,
politics. The, a big rascal and small rascal. That's all.
Dr. Hauser:But you must evoke quite a lot of feelings when you say,
for example, that Einstein was a very big rascal.
Prabhupada:No. He believed in God. Yes. He believed in God. He was
not a rascal. A sane man.
Paramahamsa:Carl Jung also.
Prabhupada:Yes. He believed in God.
Dr. Hauser:Yes.
Prabhupada:He tried to find out the brain of God. So he's not rascal.
He's sane man. Those who are defying God, they're rascal, demons. Einstein
believed in God. Yes. There are many scientists, they believe in God. Harav
abhaktasya kuto...Unless one is God conscious, he's a rascal. Immediately,
take it. We take it like that. As soon as you say godless, atheist, oh,
a rascal. That's all. It may be the understanding of God is not so perfect.
But he thinks there is God. That is intelligence. That is intelligence.
And the demons will never accept God. Just like in Russia. All set of rascals.
They do not believe in God.
Dr. Hauser:But the interest... The religious interest in Russia is,
is greater than in any other country in Europe. But not the, the leaders
are not...
Prabhupada:I say the leaders. Not only in Russia. Everywhere. The leaders,
the rascal leaders spoiling the whole world situation. In India also. In
India, by nature, they are aloof from these four principles of sinful life.
Eighty percent of the population, by nature. But government, at the present
moment, the leaders, they're inducing them to eat meat, to drink. And gambling
also. Introducing. Gambling. Government is issuing that gambling cards.
Because government means some rascal just like Nixon has gone to the power.
Now he's proved he's a rascal. So everywhere the government leaders means
all rascals.
Dr. Hauser:Although Nixon says, in every television speech, that he
is a God believer.
Prabhupada:Eh?
Dr. Hauser:Nixon says, at least, that he is a God believer.
Prabhupada:That is his politics.
Dr. Hauser:Yeah.
Prabhupada:Maybe God believer, but...
Dr. Hauser:Are you leaving for...
Paramahamsa:Six-ten. We leave in ten, fifteen minutes. Would you care
to go?
Dr. Hauser:No, I have to go back to my, to this emergency ward. One
of my colleagues was, were ill today, and I had to replace him.
Paramahamsa:As far as Nixon is concerned, we can see from his activities
that he may say that he's a believer in God, but his actions prove contrary.
You see, that's... You see you can judge a person by his activities. With
someone like Srila Prabhupada, you can judge that actually he is the only
person I have ever met within my short span who is actually... (break)
Dr. Hauser:...I was also thinking that it was a little bit hard for
me to get into the language or the Indian words. And I felt that one has
to be rather intellectually sharp to be able to go into these matters.
Prabhupada:What is that difficult word?
Dr. Hauser:Intellectually...
Prabhupada:What is that difficult word? You are feeling difficult.
Hamsaduta:The Indian words means Sanskrit words.
Dr. Hauser:Yes.
Prabhupada:No, Sanskrit word we have given English equivalents. So
what is the difficulty?
Dr. Hauser:It's not that, it's not that... I can understand them but...
and I can get the translations and... but then...
Prabhupada:We have given the equivalent of each word.
Dr. Hauser:Hm.
Prabhupada:And then translation and then purport.
Dr. Hauser:No, but what I mean to say is that this is knowledge that
can be spread in this way, it must be spread to people who are rather accustomed
to reading, to getting...
Prabhupada:No. If he reads he will be accustomed. Reading will make
him accustomed.
Dr. Hauser:Well the reading customs, for example, in Sweden are very,
you know, very limited to newspapers and television and it will take them...
Prabhupada:That we have explained.
Dr. Hauser:Yeah?
Prabhupada:We have explained. Find out this verse, tad-vag-visargo
janatagha-viplavah.Yes, first of all you see the index?
Srutakirti:What this?
Prabhupada:Yes, yellow book, you know.
