# THE BHAKTIVEDANTA INSTITUTE ## The Bhaktivedanta Institute ==75-08 "Your letter was pleasing to me. I am glad that you have keen interest in the Institute program. Be ready, as I am negotiating. As soon as it is complete, I shall send a telegram for you to come. In the meantime request all GBC's to send lists of all our disciples who have BA, MA, or Ph.D. degrees."== ([[letters/1975/750831_minister_for_land_revenue|Svarupa Damodara, 31 August, 1975]]) *** 75-09 "I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 16, 1975 addressed to Brahmananda Swami. The purpose of the Institute is to achieve the distinction of human life. The human being is meant for understanding his real identity. If a human being becomes entrapped with this body which may be American, Indian, *brahmana, ksatriya,* and so many other designations, then he remains on the platform of cats and dogs. A dog or a cat is thinking he is such and such. Similarly, if a human being thinks he is this and that designation, then he remains in the dog and cat category. ==The Institute will be primarily for those who have not entered our temples. The subject matter will not be different from what is taught in our temples. There will be no difference between our temples and the Institute, but the Institute will be official for the general mass.== It will be a formal education and they will get a degree. It will be open for everyone, including those who have already entered our temples, they may also participate. But, the subject matter should not be different from what is in the temples." ([[letters/1975/750930_arvind_shah|Svarupa Damodara, 30 September, 1975]]) ==75-09 "Regarding the Dallas Army base property, you can forward this offer to Svarupa Damodara and in this connection you may correspond with him. We may require it for the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. Do not reject this Military Base. We can use it for this purpose. You can use the Illinois property for the gurukula and the army base for the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Send details to Svarupa Damodara of the military base."== ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Jagadisa dasa, 9 November, 1975]]) *** 75-09 "Regarding your letter of September 21, yes ==it is a very good idea to have a meeting at the Mayapur meeting time to thoroughly discuss the Bhaktivedanta Institute. So please do the needful. It will be a great service if you can organize such an Institute in the USA.== In Dallas there is one former Army Base which is now vacant that has a number of buildings and enough land. It is located about 70 miles from the city of Dallas. So you should immediately correspond with Jagadisa. It is very big and nice. I think we should take it for the Bhaktivedanta Institute. The climate there is also nice." ([[letters/1975/751112_sacimata|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 12 November, 1975]]) *** 76-01 'Tour plan to have the Bhaktivedanta Summer Institute in one of our farms is a very good idea. But you say that there is a chance that none of our farms will be suitable. Why not? Anyway, you will be discussing it at Mayapur at which time you should fix-up everything definitely. ==I== have read the aims and objects of the Institute and it is done very nicely.== I am satisfied that you are properly understanding the philosophy. The analysis you have given in the section 'What is the Bhaktivedanta Institute,' regarding the scientists, technologists, and other so-called authorities is most accurate. According to the *Bhagavatam,* they are all asses and cows: *sa eva go-kharah." ([[letters/1976/760110_visvakarma|Svarupa Damodara, 10 January, 1976]]) ==76-01 "Svarupa Damodara has written me about the Bhaktivedanta Summer Institute. It is a very good idea. If possible try to accommodate it on one of the farms we already have. To buy another farm simply for this purpose is not very practical. The Institute should not only stress book study but there must be equal time given to kirtana, arati, prasadam, etc. There must be spiritual life, then book study will have meaning."== ([[letters/1976/760111_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 11 January, 1976]]) ==76-02 "Regarding Philadelphia's move, yes, that is all right. And yes, we require many Ph.D.'s for our Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Study."== ([[letters/1976/760214_brahmananda|Rupanuga dasa, 14 February, 1976]]) ==76-02 "Regarding relocating New Kuruksetra and beginning the Bhaktivedanta Institute there, first of all decide among the scientists, Svarupa Damodara and party, and if they agree then I have no objection."== ([[letters/1976/760221_gabhira|Rupanuga dasa, 21 February, 1976]]) *** 76-04 "Please accept my blessings. ==Note our Ph.D.'s must collaborate and study the fifth canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards.== Just as a tree has branches and leaves so the universe is also composed of planets which are fixed up in the tree like the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. of the tree. The pivot is the pole star, and the whole tree is rotating on this pivot. Mount Sumeru is the center, trunk, and is like a steep hill, like the Alps mountains which also have very high peaks. I have seen in Switzerland one mountain peak which was so high that it penetrated through the clouds. The tree is turning and therefore, all the branches and leaves turn with the tree. The planets have their fixed orbits, but still they are turning with the turning of the great tree. There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches. Distances are also described in the fifth canto just how far one planet is from another. We can see that at night, how the whole planetary system is turning around, the pole star being the pivot. Each planet has its orbit fixed but the sun is moving up and down, north and south. It is not that we shall accept the theory that the sun is fixed up and the others are all going around the sun. That is not correct. Even the seventh star is rotating once around the pole star in each twenty-four hours. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon. So now you all Ph.D.'s must carefully study the details of the fifth canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda. I am sending this letter to you, and you can make photocopies of it and send to our other Ph.D.'s and begin serious research into the matter in detail. But one thing, I am convinced that the universe is just like a great tree as described therein." ([[letters/1976/760427_mrs._perera|Svarupa Damodara, 27 April, 1976]]) ==76-05 "Concerning the emblem for the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the words—athatho== brahma- *jijïāsā* ==, is all right, however, instead of inside the emblem, you can put athatho on top (in Devanagari) and== brahma- *jijïāsā* ==on the bottom (in Devanagari). That will be nice. Enclosed you will find your copy with the ideas written on in the appropriate place."== ([[letters/1976/760520_manager_of_bank_of_america|Svarupa Damodara, 20 May, 1976]]) ==76-07 "Regarding this research tax exemption, we have got so many Ph.D.'s also, and are starting the Bhaktivedanta Institute for making research work for the improvement of the economic condition of the world. We are introducing many farms and they are very successful. We want to introduce this in India also."== ([[letters/1976/760724_giriraja|Giriraja dasa, 24 July, 1976]]) *** 77-04 "You may be knowing that we have formed one party of scientists under the leadership of Sriman Svarupa Damodara Prabhu. Also we have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute for organizing scientific presentations of Krsna consciousness. This party is our most important preaching arm with which we will be able to destroy the bogus speculation and cheating which goes under the banner of scientific advancement. Therefore, I have got great hope for Svarupa Damodara and his colleagues. I want them to travel vigorously throughout the world to lecture in all universities and other institutions. There is no lack of financial resources and we shall spare nothing to see to this party's success. ==Svarupa Damodara has approached me that he likes to have you join him for making arrangements and engagements for his lectures.== I know that you are intelligent and very energetic so kindly try to arrange things in consultation with your GBC so that you may be spared for this most important work. You may contact Svarupa Damodara who is returning to America for more details." ([[letters/1977/770402_amarendra|Amarendra dasa, 2 April, 1977]]) ==77-04 "Now we are forming a scientists' party and we shall try with their help to establish Krsna consciousness as the genuine scientific movement of the world exposing the so-called scientists as nothing but speculators.