Three Issues With The “I Trust Science” Philosophy

“The unalloyed devotees of the Lord know the glories of the Lord in the sense that they can understand how great the Lord is and how great is His expansion of diverse energy. Those who are attached to the perishable body can hardly enter into the realm of the science of Godhead. The whole materialistic world, based on the conception of the material body as the self, is ignorant of the science of God.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.7.42 Purport)

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The true believers in God have likely run into such an argument. Challenged about their beliefs, they are asked to show indisputable truths. Facts. Visual evidence. Until such can be produced, the challengers cling steadfastly to their faith in science.

“Listen, I think it’s interesting to compare the different philosophies and religious views. The Christians have their idea. The Hindus another. I like the concept of soul, but there are still so many questions left unanswered. I agree that science has yet to perceive the soul, but it doesn’t mean that one day we won’t be able to. You have your answers to life’s most challenging questions, but those are beliefs, I would say. Science is truth. Science is evidence. That is why I always trust science.”

There are several issues when travelling down this road. Not that science is worthless and religion the only way, but the human being has the enhanced potential in intelligence for a reason. They are meant to question the meaning of life and the purpose to the creation. They are meant to bring doubts to the table, even with respect to the supposedly airtight principles set forth by modern science.

1. Which science do you trust?

With the proclamation of, “I trust science,” comes an implied jab at religion. The idea is that science is more reliable than some ancient book written thousands of years ago. People didn’t know as much about the natural world back then. They attributed the larger workings of nature to myths and legends. Science has since debunked so many of those myths and continues to do so.

The issue is that science is always changing. Namely, the conclusions don’t remain the same. A new study reverses a previously held truth. It was a belief in fact, because truth cannot be reversed. For instance, no one will be able to invalidate the mathematical equation of, “two plus two equals four.” There is no progressing from that point, so the idea is a truth and not a belief.

One day the scientific community says the earth is flat. People who raise doubts are taken to task, sometimes violently so. One day science says that there is a certain number of planets, only to have the finding upgraded later on. There is an ice age coming, but wait, now it is a warming of the earth. We cannot produce life from matter right now, but give us time. Indeed, as science is based on progress, it is in its very nature to be defective. You can only progress from something when that place is flawed to some degree.

2. It is impossible to observe everything and conduct experiments

Science says they have definitive proof that the earth is a certain number of years old. Supposedly this method is way more reliable than consulting ancient texts, even those written in the Sanskrit language. Yet the actual truth is that there is no way to prove. There is no way to travel back millions of years and see with the eyes whether the earth existed. Moreover, someone alive from that time recording their observations and passing it on to future generations is more reliable than any extrapolation based on scientific equations.

If science is the only authority relied upon, then the knowledgebase will always be imperfect. Events continue to unfold. Time moves forward, sparing no person. There is no way to observe everything that goes on and then conduct experiments to study the results.

3. There is a spiritual science

The simplest experiment that would disprove the concept of religion is to revive a dead body. That is to say provide some chemicals or manipulation of matter such that a person who is pronounced dead returns to life, with the same identity. No such experiment exists, and nor will it ever.

There is something known as the spiritual science. Religion mixed with philosophy; otherwise there is only sentiment or speculation. Not blindly following a particular book or teacher, and not merely speculating on what the reason for life might be. Take both the sentiment and the philosophy and actually realize the truths presented.

Those truths descend through a chain of teachers. There is an original person who creates the laws. He gives the calculation to the size of the soul, where it travels, how it assumes different bodies, the duration of life, where it will end up going forward, and so forth. There is no way to make scientific studies into the fact since the soul is not perceived by blunt instruments. The soul emanates from the Supreme Soul, who is also known as Adhokshaja. This name references a person whose features cannot be measured by blunt instruments.

That is not to say that only blind faith should be extended. Use logic and reasoning. Make a sober assessment. Does it make sense that a soul accepts a certain kind of body? Is that body always changing? Is there a stark difference between a living person and a dead one? Might it be possible that it was the soul animating the body the entire time and that its exit defined the state known as death?

These truths and more are presented in the spiritual science known as the Vedas, which are nicely summarized in the Sanskrit work known as the Bhagavad-gita and described in more detail in the Shrimad Bhagavatam. The same truths can be experienced through real life, through work and analysis, through question and answer, and through belief and affirmation from deep immersion into the genuine spiritual life, which is timeless and eternal.