Srutakirti:First Canto.
Prabhupada:Yes. Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah.
Srutakirti:(reads verse and translation, S.B. 1.5.11)
Prabhupada:You follow?
Dr. Hauser:Hm.
Prabhupada:Read it again.
Srutakirti:(reads the translation again)
Dr. Hauser:Yes.
Prabhupada:The newspaper is glorification of this mundane world. You
have to transfer your consciousness to understand the glorification of
the Supreme. This is transcendental literature. So people have got the
tendency to read but they're glorifying this rascal, mundane rascals. So
that attitude should be transferred to understand the glorification of
the Supreme Lord. That will be (indistinct). That we are presenting. We
are presenting a literature exactly like the newspaper. They are glorifying
some Nixon and Dixon. We are glorifying Krsna. That is the difference.
That is the difference. If Nixon has glorification, how much glorification
is there in reserve of the Supreme Lord?
Dr. Hauser:But these Nixons and Dixons and Hitlers and... They have
a rather...
Prabhupada:That is illusion. We are attached to them.
Dr. Hauser:Yes, we are attached to them also because they have power
over us. They can persecute us and they can... So it's very...
Prabhupada:No, the greater power is Krsna. If you take shelter of Krsna,
they cannot do anything. Just like Prahlada Maharaja, he was a five years
old boy. He took shelter of Krsna and his father was a great demon, very
powerful. He wanted to chastise his boy. He could not. This is the proof.
So you take shelter. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam
vraja, aham tvam sarva-pape..."I give you protection." So people have no
faith although He's God. He thinks God is less powerful than Hitler. That
is his nonsense. If he takes actually shelter of Krsna, what this rascal,
Hitler, can do? But he has no faith in God. He thinks Prabhu Hitler is
greater than Lord. Prabhu Hitler. That is the difference between the crows
and the swans. The crows think that we have got food in the garbage. And
the swans think that we have got food in nice garden, in the clear water.
And that is difference even in the birds kingdom. That is explained in
the previous verse. Na yad vacas citra-padam harer yaso, jagat-pavitram
pragrnita karhicit, tad vayasam tirtham.Read that, previous to this verse.
Srutakirti:(reads verse, S.B. 1.5.10)
Prabhupada:Translation.
Srutakirti:(reads translation)
Prabhupada:It is a question of taste. Just see birds, two kinds of
birds, crows and the swans, different taste. Therefore we are trying to
create taste for Krsna consciousness. Then these crows' place, newspaper,
we'll not... We don't read newspaper. We don't touch it unless there is
some news of ours. We don't touch it. What is the use of wasting time?
They read so big, big bundle of newspaper. But we don't touch them. Oh,
we have got (indistinct) literature here. Why should we waste our time
in the crows' manifestation? The same politics, same Nixon, same Dixon,
same Hitler. It is called punah punas carvita-carvananam,chewing the chewed.
Things which have already been chewed and thrown away, another person is
crying, "Let me see if there's any juice." But you have already chewed.
What juice you find there? Punah punas carvita-carvananam,again and again,
same politics, same new leader, same he's a rascal. Just like Nixon advertises
in news, "America now requires Nixon." So America accepted him and now
America doesn't want him. Again another Nixon will come. This is going
on, punah punah,again and again, chewing the chewed. The people are not
disgusted but we have tasted all these rascals. Why another Nixon?
Dr. Hauser:There doesn't seem to be any accumulation of knowledge.
Prabhupada:They have no brain. The same thing, the crows. So therefore
they have to be enlightened to Krsna consciousness then they will be able
to find out some big leader, nice leader for them. There are so many things.