== Svarupa Damodara has received very good response here in India from the scientific community and there is good hope that many others will join him. He is returning to America for preparing some publications and when these are completed I have asked him to tour vigorously throughout the world lecturing with his other colleagues at all major institutions and universities. He has drawn up a budget of immediate needs, a copy of which is enclosed and I immediately sanction this amount. Whatever expenditure he requires supply him immediately from the BBT. I am prepared to give $10,000 or more monthly if required to finance this most important preaching program. So whatever money Svarupa Damodara needs must be supplied monthly and he will send you accounts. You can save this money by minimizing the expenditures in the luxury departments of Sanskrit and artists. We do not want these departments for the time being. One or two men must suffice for Sanskrit work. There is no need of new paintings. Whatever paintings we have, that is enough. There is no need of constantly making new variations on the same themes. So for the art department no more expenditure. If they want to continue painting let them come and live here in Bombay or in any of our other temples in India. We have got sufficient facilities now for accommodation and in this way we can save so much money. Svarupa Damodara has requested that Dravida dasa may come and help him with editing work. The scientists are publishing some booklets to be completed by their return here on Janmastami. If possible please arrange for Dravida dasa to join them." ([[letters/1977/770402_ramesvara|Ramesvara, 2 April, 1977]]) *** 77-04 "You may be knowing that we have formed one party of scientists under the leadership of Sriman Svarupa Damodara Prabhu. ==Also we have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute for organizing scientific presentations of Krsna consciousness. This party is our most important preaching arm with which we will be able to destroy the bogus speculation and cheating which goes under the banner of scientific advancement.== Therefore, I have got great hope for Svarupa Damodara and his colleagues. I want them to travel vigorously throughout the world to lecture in all universities and other institutions. There is no lack of financial resources and we shall spare nothing to see to this party's success. His party already consists of Madhava Prabhu, Sadaputa Prabhu, Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, and himself, and he has approached me that he would like you to help with the editing work as they are publishing scientific papers. In consultation with Ramesvara Maharaja try to have whatever work you are doing assumed by others so that you can free yourself for working with Svarupa Damodara. You may contact Svarupa Damodara, who is returning to America, for more details." (SPL to Dravida dasa, April 2nd, 1977) ## Preaching to Scientists and Evolutionists ==67-08 "There is a nice example in the waning of the moon. To us the moon appears to be changing, but in fact the moon is always the same."== ([[letters/1967/670827_jananivasa|Jananivasa dasa, 27 August, 1967]]) *** 68-01 "Yes, anything of which we have no conception, the unknown particle, that is the representation of Paramatma. Yes, your interpretation is quite feasible, because from the Vedic literature that spiritual particle is measured as l/10,000th part of the upper portion of the hair. So if the physicist's conclusion about the measurement of the soul, that is already 100 times finer than what they are already discovered. But however fine and smallest it may be, there is measurement of spirit soul, maybe beyond the knowledge of human scientists. The confusion must continue because this measurement of spirit soul is beyond the range of experimental mind, and understanding. Therefore, confusion. Therefore, you have to accept the experience of spirit soul from Vedic literature. If one tries to understand otherwise, they will remain in confusion. ==Subjects which are beyond their understanding by experimental knowledge,== and if they try to understand it by the same experimental knowledge, that means confusion. ==This has to be understood by the descending process of disciplic succession,== or by deductive process, meaning for instance, my mother says this man is my father, I accept, there is no experience. Gods name is therefore Adhoksaja which means beyond experimental knowledge. You can inform them that there is a statement in Vedic literature (Padma Purana) that the measurement of the soul is l/10,000th of the upper portion of the hair. You are meant for doing this and I shall assist you as far as possible. I thank you for your promise to send me one letter a week." ([[letters/1968/680121_janardana|Janardana, 21 January, 1968]]) *** 68-12 "Regarding your question of the planetary systems, ==the planets are arranged in each universe in layers like the petals of a lotus. But in each layer there is mixed both heavenly, hellish and middle planets.== On the outside layer there are these three kinds of planets, on the middle layers there are the three kinds of planets and on the innermost layer there are found these three kinds of planets. Above these layers, in the center, is the Brahmaloka where Lord Brahma the creator is residing. So the earth planet and the moon planet are both on the same layer but the earth is middle planet and the moon is heavenly planet." ([[letters/1968/681220_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 20 December, 1968]]) *** 68-12 "I have received the copy of the article printed in the University District Herald, and I thank you very much for your nice efforts in publicizing your temple activities. ==You will be glad to know that just yesterday in the Los Angeles Times there was publication of my opinion about the moon planet excursion.== Such work with the local newspapers as you are nicely doing is very good. Try to agitate as far as possible our activities. Always be engaged so that *maya* will not disturb you. Chant Hare Krsna as many times during the day as you are able. Occupy your time in Deity worship in full cooperation with Gajendra dasa and there will be no disturbance. As more articles are printed about your activities please continue to send them, it is encouraging to see how you are working nicely. I hope this finds you all in good health." ([[letters/1968/681229_upendra|Upendra, 29 December, 1968]]) ==69-01 "So far as your question about evolution you should know that the aspects of this theory which are actually correct offer no contradiction to the Vedic version. This whole topic has been very nicely explained in an article in Back to Godhead, 'Evolution, the God That's Failing.' So I refer you to this article which was in a few issues back. This should clear up your questions."== ([[letters/1969/690116_upendra|Upendra, 16 January, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Regarding your German acquaintance, I understand that he may be a very intelligent man and believes in science. But ==even the most advanced scientist depends on statements of authorities.== Science begins on some definite data, just like Sir Isac Newton discovered the law of gravitation and so much scientific advancement depends on such authoritative statements. So even scientific knowledge has to stand of the evidence of authority. He admits that we are all spirit soul inside the body entrapped, and he believes this body is composed of various chemicals about which we know a great deal. But unfortunately, with all these chemical combinations combined together, we cannot produce a body like this; this is also a scientific fact. Just like *rasagulla* is a milk product everyone knows. But how to make a *rasagulla* from milk requires expert further knowledge. Therefore, simply to know that this body is made of chemicals is not sufficient knowledge. When one can reproduce a similar body with known chemicals, then he is to be considered as the expert scientist. The spirit soul is impossible to find out by materialistic scientific means, but if one will hear from authority, he may understand. The gentleman is disappointed that probably no one will ever know about the spirit, but this is not true. We know what is spirit, how does it work, how does it transmigrate from one body to another or from one planet to another. We know these very scientifically and we are firmly convinced about it. We can refute any dogmatic arguments against this conviction, and how do we do that? Simply because we start our understanding from the data of authoritative sources like Krsna or His representative. In the *Bhagavad-gita,* Lord Krsna speaks about spirit soul from the very beginning. Unless one understands what is this spirit soul his further advancement of the Supreme Spirit God has no value. So this gentleman is puzzled in his understanding about where-from we have come, what we are, and where we are going. But we are certain about it. So if he wants to know all these things, there is a bona fide source for understanding these problems, providing he agrees to give a submissive aural reception to the respective authorities as much as he believes in the authoritative statements of Sir Isaac Newton. So either to accept the statements of Sir Isaac Newton or the statements of Lord Krsna, the beginning is a kind of faith. Unfortunately, the so-called scientific men can usually pin their faith on Sir Isaac Newton but not to the statements of Krsna or His representatives. So try to explain to him in this way." ([[letters/1969/690210_govinda|Govinda dasi, 10 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Next time when I go to Columbus, surely I shall initiate you and your good husband. I understand that your husband is a student of psychology and Krsna consciousness is the summit of psychological studies. ==From the Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that Krsna is the original consciousness and the center of all psychological movement, namely thinking, feeling and willing.