In Closing:

To consult religion a must,

Other side in science to trust.

Since for qualification to believe,

Something tangible to perceive.

Evidence with experiments done,

Not just through blind faith some.

Idea that spiritual science also to exist,

Truths of matter and soul to persist.

What Is The Vyasasana

“The great sages offered the speaker of the Bhagavatam an elevated seat of respect called the vyasasana, or the seat of Shri Vyasadeva. Shri Vyasadeva is the original spiritual preceptor for all men. And all other preceptors are considered to be his representatives. A representative is one who can exactly present the viewpoint of Shri Vyasadeva.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.5 Purport)

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Friend1: People new to Krishna consciousness come across so many terms with which they are unfamiliar.

Friend2: Isn’t that the meaning of “new”? Of course it will be unfamiliar. You are probably going somewhere with this, but let me just interrupt with a mini-lecture to start.

Friend1: Okay.

Friend2: It is perfectly natural to be unfamiliar. Do you know how long I thought the word “Chaitanya” was actually pronounced with a “k” sound in the front?

Friend1: Oh, because of the transliteration? They use a style similar to Italian I think.

Friend2: Yeah, but I did not know that. And the books I was reading had Chaitanya mentioned all over the place.

Friend1: How did you finally figure it out?

Friend2: I mean, it is my fault, for sure. There is a translation guide within the books. I skipped over it since I was eager to get into the content. I think I heard someone pronounce the word. You could say sadhu-sanga in person, association with saintly people, helped to clear up the mistake.

Friend1: Interesting.

Friend2: I don’t think I was harmed at all. That is my point. You will not know a majority of the terms and concepts. That is okay. You don’t need to hammer that into people. You don’t need to be flipping to the glossary or looking up on the internet every few seconds. You can if you want, but it’s okay to simply proceed.

Friend1: Because everything will come in time.

Friend2: Precisely.

Friend1: So the term I want to focus on is vyasasana.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: People ask me about it. I try my best to explain.

Friend2: What do you say?

Friend1: It is the place from which the invited guest or teacher speaks about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. It is something like the front area in a lecture hall. Sort of like the stage from where a performance emanates.

Friend2: For sure, that is the practical definition. Especially when we see the vyasasana, it is a physical object.

Friend1: An elevated sitting place, with a lotus flower design in the back, for what would be considered the headboard or support of a chair.

Friend2: Yes, but there is more meaning. The name is significant. It is the seat of Vyasa. Who is Vyasa? He is one of the original spiritual masters, especially in the tradition of Vedanta and bhakti.

Friend1: The son of Parashara Muni. Also a partial incarnation of the Supreme Lord.

Friend2: He is Krishna-Dvaipayana, or the island-born one. His history is found in Vedic texts like the Mahabharata. He is also known as Vedavyasa, since he divided the original Veda into four.

Friend1: To make the timeless teachings easier to understand.

Friend2: Especially since the brainpower of man tends to decline as more time passes in a Yuga, or cycle of creation-destruction or population-annihilation.

Friend1: Is Vyasa sitting at the seat, then? At least symbolically?

Friend2: The idea is that he is present in the discourse, katha, through his representative. This is more than symbolism. If I give you a philosophy and you teach it around the world, it is as if I am with you. You are using your own words. You are applying the principles to the time and circumstance, but the origin is me.

Friend1: Right.

Friend2: So the vyasasana is for the person representing Vyasadeva. They should reach the same conclusion, that bhakti-yoga is the real meaning of Vedanta, that the Supreme Lord should be remembered all the time, but especially at the time of death. Likely Vyasadeva’s most well-known work is the Shrimad Bhagavatam. He composed this after there were so many other important works to his name, but which focused more on material elevation through following rules and regulations.

Friend1: He was unsatisfied, right? Even after having written so much, there was more to give.

Friend2: So Narada Muni, Vyasa’s guru, encouraged him to compose a work focusing entirely on the Supreme Lord, His position in the world, and the power of devotion to Him. The person ascending the seat of Vyasa should have a similar focus. This is why the vyasasana is so important. It is not meant for any ordinary person, who can only speculate as to the high topics of an existence. It is the pulpit from which the wisdom of the ages gets broadcast.

In Closing:

Seat from which to broadcast,

Wisdom through ages to last.

Not for ordinary meant,

Someone from Vaikuntha sent.

Representing Vyasa in conclusion,

Not victim of maya’s delusion.