You are educated. You should try to understand our philosophy. There are
so many things to be learned from our... They're not sentimentally dancers
only. They've got logic, philosophy, science, everything. Otherwise how
we are writing so many books? Just see, ancient word, how they are nicely,
these two verses we have read. How full of meaning. Na yad vacas citra-padam
harer yaso. Harer, pragrnita karhicit, tad vayasam tirtham,each word has
volumes of meanings. There are 18,000 verses in Srimad-Bhagavatam.And each
word you'll find enlivening. Each word. It's such a nice literature. One
verse contains actually sixteen words. So 18,000 multiplied by sixteen,
how much?
Dr. Hauser:18,000...
Prabhupada:18,000 verses multiplied by sixteen. How many words?
Dr. Hauser:280,000. Yes.
Prabhupada:280,000 words and each word you'll find a new light. That
is (indistinct). Each word you'll find.
Dr. Hauser:Are these going to be translated into Swedish too?
Prabhupada:Yes, if you do. (laughter) We have got the...
Srutakirti:You can do that.
Prabhupada:Some Sanskrit scholar in Swedish language must come forward.
Then it can be done. But he must be a good scholar because each word is
meaningful. Yes. Just like beginning of the Bhagavata, janmady asya. Janmadi.So
this one word has volumes of meaning. Janmadimeans beginning from janma.So
beginning from janma,but, how many things are there? Generally, birth janmastiti
lat(?), birth, then you stay for some time and then you become vanquished.
This body. Janmady asya. Asyaof this material world. Janma,creation, then
situation, then annihilation. Now how many volumes of books you can write
on these three words? How this universe was created? How it is being maintained
and how it will be annihilated? These three words. How many books you can
write?
Dr. Hauser:Infinity.
Prabhupada:(indistinct) Bhagavataverse, janmady asya, asya janmadi(indistinct)
concise word but volumes of meanings. Volumes. Each word is like that.
Vidya bhagavata-vali(?). Therefore one's learning is complete when he reads
Srimad-Bhagavatam.Otherwise he remains imperfect, in spite of all learning.
Janmady asya yatah,from where? Now the creation of this cosmic world, from
where? But you do not know from where. This is explained in Bhagavatam.
Param satyam dhimahi.That is actually true. In this way simply if you analyze
one verse, you'll find each word is full of volumes of meaning. Janmady
asya yatah, anvayat.Like the creation, anvayat,directly and indirectly,
itaratas carthesu,in the matter of understanding, abhijnah. Abhijnahmeans
completely cognizant. That is the Absolute Truth. He knows everything--how
this universe is created, how it is maintained, how it annihilated, directly
and indirectly. Just like, I always, regular, everyday thing, when I am
massaged by my student, I see so many veins so I think that I claim, "This
is my leg," but I do not know what are these veins. Directly I know this
is my leg, but indirectly I do not know how this leg is working with these
veins and nerves and muscles. I do not know. But so far God is concerned,
He has created. He knows every veins and everything. That is called abhijnah.In
this way you analyze every word, you'll find volumes of meaning. The next
question, "Where you got this experience?" You say He's abhijnah,He knows
everything. To get experience one must have teacher. But the next word
is svarat,He's experienced and self-sufficiency, svarat,independent. He
hasn't got to go anywhere for experiencing. In this way each word is full
of meaning. Janmady asya yatah, anvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat,
tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah.We have very shortly
described this one verse. I think five, six pages. You've got that verse?
Srutakirti:Yes. Right here. (showing book to the psychiatrist) Here's
the translation, the verse.
Prabhupada:That is very short description.
Srutakirti:Short. (laughs) ...for the next verse also.
Prabhupada:So it is so meaningful. All learned scholars of the world
must read Srimad-Bhagavatamif they want to actually good for themselves
and good for the world.
Srutakirti:(indistinct) if we can leave at seven o'clock, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada:As soon as you say, I leave.
Syamasundara:It's seven o'clock now.
Dr. Hauser:It's seven now.
Syamasundara:I have five minutes to.
Hamsaduta:Why don't you come with us.
Dr. Hauser:I can't. I'm very sorry but I would have very much liked
to.