== We are all parts and parcels of the Supreme Thinking, Feeling and Willing, but our present thinking, feeling and willing, being contaminated by the cloud of ignorance, we are thinking, feeling and willing in a perverted way. The whole Krsna consciousness movement is an attempt to divert the same thinking, feeling and willing to their original unalloyed position. You are an educated couple and your cooperation with this movement can help tremendously to propagate this most necessary and urgent message for the human society." ([[letters/1969/690222_mrs._cline|Mrs. Cline, 22 February, 1969]]) *** 69-03 "We should train our disciples as well as ourselves in such a spirit that even if the whole world is against us, which is impossible to happen, the *sankirtana* movement must be pushed on without any reference to archaeological evidence or any such scientific advancement of knowledge. Besides that, the argument that archaeological evidence will lead many people to accept the philosophy of Lord Caitanya has no evidence. For example, the Christian religion principle is now established in archaeological evidence, but still it is not that the whole people of the world are attracted by Christian religion. ==Even a great scientist, Professor Albert Einstein, was Jewish by religion, but because the Christian religion gives evidential proof of archaeological discovery, still he did not become a Christian.== No religion or no principle is accepted by the whole world; that is a fact. I can give you a statement of Professor Albert Einstein in which he says, 'The most beautiful and most profound emotion we can experience is in the sensation of the mystical. It is a shower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, he can no longer stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power which is revealed in the comprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.' I think that our Hare Krsna movement is just following the same concept of God by awakening the dormant transcendental emotion of the human being without any consideration of religious faith. In our camp all of my disciples are coming from different faiths, mostly Christians or Jews, and why are they accepting this *sankirtana* movement, unless there is the awakening of mystical emotion described by a great scientist like Albert Einstein." ([[letters/1969/690302_janardana|Janardana, 2 March, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "I was just this morning asking Purusottama to inform you of increasing the publication of Issue #26 because the article, 'Beyond the Universe' is very interesting. In the present atmosphere of space exploration this kind of article will be much appreciated, and people will know that we are not sentimentalists. Our background is solid, scientific and authorized. ==Actually, the modern astronauts are trying to reach the moon planet, and even if they reach there they cannot live there; and even if they live there, that is also not permanent.== But our ambition is far, far greater, nobler and more sublime than these astronauts because we are trying to reach the Supreme Planet, Krsnaloka, and live there eternally in association with Krsna. Krsna has also advised in *Bhagavad-gita* that even if we go to the topmost planet, Brahma Loka, still we have to come back again. But if we go to Krsnaloka, there is no coming back to this material world." ([[letters/1969/690724_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 24 July, 1969]]) *** 70-01 "Regarding your question: ==you are right when you write to say that everything about us, tables, chairs, bricks etc. is originally emanating from sound vibration. This is also admitted in the Christian Bible wherein it is said that, 'God said, "Let there be creation."== And there was creation.' So, 'said' means it was sound vibration; but this sound vibration is not material sound vibration because before creation of material sky and sound, transcendental sound was there. So actually the transcendental sound is the cause of creation, but material sound is not transcendental sound. We have to receive transcendental sound through the transcendental channel, therefore, *Vedas* are called *sruti.* That means transcendental sound can be received through the ear. And by hearing this transcendental sound through the ear our heart becomes spiritually purified, and we can realize at that stage the transcendental name, transcendental qualities, transcendental form, transcendental pastimes etc. That is the way of descending process." (SPL to Hamsaduta, January 23rd, 1970) 70-02 'Your second question about spacemen from other planets; ==it is stated in the Vedic literature that there are many planets where the inhabitants are more advanced than the inhabitants of this earth planet.== So it is not unlikely that such people may have developed space traveling methods. They occupy higher posts in the creation of the Lord and so they may be considered as demigods in the same way as the president is specially empowered by the nation, but this does not mean that such spacemen are necessarily carrying the messages of the Lord, just as the business of the state employee is not to act as the state representative but he acts in his particular job." ([[letters/1970/700214_madhudvisa|Madhudvisa, 14 February, 1970]]) ==70-03 "Regarding your question, yes, Ramadevi is the sandhini attribute of cit-sakti because her function is for creation, and the jivas are members of the sambit attribute of the cit-sakti. The demigods are included within the species of human life."== ([[letters/1970/700307_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 7 March, 1970]]) ==71-07 "All the planets within the stem. That is to be understood. But they are seedling planets and are coming out of the stem, all below the lotus flower, just as seedling universes come out from the body of Maha Visnu."== (SPL to Jadurani, July 9th, 1971) ==71-09 "So far going to the moon planet is concerned, don't be very much interested in moon travel. Better that you travel on this planet and serve Krsna. We don't care for such moon travel. Rather after this life we want to travel to Krsna. If even we go to Brahmaloka, the topmost planet, still we have to come down. So let the foolish waste their time in this way, while we will go directly to Krsna."== (SPL to Vaikunthanatha, September 6th, 1971) 71-11 "Philosophy is the highest, but even higher than philosophy is practice of philosophy. So when your students apply Krsna philosophy to their lives, they will feel the beneficial result, and this will make your teaching work very easy. Just like you add hydrogen and oxygen and get water. So let them chant and learn *Bhagavad-gita* and they will get Krsnas mercy. I am successful in my teaching work because I have not deviated one inch from my spiritual master's instruction, this is my only qualification. So if you simply remain pure, your preaching will have effect. Kindly push on this college program for only the most intelligent persons can understand Krsna philosophy, so it is very important that we spread this message to the intelligent class of men. ==Soon I shall be printing my latest book, commentaries on your Western philosophers, and with this instruction you will be able to defeat all of the mental speculators and so-called scientists who are simply misleading everyone."== (SPL to Brhaspati dasa, November 17th, 1971) 71-12 "You say that you have met people who claim that by evolution we are approaching a higher stage of existence. This is true in one sense, that anyone who takes to Krsna consciousness may elevate himself to the highest status of life. Krsna mentions many types of higher beings in *Bhagavad-gita,* such as demigods and those who dwell on higher planets. We have information that there are 8,400,000 species of life. Out of these, 400,000 species are considered human life. Of these 400,000, how many species do we find in our experience? Not many, probably less than 1,000, ==so we must conclude that there are hundreds of thousands of higher and lower types of human forms.