“The scientist has to attain the knowledge of a thing already existing by means of the wonderful brain made by someone else. A scientist can work with the help of such an awarded brain, but it is not possible for the scientist to create his own or a similar brain. Therefore no one is independent in the matter of any creation, nor is such creation automatic.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.5.4 Purport)
To create something through your personal effort brings satisfaction for sure. “I have done this all by myself. I took the initiative, got up off my butt, and made it happen. It wasn’t so easy to figure out, either. Others tried, but they failed and I didn’t. I did it, and now I can bask in the glory of success.” The scientist especially has justification for feeling this way, as they can come up with groundbreaking research. Yet the research reaches a barrier with the material elements in existence. For some reason the inquisitiveness doesn’t go beyond that which is immediately visible. The material elements granted to the individual are taken as a given when in reality they had to be created.
What do we mean by this? I grow up in the house owned by my parents. They give me a room, which likely has a bed, a television, a dresser-drawer, and windows. Within this room I study for school, watch television, play games, and talk to my friends on the phone. I might even have a computer, which allows me to access the internet and thus expand my reach of communication. I can do all of this within my room, but the output of my work is still dependent on my parents. They give me the objects that I use. I don’t create them myself.
The scientist uses the brain given to them by nature, and rather than research who created that brain, the sole focus of attention remains on the material elements and how to manipulate them. If the scientist wants to outwardly deny the validity of the spiritual science for whatever reason, they can at least pay homage to their parents. Without the mother and father, the scientist never would have come into being. Worship is due the parents in this respect for the entire lifetime of the scientist.
And the parents also came from somewhere. They had their own parents, who had their own parents. Each of these sets of individuals had intelligence, for they made the conscious decision to get together and join to create children. The reasons for connecting may vary, but nevertheless the brain’s functioning causes the bodies to come together to produce life. The origin of all life would thus be the most intelligent person, and someone worthy of the greatest respect.
“Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.6)
The Bhagavad-gita describes that origin to be the Supreme Soul. He is also the Supreme Person, and the source of matter and spirit. The brain is described to be a product of the material nature and the individual the spiritual spark that temporarily resides within various coverings composed of elements of that nature. Since the supreme is all-attractive, He is known as Krishna. Since He is so intelligent, His teachings are flawless; they appeal to both devotee and empiricist alike. They make sense to the materially impoverished as well as the successful.
From the Bhagavad-gita, the scientist can take away the root cause of their intelligence. Mind, intelligence and ego are the elements of the subtle body of the individual, and they are shaped by past karma, or work. Our present disposition is due to past work, and the initial cause of birth is also due to work from the past. The parents came together to give birth to us, so this is a cause that is visible. The natural inclinations present at the time of birth were determined by our past karma. In the case of the scientist, their aptitude for math and science came from work done in previous lives.
“Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” (Lord Krishna speaking to Arjuna, Bg. 2.12)
A life is only a measurement of time relative to residence in a specific body. The time continuum for the individual spirit soul is infinite. We divide up our time on earth by days, months and years, but this is also for reference purposes only. Our existence doesn’t suddenly change once the months overlap. Today might be November and tomorrow December, but there is no difference in my identity between the two days.
Since the scientist cannot create a brain, they are not independent in their abilities to create. The most powerful instruments in the world run off elements existing within nature, which didn’t just come from a chunk or a collision of elements. If such things are possible, why can’t they be duplicated? In actuality, everything comes from God, and in the right mindset the living entity, no matter what level of intelligence they possess, takes up service to God in the discipline known as bhakti-yoga.
Bhakti is love directed to the personal aspect of God, and yoga is the linking of the individual soul with God. Thus the two terms together give us an endless engagement that is full of variety. The most effective processes of bhakti-yoga are chanting and hearing, which are simultaneously performed through the recitation of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”.
It is amazing that the scientist can create a giant ship that can travel to outer space, but it is more amazing that every individual can create a sound vibration to practice yoga. And what is more amazing is the sound’s ability to deliver the presence of the Supreme Lord, the original intelligent brain who created this and every other universe. Through bhakti-yoga, marvel every day at the Lord’s powers and take comfort in His personal protection.
In Closing:
With material elements take,
And big brain try to make.
Scientist can put rocket into space,
But their own brain they can’t create.
Parents are the first cause we can see,
From them the brain and body came to be.
Origin is from whom all elements came,
He is the most intelligent, biggest brain.
Use intelligence for His qualities to learn,
Chant His names and His presence earn.
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