Through parampara message receiving,

In supremacy of bhakti believing.

The Law Of Holes

“From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.63)

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Friend1: Talk to me about this idea of attachment.

Friend2: What about it? You mean like is it good or bad?

Friend1: Apparently that is what keeps us in this world.

Friend2: Technically, kama is the culprit. Defined most often as ordinary desire, but it can quickly turn into lust. When that lust is not satisfied, which is entirely likely, then there is anger.

Friend1: From anger comes bewilderment of memory, delusion and finally a return to the same place in the next life.

Friend2: You forgot loss of intelligence. The simple example I like to give relates to sports. Imagine you are playing golf. You’re having a good day. The drives are landing in the fairway. The second shots are hitting the green. At most you are two-putting, but sometimes there are birdies.

Friend1: Wow. So like a day even a professional would dream of.

Friend2: Then on the last hole everything goes wrong. The drive ends up in the woods. The second shot hits a tree and travels backwards. When you get near the green, every chip is either flying over or landing short.

Friend1: That is torture. Certainly happened to me many times.

Friend2: After finishing the hole, you toss your entire set of clubs into the water.

Friend1: Haha. I have definitely wanted to do that.

Friend2: The culprit is lust. There was attachment to the successful play from the past. When the lust went unsatisfied just a few times, there was so much anger. Obviously, it is a loss of intelligence to blame anything on the clubs. They are inanimate objects.

Friend1: They did nothing wrong.

Friend2: That is one way attachment works.

Friend1: Okay, but here’s the thing. Aren’t we building such attachments throughout the journey of life?

Friend2: For sure. Think about interest in soap operas and television shows. You’re watching a scripted performance. Formerly, you didn’t even know the story. From watching a few times the interest grows to the point that you can’t miss what happens next.

Friend1: All in a false reality; in a place that doesn’t even exist.

Friend2: Exactly. What we don’t see is that our experience in this world is not much different. That is the meaning to maya. We create these attachments but the people and objects to which we are attached don’t follow us into the afterlife. Knowing this, we usually bury our head in the sand and pretend that death won’t happen.

Friend1: From that we become further entrapped.

Friend2: It’s like the law of holes.

Friend1: I’ve never heard of that.

Friend2: It’s pretty simple. When you find yourself in one, stop digging.

Friend1: That’s pretty good.

Friend2: So these new attachments we form every day are like digging further. The result is falling deeper, getting further away from liberation.

Friend1: Alright, but people are everywhere. How do we stay renounced? Do we have to leave our family and go live in a cave?

Friend2: Attachments can form just about anywhere. The easier way is to become attached to the Supreme Lord. Develop an urgent need to see Him, remember Him, and serve Him. That is the aim of bhakti-yoga, which at first is a distinct spiritual discipline and in the end turns into a way of life. It becomes as involuntary as breathing, and one of the many benefits is guaranteed liberation.

In Closing:

First as spiritual life to live,

But with many benefits to give.

Guaranteed liberation in end,

On attachments not to depend.

Otherwise like stuck in hole in ground,

And digging further down.

Difficult by itself to free,

Better when Divine to see.

Something Coming From Nothing

“O Vaidehi, taking you on my back and coursing through the sky, I shall undoubtedly return in the same manner that I arrived here.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 37.27)

yathā eva aham iha prāptaḥ tathaiva aham asaṃśayam |
yāsyāmi paśya vaidehi tvām udyamya vihāyasam ||

There are popular internet images relating the same idea. It is a quick and straightforward counterargument to the standard logic of the atheists. As they discount the idea of God, relegating it to mythology or some faint hope for a brighter future in the afterlife, by their very claim so many contradictions arise.

One of the obvious relates to the origin. Forget the past for a moment. Put aside predictions of the future. We know what exists right now. We can see for ourselves. We can smell, taste, hear and touch, also. There is no doubting that we have trees. There is no debate about whether the sky exists. We see living beings all around us.

If the claim is made that there is no God, it means that there is no origin. Or at least there is no intelligence behind the origin. Since we have the image of what exists now, there had to be a beginning. That is to say everything we see had to come from somewhere. We have no experience of something manifesting out of thin air. The dark clouds arrive quickly on an otherwise sunny day, and the rain pours down soon after. Yet intelligence says that the rain was gathering for some time. The cloud is the result of past actions in nature.