== But this does not mean that automatically one body evolves into a higher body. No. It is described by Krsna how the soul becomes embodied according to his desire. So there are 8,400,000 types of bodies eternally existing. Not that the appearance of a new form in this world means that form has never existed previously. No, as conditions change on this earth planet, the living entities here desire to enjoy in a different way, so they take a different type of body. Even that body may be new here, it has always existed also somewhere else. So if a man qualifies for that body, he may be rewarded the body of superman, as he desires. So if someone wants such body, he must learn the process for acquiring it, that is *Bhagavad-gita." (SPL to Upendra, December 8th, 1971) 71-12 "Practically speaking, history tells us that human life is becoming more and more degraded in respect of good qualities. Even there may be some temporary advancement of technology, where is the question of being higher than previously? In Vedic literature we find description of all kinds of wonderful machines, like great airplanes which moved as fast as the mind on the principle of sound vibration. Where is that science now? And how is their science advancing when their sons are all becoming hippies who have no interest in such science? Compare our so-called knowledge today with the giant brains who gave us Vedic literature. ==No poetry, no science, no philosophy, no religion, no culture, no knowledge we have today can he said to he superior to that we find 5,000 years or more ago in India.== So where is the question of advancement of civilization? We cannot create even one flower, what to speak of one sun, so we should not be hopeful that in this material atmosphere there will be any kind of improvement at all. ==Better to become closely associated with the Supreme Perfect, then we shall know what is perfection of our life. This is the culmination of evolution."== ([[letters/1971/711208_upendra|Upendra, 8 December, 1971]]) *** 71-12 "Also It is nice that you are infiltrating into the schools and colleges. These are the best customers for our philosophy. Give them nice philosophy, let them challenge us with any mundane philosophy and we shall very scholarly defeat them. The difference is that we have got absolute authority from the Source of Knowledge, Krsna, while your Western mundane philosophers are simply speculating on the mental platform, which is always changing. Therefore, a philosopher is not a philosopher unless he refutes his predecessor and produces something new. This kind of knowledge is useless. Actually, no one has got any philosophy nowadays, everyone is acting according to his own whims. Therefore there is no security, no peace, everything is unpredictable and dangerous. Therefore all the young boys and girls in your country—and all over the world—are fed up with this lack of philosophy and they have taken to the philosophy of hopelessness: Everything is empty, therefore let me enjoy, it doesn't matter. But this philosophy is also useless. Because if you want to enjoy and I also want to enjoy, there will be clash, fighting. And we have seen in Moscow that Marx and Lenin philosophy is no better. God is dead, the State is God: this philosophy has killed the spirit, and the Russian people are very morose and unhappy. They want to join us, that is a fact. So now you defeat all sorts of philosophies, become very convinced yourself and learn our Krsna philosophy perfectly. In this way, any sane man will listen to you and become convinced. Our philosophy is practical. Actually, philosophy means practical application—if it is mere theory then it has no value. But our Krsna philosophy is working now in modem society to solve all kinds of problems, all over the world, never mind white man, black man, Christian or Hindu, Russian or American. Everyone is feeling the nice result of our philosophy. And it has worked in the same way for the last 5,000 years at least, taking historical calculation. ==So which philosophy is better, 50 or 100 year old Darwin philosophy, or eternal Krsna philosophy?== Just try to understand. Approach Krsna way of life from every angle—it is perfect. So try to impress this intelligent class of men, give them nice debate, answer all questions nicely, distribute profuse *prasadam,* chant and dance nicely, and invite them to join us to get the perfection of their education, the Supreme knowledge." ([[letters/1971/711212_danavir|Danavir, 12 December, 1971]]) *** 72-03 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated April 11th and April 26th, 1972, along with tape of three 'revelations.' The tape is nice, a good advertisement. Now similar tapes should be made. Another revelation is that the needle, when put into the water, it goes down quickly to the bottom. But a big, big log weighing one ton, does not go down. Who has made this law? If the law of gravity is there, why does it not apply to the big log? We can understand that Lord Ramacandra was able to make a bridge by causing the big stones to float in the water, so counteracting the law of gravitation is the law of the Supreme. Gravitation is caused by the Supreme Lord, so He is also able to remove that law or do anything and everything at His will. ==If you know something like swimming, then the law of gravitation will not work, and who knows better than Krsna how to do everything, so Krsna can change anything, therefore we worship Him as the greatest Scientist.== If a man knows swimming he can stay up. So if this much power has a man, what to speak of God. So we see that Ramacandra has the art how to make stones float. It is a question of knowing the art. Art means the display of intellectual energy. Everywhere we can see intelligence in everything, so the Lord knows the art of everything, so He can change anything, we cannot. The atheists and scientists are trying to get God out of things, we are doing just the opposite, trying to put God into everything. They are God-less, nonsense—we are God-full, God-sense or God-conscious." (SPL to Rupanuga, May 3rd, 1972) 72-11 "It appears that you are again constantly disturbed by the same nonsense doubts. These things are not very important, we may not waste our time with these insignificant questions. If we are seeking to find out some fault, *maya* will give us all facility to find any small thing and make it very big, that is *maya.* But such questions as your; why there is so-called discrepancy between the views of *Bhagavata* and modern scientists regarding the moon and other planets, and whether Hitler is a good or bad man, these are most insignificant matters, and for anyone who is sincerely convinced that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for him these questions do not arise. Our information comes from *Vedas,* and if we believe Krsna, that: *vedāhaḥ samatītāni vartamānāni cārjuna bhaviṅyāñi ca bhūtāni māḥ tu veda na kaścana—(B.G. 7.26)—that He knows everything, and * vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo, Vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham, * that Krsna is non-different from the * Vedas,* then these questions do not arise. But because you have asked me, I am your spiritual master, I must try to answer to your satisfaction. Yes, sometimes in *Vedas* such things like the a *sura's* decapitated head chasing after Candraloka, sometimes it is explained allegorically. Just like now we are explaining in fourth canto of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* the story of King Puranjana. Just like the living entity is living within this body, and the body is described there as a city with nine gates, the intelligence as the Queen. So there are sometimes allegorical explanations. So ==there are many things which do not corroborate with the so-called modern science, because they are explained in that way. But where is the guarantee that modern science is also correct?== So we are concerned with Krsna consciousness, and even though there is some difference of opinion between modern science and allegorical explanation in the *Bhagavata,* we have to take the essence of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and utilize it for our higher benefit, without bothering about the correctness of the modern science or the allegorical explanation sometimes made in *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* But this is a fact that in each and every planet there is a predominant Deity, as we have got experience in this planet there is a president, so it is not wonderful when the predominating Deity fights with another predominating Deity of another planet. The modern science takes everything as dead stone. We take it for granted that everything is being manipulated by a person in each and every affair of the cosmology. The modern scientists however could not make any progress in the understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore we do not accept modern science as very perfect. We take Krsna's version: *gām āviśya ca bhūtāni dhārayāmy aham ojasā pusnami causadhih sarvah, samo bhutva rasatmakah. (B.G. 15.13) I become the moon,' and *yac candramasi yac cāgnau. (Bg. 15.12) I am the splendor of the moon,'and * jyotisam api tajjyotis. (B.G. 13.18) I am the source of light in all luminous objects,'—so no one is able to give us the correct information than Krsna, that you should know." ([[letters/1972/721107_krsnadasa|Krsnadasa, 7 November, 1972]]) *** 70-03 "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-jale,* merged 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." ([[letters/1970/700309_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 9 March, 1970]]) *** 73-05 "Yes, their arguments are quite reasonable. The aim of our education should be, whatever education we might have got, we must satisfy the Lord by such education. That is the perfection of life. ==I have therefore asked our chemist friend, Dr. Svarupa Damodara dasa Brahmacari to refute the theory that life comes out of matter.