Hamsaduta:Oh, I see.
Srutakirti:Tomorrow morning Srila Prabhupada's leaving at 8:30, if
you'd like to come. He has a morning walk at six o'clock if you'd like
to come for that.
Dr. Hauser:Before I leave.
Prabhupada:That is not so important. Nobody can rise at six o'clock.
Dr. Hauser:Well, I can sometimes. It has been a pleasure meeting you.
Prabhupada:All right, thank you very much for your time also.
Dr. Hauser:Thank you. (end)
730910rc.sto Room Conversation with Dr. Christian Hauser, Psychiatrist
September 10, 1973, Stockholm
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
If we can prove that life comes from life, or the soul is from the supper soul, then all other things can be brought into serious consideration. So you try to prove that chemical combination can never bring about life, this is our main argument. If we can prove this, gradually we can prove that vedic knowledge is perfect.His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Bombay 17 December, 1975
Atlanta
My Dear Svarupa Damodara Prabhu,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 29, 1975. I have noted the contents carefully. Your book is selling very nicely in south India, people are appreciating it very much. This scientific book should be done very carefully, so that people in general may not be mislead by the over intelligent scientists. There are so many contradictory things, but we have our authority and they have their authority. Our knowledge is from vedic scriptures which we accept as definite and without any mistake. A modern scientist believes that there was no civilization before 3,000 years, our Bhagavatam was spoken by Sukadeva Goswami 5,000 years ago and he is explaining "as I have heard it from authority", so we have got parampara system for millions of years. If there was no civilization before 3,000 years, then how this subject matter of knowledge could be discussed? How could it be received through the param-para system? So there is contradiction certainly. But the statement that there was no civilization 3,000 years ago can be adjusted by the conviction that there was civilization, millions and millions of years ago.
For more information regarding vedic astronomy you can consult any learned astronomer, there are many in Calcutta, my Guru Maharaja was also very learned in this field.
My point is life comes from life. They say life has come from chemicals, so how these things can be adjusted? Besides that the scientists change their theories after some years, this proves that they have no perfect knowledge, otherwise where is the necessity of changing? That is the basic point of our argument. Perfect knowledge is never changeable. If we can prove that life comes from life, or the soul is from the supper soul, then all other things can be brought into serious consideration. So you try to prove that chemical combination can never bring about life, this is our main argument. If we can prove this particular subject matter, that the soul cannot be manufactured by combination of chemicals, then gradually we can prove that vedic knowledge is perfect, while other sources of knowledge by speculation and imagination are all wrong.
The other day I was talking on the morning walk about the sun globe.
They say because it is fiery there cannot be any life there, but sometimes
we see a big iron factory is full of flames from the chimney at a long
distance, but does it mean there is no life in the factory? Fire is one
of the five material elements, and Bhagavad-gita says that the soul is
never burnt by fire. So in the sunglobe globe if the living entities have
a fiery body, just as fish have body suitable for living in the water,
so how is it that there is no living entity in the sun globe if they have
a body suitable to live in the sun globe? In the vedic literatures it is
said that there are germs (agni pok) within the fire. There are so many
contradictions, but we have our own defence. Why should we blindly accept
imperfect scientists, they are imperfect because they are changing their
position in the name of progress. The word progress is used when there
is imperfection at the beginning. So this regular changing of standard
knowledge in the name of progress proves that they are always imperfect.
It is a fact that they are imperfect, because they gather knowledge with
imperfect senses. At any rate we cannot deviate from vedic knowledge. Regarding
coming to Mayapur festival, you must come, because after that we are going
to Manipur.
I will send your corrections to the editors. Thank you.
I hope this letter finds you well.
Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS.hda
Another Jolt For Evolution Theory
He takes 10 so-called proofs of evolution offered in current textbooks and shows where not one of them is in a fact a proof of anything, and several are actually frauds.Ted Byfield.