In the same way, there had to be something that triggered the creation. In the God-denial paradigm, everything came from nothing. Perhaps there was a single cell. Maybe an explosion that triggered everything. But where have we seen a random collision, something lacking intelligence, produce so much intricacy and nuance, with predictability and governing laws that can be organized into something called science? Does the smartphone result from an explosion? If I light a fire in my room, will that produce an automobile?

These kinds of questions are the beginning of a pursuit into the true origin. This is the real benefit of the human birth. Sense gratification is available in the animal species. Longevity is there in the trees. Enjoying effortless air travel is there in the birds. Living in the beautiful, cool water is for the fish. The human beings are distinct because of their intelligence. An integral aspect to intelligence is the quest for knowledge, especially of higher topics.

In the above referenced verse from the Ramayana, Shri Hanuman explains how he will accomplish a difficult task. His proposal is to take Vaidehi, the princess of Videha, on his back and return to Shri Rama, who is her husband. Vaidehi is also known as Sita, and she has suffered long enough in a prison-like environment in Lanka. The blameless and sinless goddess deserved better.

Ravana, the king of Lanka, took Sita away in secret and held her in his kingdom. The doubt here relates to how Hanuman will be able to escape Lanka while taking away someone that Ravana obviously wanted to remain there.

Hanuman’s response is logical. In the same way that he arrived in Lanka, in that manner he will exit. He took the aerial route. This seems unbelievable. How can someone in a monkey-like body fly through the air? The ocean was vast, as well. How could someone that size make it across in a single leap?

There was no reason to doubt, as proof was there in Hanuman’s presence. He would be able to do the same on the return trip. The sentiment was appreciated, but Sita Devi preferred to wait for her husband to rescue her, as He was in the warrior occupation. It might reflect poorly on Him if one of His representatives did the rescuing instead.

Shri Hanuman and others arrive on the scene to rescue devotees who are in distress. Proof of their ability to rescue is found in their very arrival. That is to say if they can make their way towards me, to educate me about the real meaning of life and how to escape the cycle of birth and death for good, then they are capable of taking me back to the spiritual world in the same way. Representatives like Hanuman are empowered directly by the Supreme Lord, and so the devotion they practice is capable of saving the entire world.

In Closing:

Empowering the holy name,

By very power to me came.

Representative in this way saving,

Path to spiritual land paving.

Like Hanuman on Sita’s side,

Proposing on his back to ride.

To Shri Rama in reunited state,

But she rather for husband to wait.

What Kind Of Parent Is Krishna

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.6-7)

Friend1: Having a baby around is pretty amazing.

Friend2: Some people might choose a different word.

Friend1: Such as?

Friend2: Tiring. Exhausting. Frustrating.

Friend1: Haha, don’t get me wrong, I have those sentiments sometimes, too. But to see the changes, and how suddenly they occur. I mean who would believe that something so tiny could start to move so quickly in a matter of days.

Friend2: You mean like learning to walk?

Friend1: There is the standard progression, where the first significant change is sitting up. Then they likely roll over, followed by crawling. Eventually they grab onto railings to help stand up. Soon after they take their first steps, and then it’s walking for the rest of their life.

Friend2: Not all babies fall into the same pattern.

Friend1: I know. There are babies that don’t learn to crawl. They go straight to walking at around the normal age. Some never turn over. It’s so interesting to observe.

Friend2: Indeed.

Friend1: One particular aspect got me to thinking about spiritual life.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: When some babies learn to crawl they start by moving while their head is down.

Friend2: Like the army crawl, where it looks like they are trying to go underneath a fence?

Friend1: Exactly. They resemble a snail. Eventually they learn to prop their head up. This is called being on all fours.

Friend2: Yes, they gain enough strength in their arms to hold the body up.

Friend1: This by itself is amazing to watch. It’s like the baby is doing push-ups. Where do they get the strength? Anyway, so it is in this phase where my brain started working. Some babies get on all fours and then start rocking back and forth.

Friend2: Like a bunny-rabbit.

Friend1: Yes. While it is nice to observe, there are safety concerns. They can’t hold themselves up for a long time, so eventually the head drops to the ground. You don’t want that fall to injure them.

Friend2: Yes, that’s why some parents purchase play-mats and other such padded surfaces.

Friend1: The bigger concern for me is the baby ramming their head into a wall. They don’t know better. Rocking back and forth, they could easily proceed forward into a place that they can’t go. There is sure to be some kind of discomfort resulting.