== This is not the fact, rather, matter comes out of life. We have discussed this point very broadly and Svarupa Damodara is convinced that everything comes from life, Krsna— *aham sarvasya prabhavo, mattah sarvarh pravartate. Bhagavad-gita,* 10.8. So, I've asked Svarupa Damodara to invite Ramananda Rao to come and join him to present this revolutionary theory to the learned advanced scientists. We know it certainly that matter comes out of life. Simply we have to present this thesis in chemical, technological words. Svarupa Damodara has already written one small booklet, *Krsna Consciousness, Purely on a Scientific Basis.* So this is the business of big, big chemists and physicists to present the real facts in Krsna consciousness. Then such education is valid: *idam hi pumsas tapasah srutasya vasv-iṅṃasya suktasya ca buddhi-dattayohavicyuto 'rthah kavibhir nirupitoyad-uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam (* Srimad-Bhagavatam* 1.5.22) So if they do not believe in *Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-gita,* then they are called unbelievers, so how can you believe their words? Then we come to the platform of reason and argument. If they do not believe in *Ramayana* and *Mahabharata,* then we shall reply point to point by argument and reason. Of course, it is not possible to come to the right conclusion simply by argument and reason, *tarkapratishtanat." ([[letters/1973/730521_niranjana|Niranjana, 21 May, 1973]]) *** 73-06 "Yes, your article is very nice. ==It is very important that we now expose the nonsense theories of these rascal scientists who assert that life comes from matter. They say that life comes from some chemicals, but they cannot say wherefrom these chemicals have come.== Actually, if we examine carefully, chemicals are coming from life, not life from chemicals. Just like the lemon tree. It is producing so many lemons. In each lemon there is so much citric acid. So, due to the presence of life, so many chemicals are being produced. Also, I have experienced, that one of my toe-nails has come off due to infection, but now my body is replacing that nail with another one of the exact size and shape as the one I have lost. If I have got such a potency to create, then what to speak of the Supreme Living Being lord Sri Krsna. If the sub-living entities can produce so much chemicals then what to speak of the Supreme living entity. This is called inconceivable potency. The living being has got an inconceivable potency to create. I do not know how my nail is coming. And the Supreme Living Entity or God, has got unlimited potency to create. I do not think that any reasonable intelligent man or scientist can deny: *aham sarvasya prabhavo,* I am the source of everything, (Bg 10.8). ([[letters/1973/730605_revatinandana|Revatinandana, 5 June, 1973]]) ==73-07 "Your victory over the scientist who was saying that life comes from dust is very good. We should not take such nonsense from them. We should speak up against such false theorists and say, 'Don't talk such nonsense please. Don't mislead the public. You are taking big salaries and leading the public wrongly. It would be better for you to be a street sweeper and earn an honest livelihood instead of cheating.'"== ([[letters/1973/730719_karandhara|Karandhara, 19 July, 1973]]) *** 73-07 "Regarding Svarupa Damodara's going to colleges, Raya Ramananda has also agreed to come. I met him recently in India and he is enthusiastic. ==Now we shall put this challenge against this wrong theory that life comes from matter.== Undoubtedly matter has come from life, and we can present so many practical proofs of this. So let Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda think in their own chemical language how to push this fact to the scientific world. If by Krsnas grace they even partially admit it, it will be a great triumph. My point is even if they partially accept then they have to find out what is the original life. In the *sastras* we have information that the original life in the universe is Brahma and Brahma is also a product of Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Garbhodakasayi Visnu is a product of Karanodakasayi Visnu and in this way we ultimately reach Krsna the cause of all causes. ==We have to give a fight to the wrong conception of the unauthorized scientist.== Your plan for going to the colleges in California and your titles for the lectures are very much to my liking. You may write to Ramananda to come as soon as possible. He told me he can come and see me in London. Anyway, his coming there is sure, so correspond with him and make a strong party." ([[letters/1973/730719_karandhara|Karandhara, 19 July, 1973]]) *** 73-07 "You are to be congratulated, you have defeated the rascal scientist Mr. Roger Reville from the Big University. Actually, it is not a very difficult task, they have no definite ideas, everything they put forward is doubtful, even they say: 'I think,' 'perhaps,' 'it may be,' 'theoretically speaking,' and like that. Vedic knowledge is definite. Take for example Padma Purana, there it is said there are 8,400,000 species of life: two million trees, one million insects, four hundred thousand humans. Nowhere do we find about so and so many, but exactly the number is given. Or we see the description of Kali-yuga, and we are experiencing it. 'People of this age will keep big bundles of hair and thus think themselves very beautiful.' So this is going on. 'For want of bathing the population of this age will appear like Pisacas—hippies.' Everything is given in *Vedas* exactly. Why should we go to such men for knowledge? They pose themselves as big leaders, philosophers. But we have to accept our leader according to the standard symptoms—or qualifications. The standard text book for civilised administration is *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* A leader must be peaceful, self-controlled austere, pure, tolerant, honest, wise learned and religious. Not like your president Nixon—a rogue and thief. Such men cannot do any good to society, only those who are trained up in the Ultimate Goal of human life, they can lead—because human life is meant for going back to Godhead. Therefore our Society is serving the whole world by supplying the missing part for perfect advancement of human civilization, we are supplying the head. Although all parts, such as legs are necessary, the whole thing is useful only when there is a head. So, everything is already there but it is now mixed up, we want to bring the whole world in to order by giving the right directions to all classes of men. Right direction means, to deliver the instructions of Krsna, and because Krsna is perfect, if you present this knowledge anywhere it will automatically defeat all the existing concocted hodgepodge ideas congesting the feeble brains of so-called scientist, philosophers or anyone. When my Guru Maharaja was present even big, big scholars were afraid to talk with His beginning students. My Guru Maharaja was called 'Living Encyclopedia,' he could talk with anyone on any subject. He was so learned. So we should be like that as far as possible. No compromise. Ramakrishna, Avataras, yogis, everyone was enemy to Guru Maharaja. He never compromised. Some Godbrothers complained that this preaching was chopping technique and it would not be successful. But we have seen that those who criticised, they fell down. ==For my part I have taken up the policy of my Guru Maharaja—no compromise. All these so called scholars, scientists, philosophers who do not accept Krsna are nothing more than rascals, fools lowest of mankind etc. So you go on with your work, it is very encouraging to me."== ([[letters/1973/730727_karandhara|Karandhara, 27 July, 1973]]) *** 73-10 "Regarding your book, *The Origin of Life,* I have already given you the points, so you can inquire from me any intricate question in this connection and I shall try to reply. In the meantime I have received a letter from Ramananda and I am enclosing herewith. I think you can send him a ticket by arranging with Karandhara so he can immediately come there. When I come there to Los Angeles in my presence both of you can discuss threadbare all questions and put them in a satisfactory way. The headings you have selected are nice. Now I may add one heading which may be the conclusion as follows: 'Original Life is God.' Because the soul is eternal (which you have discussed in point 2), the origin of life, God, is eternal. ==We have to fight with all these so-called leaders, scientists, and philosophers, just like Krsna came to kill all the demons because the whole world is full of demons."