FROM THE EDMONTON SUN
If parents check the science textbooks used in Canadian schools they'll
see some familiar illustrations, familiar because much the same art appeared
in their textbooks.
There's the "evolution of man" illustration, starting with an ape-like creature on the left, then progressing to the slightly more erect figure with arms stretching to the ground, then to a less hairy individual, finally to a modern human.
There's the upside-down tree illustration, beginning with the blob, the single cell, at the top and branching out like a tree as it descends downward to assortments of creeping and crawling things to reptiles, birds, fish, animals and humans.
“He takes 10 so-called "proofs" of evolution offered in current textbooks and shows where not one of them is in a fact a proof of anything, and several are actually frauds.”
Or there's the fruit fly illustrations, showing how some fruit flies change to double-winged creatures under certain conditions or the speckled moth illustration showing how industrial conditions caused moths to change from white creatures to black.
Note that there are three points being made here. One is that an amazing assortment of species have existed over time. The second is that the more elaborate species were the offspring after many generations of earlier less complex species. The third is that these changes occurred through natural circumstances. There was no "mind" or plan or design behind them, no God. It was all pure chance.
When most scientists speak of "evolution" they do not mean the first, nor even the first and the second. They mean all three, that there was no designer, that change happens through "natural selection." Freak differences occurred in individual members of a species conferring a natural advantage on the offspring of those individuals. These went on living, where those without the advantage petered out, the "survival of the fittest."
This fall there has appeared a scientifically authoritative book casting
grave doubt on the whole basis of these confident illustrations. Dr. Jonathan
Wells, a molecular and cell biologist from the University of California
at Berkeley who is a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute, in his Icons
of Evolution does more than cast doubt.
He takes 10 so-called "proofs" of evolution offered in current textbooks
and shows where not one of them is in a fact a proof of anything, and several
are actually frauds. The speckled moths were actually pasted on the trees,
not found there. And while there may be rare instances of species that
seem part ape, part human, there is no evidence the one came from the other.
Why, you wonder, do scientists ascribe credibility to these proofs?
Because, says Dr. Wells, every scientist specializes. He may be aware the particular "proof" offered in his own area of expertise is fundamentally flawed, but he assumes those in all the other areas are not. In fact, he says, they all are.
Wells's book is the second in two years to challenge the natural selection theory. The last one was Darwin's Black Box by the biochemist Michael Behe. He examines the blob atop the tree illustration.
In Darwin's day the simple cell was a "black box" that could not be opened.
Now, says Behe, we have opened the box; we can see how the cell is constructed. It's about as simple as a jet engine. It is a masterpiece of design. There is no possibility, none whatever, he says, that it could have come about by mere happenstance.
Both these books follow an earlier one by Berkeley law professor Philip Johnson whose Darwin On Trial put the theory of natural selection before a make-believe jury, and gave the evidence for it as it would be presented in court. He shows how the supposed evidence, all of it, fails to vindicate the theory.
Yet when the Kansas school system last year decided that evolution need no longer be taught as a scientific fact, but could be advanced as a theory with the students urged to argue the pros and cons, the response all over the continent was explosive. Papers like the Edmonton Journal and Globe and Mail denounced the Kansas board as perverted by superstition and religious bigotry. They made not a single reference to the scientific basis of the decision.
Evolution by natural selection, says Johnson, is the "creation myth of the 20th Century." Wells agrees. Perhaps the 21st will get a better one.
This controversial statement is backed by thirty five years of research by an engineer who focused on assembling physical evidence to verify Plato's ancient hypothesis by using a scientific approach and the tools furnished by modern technology. It was easy to do and any scientific mind can duplicate my findings, says Joseph R Myers, P.E., a professional engineer with more than 40 years of consulting experience and a W.W.II rank of Joseph R. Myers. P.E.