== ([[letters/1973/731029_svarupa_damodara|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 29 October, 1973]]) *** 73-12 "The topmost science is this Krsna consciousness and that is a fact. The so-called modern science has become spoiled for lack of this perspective. Real science means to acquire perfect knowledge from the *parampara,* not by so-called academic and empirical research. Such technique is bogus and will not help us in obtaining perfect knowledge. ==Yes, you should use your scientific credentials to present this Krsna conscious philosophy. Everything may be used in Krsna's service.== It may not be possible to convince the rascal scientists of this Krsna consciousness philosophy because after all, Krsna gives everyone free will and if it is their determination to remain atheistic how shall it be checked? Our principle aim is to challenge their nonsense proposition so that the layman and common people may be saved from this rascaldom. You study our books very carefully under the guidance of Amarendra Prabhu and preach our philosophy from *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* in your scientific language. Krsna consciousness is perfect so it can be substantiated by all means of argument and logic. The main theme is that life has come from life and not generated from matter as they foolishly claim. You just prove this point and it will be a great victory." ([[letters/1973/731201_tamala_krsna|Bhakta Don, 1 December, 1973]]) ==74-04 "Yes, by all means you may print my morning walk speaking about 'Life comes from Life' into a small book; this argument should be spread, as any intelligent man will be convinced that our discussion is thoroughly scientific and exposes the so called materialistic scientists as rascals.== So go on printing and distributing as many books as possible; this is your real work and your personal success." ([[letters/1974/740421_whom_it_may_concern|Hamsaduta, 21 April, 1974]]) *** 74-09 "By the grace of Krsna you have got a position in the education field, doctor of chemistry. When you will present our philosophy the educated circle will have to listen. They cannot neglect. ==So whenever you speak, speak scientifically about Krsna's existence.== Krsna is the background of the cosmic manifestation. This is a fact. Unfortunately because people have become demoniac, Krsna is not realized: *naham prakasah sarvasya.* He is not exposed to the non-devotee. Our mission is to turn the people to become devotees so that they can see Krsna. As it is stated in the *Isopanisad: hiranmayena patrena, satyasyapihitam mukham.* So we have got a great mission. You are one of the strong pillars of the mission. So I have all confidence in you. Follow strictly all our rules and regulations. Be fully strong to push on this cult amongst the educated scientific circle. That you are getting many speaking invitations is a good indication. Take advantage of this. Krsna is asking you to do this job. The people there are naturally Krsna conscious, and when you present more scientifically, they will be convinced." ([[letters/1974/740908_sarvabhauma_putanara_gandharvi|Svarupa Damodara, 8 September, 1974]]) *** 74-09 "I am in due receipt of your letter with enclosed essay on the 'black holes.' ==So you have a scientific mind and you want to use it in the service of Krsna. This is very good, and this I want, that scientists step forward and preach Krsna consciousness.== We are not preaching something fanaticism nor dry philosophy. Krsna consciousness is *jnanam* and *vijnanam,* practical knowledge. So I have given all the points in my books, and you should read them thoroughly. I have shown your essay to Dr. Svarupa Damodara and he has read it. He is returning soon to California, and you can see him and discuss how to improve it. You should write more because it is very important subject matter. Side by side to your writing you should also chant regularly Hare Krsna." ([[letters/1974/740925_bhakta_dennis|Bhakta Dennis, 25 September, 1974]]) *** 74-10 "One evening Srila Prabhupāda revealed what he said was his theory, that the moon is covered with ice, to explain why the moonshine is so pleasant. Moon rays are very soothing, and we find in many places describing the pleasing effect of the moon: *nitai-pada-kamala, koti candra-susitala, ye chayay jagata juraya.* ==This is because the moon must be covered with ice.== Your servant, Brahmananda Swami, Personal SecretarySeen by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami." (SPL to Ramesvara Prabhu, October 25th, 1974) ==74-11 "I have never studied science, but I am challenging them. They may take me as crazy, but I am not crazy. I am right."== ([[letters/1974/741112_tripurari|Hamsaduta dasa, 12 November, 1974]]) ==75-03 "Thank you very much for sending this article. It is very good news. It appears that this scientist has become very intelligent. Yes, try to meet with them somehow and make arrangement for them to meet with me when I come for the San Francisco Ratha-yatra. That will be very nice. Such persons should be given the chance to study our books very carefully. In this way they will actually understand what is science."== ([[letters/1975/750314_mr._dennany|Vaikunthanatha and Bahulasva, 14 March, 1975]]) ==75-06 "Your endeavor to prove scientifically the existence of reincarnation is not very practical. It is like bringing a canon to kill a mosquito.== It is not required to bring a canon to kill a mosquito, similarly any sane man can understand the principle of reincarnation. There is no need of giving some long so-called scientific explanation. Explanation is already given in the *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* Krsna, the Supreme Authority, has already explained, and you should accept and understand His explanation and then try to make others understand. You should visit our temple in Sydney." ([[letters/1975/750610_radha_krishna_dhawan|Mr. Van den Tak, 10 June, 1975]]) ==75-06 "Biological evolution is taking place on account of the souls desire. It takes place because of infection. If a man has smallpox virus, then he is subjected to smallpox.== It is not that everyone is infected and everyone is attacked with smallpox disease. Only the person who is infected, he is attacked. In this connection Krsna says in the *Bhagavad-gita:* *purusah prakrti-stho hi, bhunkte prakrti-jan gunan karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu (13.22) *Purusah* means the living entity, or the soul. He is subjected to be infected by the modes of material nature. There are 3 modes of material nature, *sattva-guna, raja-guna, tama-guna.* And when they are mixed up they become 3x3 = 9, and 9x9 = 81, and in each quality there are millions of forms. Therefore the total number of forms is 8,400,000. So, the diseases are there and the forms of disease are also there. Material form means diseased form. Therefore, one has to change this form—death. And he carries with him the infection and he develops another disease. In this way, the soul although part and parcel of God in diseased condition, they are forced to change body, that is transmigration of the soul from one body to another. To be more clear, the disease is there. Just as the smallpox disease is there. One has to become diseased, being infected. Similarly, the forms of the body are there. One has to infect the form and it develops; *karanarh guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu.* Because he is infecting different diseased forms, therefore he is developing of different forms of body. There is no such case of smallpox changing into malaria. Smallpox is smallpox, and malaria is malaria. By the desire of the living entity, he becomes infected with a certain disease or body. Krsna consciousness is the vaccine for all the diseases (different forms of material bodies). Krsna says: *mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena, bhakti-yogena sevate sa gunan samatityaitan, brahma-bhuyaya kalpate (B.G. 14.26) *Brahma-bhuyaya* is the immune stage or Krsna conscious stage when one is always fixed in Krsna. When one reaches this perfectional stage he no longer has to accept these different types of diseases, or bodies." ([[letters/1975/750618_dhananjaya_aksayananda|Dr. Wolf-Rottkay, 18 June, 1975]]) ==75-06 "It is very good that you are progressing with the book proving scientifically that Lord Sri Krsna is the origin of life. Yes, do it slowly but surely. It is important work for our preaching mission."== ([[letters/1975/750623_svarupa_damodara|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 23 June, 1975]]) *** 75-06 'Your second question is not very clear, what you want to ask, but the fact is that each and every living entity is covered by two kinds of bodies, one subtle and one gross. So the subtle body causes the living entity to take another gross body. We have got experience that in dreaming the gross body is inactive while the subtle body is continuing activities; and again in deep sleep the subtle body is continuing activities. The living entity after being carried by the subtle body to another gross body, it sometimes remains in deep sleep in the womb of the mother. Then gradually the subtle body begins to act within another gross body. When this gross body is fully developed befitting to come out of the mothers body, that is called another birth. Again he changes to another gross body imperceptibly. Just like in the film thousands of pictures are moved imperceptibly. It looks like the body in the picture is moving, but the audience cannot understand that there are so many pictures in the spool. They think that the picture is moving. Similarly, every second, every moment, we are changing the body. Those who are not sober cannot understand how the spirit soul is changing from one body to another. Krsna therefore says that this change of body can be appreciated only by the *dhiras—dhiras tatra na muhyati.