"The turning point was finding an hypothesis to use to make an investigation that hinged upon finding physical evidence, rather than examining mythology, religious or superstitious beliefs, children's stories or hypnotic trances," according to Myers. The hypothesis requires the coordination and comparison of a vast number of elements, which could not possibly occur by chance or be produced or duplicated fraudulently.
Possibly the most amazing aspect regarding this reincarnation hypothesis is that it dates around four hundred years B.C., and is very specific. However, it could not be demonstrated conclusively until modern technology brought the development of photography and the ability to draw upon centuries of historical data regarding individual lives.
Very Briefly, the hypothesis simply states that the soul-entity returns
in a body similar to its last one and has the same inclinations, natural
abilities and talents. Of course, this means that not uncommonly outstanding
individuals reappear by reincarnation and distinguish themselves again
in the field in which they excel. It is also true that the soul-entity
is inclined to re-associate with family members, friends, and others from
its past. "I am my own grandpa" is not uncommonly true!
Because he believes his findings convey a wonderfully hopeful understanding
of life and provide the incentive on a scientific basis to practice the
Golden Rule, he is dedicated to promoting worldwide dissemination of his
findings. He has lectured and shown slides to many groups, including universities,
clubs, churches, done nationally syndicated TV and radio programs and newspaper
interviews for which he often furnishes pictures and handwriting samples
of a few case studies. He has the background to do an excellent interview
and respond to diverse questions.
See the website http://www.reincarnation2002.com for more details.
Is there a scientific basis for reincarnation? Indian forensic scientist Vikram Raj Singh Chauhan is trying to prove reincarnation is real. He has presented his findings at the National Conference of Forensic Scientists in India. www.unknowncountry.com
Chauhan has discovered a six-year-old boy named Taranjijt Singh who says he remembers his previous life. According to his parents, he’s been talking about this since he was two years old and used to run away from home. The boy knew the village he lived in during his former life, as well as his and his father’s names. He knew the name of the school he attended as well. On September 10, 1992, he was riding his bike home when he was hit by a motor scooter. He received head injuries and died the next day. His present father, Ranjit Singh, says as the boy became more and more insistent, so he and his wife went to the village where he claimed to have lived in the past. At first, they couldn’t find anyone who resembled the descriptions of his former parents. Then someone told him to go to another nearby village, where they met a teacher at the local school who confirmed the story of the motor scooter accident. They found out where the boy had lived and went there to meet the parents.
When they told the family their story, Ranjit Singh mentioned that his son claimed the books he was carrying when the accident occurred had gotten blood on them. He also described how much money he had in his wallet. When the woman heard this, she began to cry and said she had saved the blood-stain books and the money in memory of her dead child. Taranjit Singh’s parents and siblings from his former life soon came to his new home to meet him. The boy recognized a wedding picture his former parents brought with him.
At first, Vikram Chauhan refused to believe this story but he eventually became curious and decided to investigate. He visited both villages and found the boy and both sets of parents repeated the same story. He spoke to a shopkeeper who told him that the boy had owed him the money that was in his wallet when he was hit, and was probably bringing it to him to pay for a notebook he’d gotten on credit.
Chauhan took samples of both boys’ handwriting and compared them. He found they were identical. It’s a basic tenet of forensic science that no two handwriting styles can be identical, because each person’s handwriting has specific characteristics. Experts can usually spot even expertly forged handwriting. A person’s handwriting style is dictated by individual personality traits. Chauhan’s theory is that if the soul is transferred from one person to another, then the mind – and thus the handwriting - will remain the same. A number of other forensic experts examined the handwriting samples and agreed they were identical.
"I have some scientific basis to claim rebirth is possible", says Chauhan, "but I wish to do more research on the subject and am closely monitoring the development of the child." Singh’s former parents wanted him to move back with them, but his current family still claims him, even though they are poor. Chauhan says, "In his present birth, Taranjit has never gone to school as he belongs to a poor family, but yet when I told him to write the English and Punjabi alphabet, he wrote them correctly."
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