* While those who are not *dhiras* cannot understand how the soul is changing from one body to another. There are two kinds of men, *dhira* and *adhira.* The modern education is producing only the *adhira* class who are neither sober nor educated. Therefore the majority of the population cannot understand how the soul is transmigrating from one body to another. They are only interested in wine and women under the impression of the bodily concept of life. ==Therefore out of so many scientists in this country only you and the few others are understanding the importance of this subject matter—manusyanam sahasresu. So please work very hard, following our rules and regulations== and you will always remain in the fire of Krsna consciousness." ([[letters/1975/750623_svarupa_damodara|Svarupa Damodara, 23 June, 1975]]) *** 75-07 "I have read Dr. Wolfs letter addressed to you dated July 1, 1975. I == == think he has given you good, sane advice. I think you should not think of relinquishing your job without meeting me and discussing the matter deeply. Don't do anything out of sentiment. You must make the best use of a bad bargain. Unless you keep your job, you will not be considered an important man in the material sense. And, == if you are not an important man, then who will listen to you?"== ([[letters/1975/750705_bhagavata|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 5 July, 1975]]) *** 75-09 "How can you prove that Vedic culture did not exist before 5,000 years? Darwin's theory says millions and millions of years in calculation. So how are these millions of years existing? ==Mundane archaeologists are mistaken because they say from monkey the human beings have come into existence, but at the present moment both the human being and the monkey are existing. The monkey is not extinct. So these theories are not correct.== Nobody has seen a monkey giving birth to a human being. As the monkey and the human being are existing side by side at present, so for millions of years they were existing like this. That is our theory. The modern material archaeology has no meaning for us. Our realization is depending on the spiritual platform. Transmigration of the soul does not depend on history. There is Vedic literature that gives proof of Lord Parasurama driving out the *ksatriyas.* We do not take these mundane histories as authority. Regarding the dating of the *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* the Battle of Kuruksetra took place at the beginning of Kali-yuga, and Kali-yuga has passed more than 5,000 years. The *Bhagavad-gita* was also spoken at the beginning of the fight, so we take it as 5,000 years ago. From the *Bhagavad-gita* we learn it was spoken by the sun god millions of years ago. We take this as authority. If you don't accept my authority, then I don't accept your authority. That is the way of evidence, to accept the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and the Vedic literature. The calculation is that the Kali-yuga is 432,000 years, out of which we have passed 5,000 years." ([[letters/1975/750901_jayananda|Baku Rupa dasa, 1 September, 1975]]) *** 75-10 "In the words of *Bhagavad-gita,* they are described as: *mudhah, mayayapahrta-jnana.* Besides that, can you tell me what is the scientific opinion of the days being consecutively Sunday then Monday, then Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and last Saturday? What is the history of this set-up? (from Sunday to Saturday) According to our *sastra,* sun is first, then moon, then Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, like that. In other words, from *Bhagavatam* we understand that the moon is 1,600,000 miles above the sun. If that is true, then is it possible to go to the moon planet by persons who can never imagine to go the distance to the sun planet? Under the circumstances, if we say that they have never gone to the moon planet, is it exaggeration? You are a scientist, I hope you will reply these two points scientifically. ==If the moon planet is actually far away from the sun planet, how they can go there and publish in the paper that the moon planet is the nearest planet?"== ([[letters/1975/751024_jayatirtha|Svarupa Damodara, 24 October, 1975]]) *** 75-10 "Since a long time I have not heard from you. About a week before when I was in passing from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, I saw several factories for preparing chickens. The modern scientist, they say, from chemical life has come, or life from matter. So, I suggested that a little chemical composition may be made by the scientists with some yellow color, and why not put this artificial egg in an incubator and get more and more chickens. ==If they cannot produce even a chicken or even an egg of chicken, how can we believe their very big, big talks."== ([[letters/1975/751024_jayatirtha|Svarupa Damodara, 24 October, 1975]]) ==75-11 "Regarding the scientists, they will always find something new because their knowledge is not yet standardized. They will go on making new discoveries, on account of their imperfect knowledge.== The modern scientists despite their experience of imperfectness, they take everything that they find out as the last word of perfection. Again they find out something which they find out as a further improvement and so they have to adjust everything new. They do not know that the senses are imperfect so any advancement of knowledge with imperfect senses must always remain imperfect. Our process is different. We admit that we are in the conditional stage and our source of knowledge is not the senses because they are imperfect. We cannot find the right knowledge from the imperfect senses. We therefore take knowledge from the most perfect personality, Krsna and His faithful servants, and the result is that despite all of our imperfect senses, we have perfect knowledge. You have to keep this point of view in your front and pray to Krsna for enlightenment and then we shall be able to understand what is written in the Vedic literature. This is confirmed in the Vedic literatures: *yasya deve para bhaktir, yatha deve tatha gurau (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṅad 6.23)." ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Hayagriva dasa, 9 November, 1975]]) ==75-11 "Regarding your second question, whether a person who is a Negro, Chinese, Indian, etc. are they different species of life making up the 400,000 species. Yes, so far their body is concerned. Your question whether woman in each one of these species is another separate species, no, the species means both man and woman of the same type. Of course, strictly speaking the woman is taken differently, otherwise how would Krsna say striyo vaisyas tatha sudras."== ([[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|Madhudvisa Swami, 10 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 "Also enclosed is one article sent to me by Hayagriva about the new discovery which creates turmoil and confuses the physicists. The material scientists, they are discovering so many particles, but they have not yet discovered the soul. In *Bhagavad-gita* we learn: *apareyam itas tv anyam, prakrtim viddhi me param jiva-bhutam maha-baho, yayedam dharyate jagat (* BG. 7.5) That the *jiva-atma* is the superior particle and these other particles are all inferior. ==So this is their business, to discover the inferior particles and neither have they discovered the superior particle which is one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair.== Simply they are wasting their time. I hope this meets you in good health." ([[letters/1975/751112_sacimata|Svarupa Damodara, 12 November, 1975]]) ==75-11 "So it appears that the sun planet comes first and then the moon planet. That is the statement in Srimad-Bhagavatam. How do modern scientists say that the moon is nearest from the earth? What is their authority?== But according to what is stated by you, the sun is first and then the moon. That is the verdict of *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* If the moon is beyond the sun, then how they can go to the moon while they are unable to go to the sun? This is the problem I am thinking and if you can make a solution, that would be nice. According to *Srimad-Bhagavatam* the moon is above the sun planet by 1,600,000 miles. The scientists say that the sun is 93,000,000 miles from the earth and if the moon is beyond the sun planet, the distance from the earth then would be 95,000,000 miles. So the moon being 95,000,000 miles away, how can they go even if they travel at the speed of 18,000 mph., how can they go 95,000,000 miles in four days. It is not possible. In four days they can go only 1,728,000 miles. If they say the moon is 240,000 miles from the earth, then why is the moon not mentioned first? Why not Monday being the first day of the week? According to *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* the sun is first, the moon is second and therefore we have no objection to the first day of the week being Sunday and then Monday. Why is it universally accepted in all languages that Sunday is first and then Monday? Why is it not Monday and then Sunday?" ([[letters/1975/751121_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay|Dr. Wolf, 21 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 "From the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* we learn that the universe is like a tree with the roots being upwards. The pole star which is situated within the Asking question star constellation is the root. The universe is pivoting around the pole star. That is one movement. The second movement is that the sun is revolving around the universe, or as if it were going around the tree. That is the second movement. ==The sun is not fixed. If this is proved, then their whole scientific theory collapses.== According to them, the stars are all suns. The stars may have the same composition as the sun but they are not suns. The *Brahma-saḥhitā* says that the sun is the king with unlimited light and temperature. The *Srimad-Bhagavatam* sublime literature describes all these things and it was written five thousand years ago. And they say that five thousand years ago there was no civilization. That *Srimad-Bhagavatam* has this information proves that Indian civilization is the oldest civilization." ([[letters/1975/751121_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay|Svarupa Damodara, 21 November, 1975]]) *** 75-12 "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 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 modem 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 *param-para* 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 *parampara* 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 Supersoul, 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 sun-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 work 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." ([[letters/1975/751217_mahamsa|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 17 December, 1975]]) ==76-01 "Regarding the 'dust' supposedly brought from the moon, that dust can he gotten anywhere. It has already been openly admitted that the same dust is available on this earth planet. These astronauts and scientists are all bluffing. But Srila Vyasadeva is the correct authority. Just study Srimad-Bhagavatam carefully with full faith in Krsna and guru and all knowledge will be revealed."== ([[letters/1976/760103_ramesvara_prabhu|SPLto Trivikrama Maharaja, 3 January, 1976]]) *** 76-02 "I am in due receipt of your letter and article entitled *'Matter Comes from Life.'* It is very nice and why not publish in *Back to Godhead?* It must be published in *Back to Godhead.* And you must also publish in other journals. That is our business. Let them protest or accept. If they protest, we will reply them again. If they accept, then that is victory. It must be recognised that we are not just a religious sect. People are being kept in darkness, so we are trying our best to give this to the world; we must work in that spirit and become qualified. Regarding your questions, matter originally is spirit and when spirit is not distinctly understood, that is matter. Just like a tree is also a manifestation of spirit soul, but the consciousness is covered. When the tree is cut, it does not protest. But the moving entity has stronger consciousness than the tree. There is consciousness in the tree though. Also consciousness in a dormant state is matter; consciousness in a completely developed state is spirit. ==Matter is the symbol of undeveloped consciousness."== ([[letters/1976/760217_madhava|Madhava dasa, 17 February, 1976]]) *** 76-03 "You mention that the scientists try to 'Simplify the problem at hand by neglecting any complex factors that may be present.' What is that simplification? That there is no God. ==Their position is 'sour grapes.' They try by their speculation to understand things, and being unable they say there is no God.== So we can use this science to defeat them, just as I have many other disciples, such as Svarupa Damodara. He is Ph.D. in chemistry and now he is using his scientific background to defeat their atheistic arguments. There is a Bengali proverb: *tora sil tora noda, tora bhangi dantera goda.* I take your mortar and pestle and I break your teeth. This means that we use the scientists own weapons and with them we defeat their atheistic philosophy. There is another example. A hatchet is sitting before a tree. The tree asks, 'What are you doing here?' The hatchet replies, I have come here to cut you down.' The tree then said, You cannot cut me down, alone, but with the help of my descendants you can do it.' The idea is that the ax-handle is made of wood, and so without the assistance of the wooden tree, the hatchet is useless. Similarly, we can use our materialistic knowledge to defeat the atheistic philosophy of the scientists. So you also can continue your studies and learn what is *sil* and *noda (mortar and pestle) so you can break their * dantera goda (break their teeth)." ([[letters/1976/760308_robert|Robert, 8 March, 1976]]) *** 76-03 "The scientists cannot make a machine from a seed. Why not? Can they make a typewriter machine tree, or an automobile tree, that you plant a seed and you get an automobile; it gets bigger, bigger, bigger until it is a full size automobile. ==They cannot make even one egg, and they are going to manufacture life? And we have to believe it? They are lunatics, this is demoniac. They want to compete with God."== ([[letters/1976/760523_nityananda|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 23 May, 1976]]) ==76-06 "What is the proof that they have gone to the moon? Why they are not now utilizing it, and they simply remain quiet? They have simply squandered so much money but there is no proof that they went.== A foolish man squanders and does nothing and still we are to believe that they are scientists? According to the *Bhagavad-gita: yanti deva-vrata devan...* [Bg 9.25] **without the necessary qualification, namely visa, etc., one cannot even go to another country what to speak of another planet, and the moon planet, Candraloka, being a heavenly planet, how can we accept that they have gone to the moon? Our point is that they are accepting foolish men as scientists." ([[letters/1976/760604_sridhara|Purusottama dasa, 4 June, 1976]]) ==76-10 "Regarding the scientists, we have entrusted our own three scientists namely Svarupa Damodara, Sadaputa, and Madhva and we leave the matter to them, we do not say anything ourselves, but are leaving it to them. But there are many common men who do not believe that they have gone to the moon planet.== So as common men we can simply say, how can dust and rocks reflect so much of light as to illuminate the night, like the sun at day. It is simply bogus to say that the moon is full of dust and rocks. Such a beautiful soothing planet is full of dust and rock with no living beings there is simply unbelievable. You are a learned scholar, do you think it is believable that dust and rocks can illuminate the whole universe at night? It it so soothing and beautiful. I shall be very glad to receive further enlightenment in this connection from your good self." ([[letters/1976/761014_sriman_bajaji|Dr. W.H. Wolf-Rottkay, 14 October, 1976]]) *** 77-01 "Krsna consciousness is based on perfect information received from Krsna in Vedic literatures like *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* Our method is not the so-called research conducted by imperfect beings by their imperfect senses and mental speculation. It is difficult to understand ==why this inductive process is being credited as the highest form of knowledge, since the material scientists who follow this method are not able to do anything towards solving the basic problems of humanity.== Although they spend billions of dollars of the public's money for ventures like going to the moon and collecting dust there, they cannot solve the basic miserable conditions of birth, death, old age and disease. Neither do they give us definite information of the cause of the universal manifestation, nor—despite their wild claims—can they produce even the smallest form of life. As stated in the *Bhagavad-gita,* everything in the universe is actually under the control of the Supreme Being, the Cause of all Causes, and He is Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Hearing from the perfect source of the Supreme Being, one can get answers to solve the miseries of life, which begins with self-realization, knowledge of the self as the soul, beyond the body. Knowledge of the cause and origin of life are also given perfectly. I request you to first make a thorough study of these Vedic books as I have translated, and make inquiries of the devotees in the New York temple. Gradually all these things will be known to you." ([[letters/1977/770129_ramesvara|Charles Gold, 29 January, 1977]])