Friend2: That is why parents must keep a watchful eye.

Friend1: For sure. Definitely. Don’t want the kid to get hurt. Here’s the issue. How long to maintain this kind of oversight? Eventually, some mistakes will have to be experienced by the child. Otherwise they will never learn.

Friend2: That is true, but in this case the baby is too young to learn such things. You have to give it time.

Friend1: I understand that, but I was wondering how Shri Krishna behaves. He is the original father, after all. He provides the seed that led to the creation of the universes and the populations contained within.

“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.4)

Friend2: You want to know if He prevents us from making mistakes?

Friend1: Is He the spoiling kind of parent, always watching over and making sure nothing happens? Or is He the tough-love kind, where He wants the children to learn by experiment?

Friend2: It is interesting that you bring this up. A similar comparison is made by Shri Rama in the Ramacharitamanasa. Narada Muni, the celebrated travelling saint dedicated to spreading the glories of the Supreme Lord, one time was denied a request in marriage by Hari, the Supreme Lord. Narada became very angry and cursed God immediately after learning what had happened.

Friend1: And yes, I know that God cannot be cursed. He accepts the words of His devotees because He has other purposes to fulfill.

Friend2: Right. It is something like the child telling the father, “You are grounded.” The words are meaningless since they are not in a position to enforce. Anyway, so Hari descended to earth as the warrior Shri Rama. Later there was another meeting with Narada. He asked Rama about the previous incident. How could the whole thing have taken place?

Friend1: You mean being denied his choice in marriage?

Friend2: Yes. So Rama explained that His devotees are different. They are treated like the spoiled-children in a sense. Not necessarily spoiled, but the ones always given oversight. The Supreme Lord does not institute tough-love. He is always there for them.

Friend1: What about taking away? Wasn’t it tough-love for Hari to deny Narada the choice in marriage?

Friend2: Yes, but there was intervention. Oversight. There wasn’t passive interest, like with material life.

Friend1: Oh, okay. I guess that is the meaning to the swift-deliverer reference in the Bhagavad-gita.

Friend2: Every spirit soul is tied to Him. Krishna is within every living being in the expansion known as Supersoul. Yet for the devotees He plays the role of Bhagavan. He provides interference, direct oversight. This is a kindness to be truly appreciated.

In Closing:

Eventually to other side to turn,

And slowly crawling to learn.

Worry from the parents watching,

That head not to floor dropping.

Supreme Lord caretaker a similar kind?

Incident from Ramacharitamanasa to find.

Where Narada’s downfall preventing,

A protector like Rama unrelenting.

Playing The Game Of I Can

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described in the scriptures as adhokshaja, which indicates that He is beyond the perception of all material senses.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 46)

It’s a television reality show. The primary focus is on competition. Each episode features an elimination round. Two contestants are eligible. They go head-to-head in one of four games, chosen at random. In this particular episode one of the players has a distinct size and weight advantage. If the competition relies mostly on strength, the smaller player is doomed.

Things seem to be headed in that direction, as the game is called “I can.” There is a large crate on the ground with two handles in front. On the side is a bag filled with a seemingly endless supply of coconuts. It looks to be some sort of weightlifting competition. The larger guy is in the driver’s seat.

There is a catch, however. The competition involves bidding, in an alternating fashion. One player starts. They declare out loud how many coconuts they think they can lift. Then the other player either places a higher bid or asks the first player to prove that they can do it.

The larger player is not guaranteed victory since they might end up in a bidding war, left in a position to prove they can lift a number of coconuts that might be too heavy for them. A way to prevent that is to call the bluff of the smaller player. If the bidding reaches a certain point where you think they can’t do it, stop the bidding.

It is a tricky game because no one knows precisely how much the coconuts weigh. Moreover, they have to guess as to how much the other person can lift, based on the strength in the legs and arms. The idea is that there is a limit. Each person has a certain level which they cannot go past.

This game gives another idea into the greatness of God. If He were to play the game of “I can,” at some point they would run out of coconuts. That is because nothing can limit His abilities. There is no accurate way to measure His strength. He possesses the different opulences to the highest degree, and simultaneously.

His intelligence is such that He can instantly predict how much a competitor can lift. His renunciation is to the point that victory in the competition is of no concern. He has beauty that cannot be compared even to the most pristine park, filled with blossoming flowers. He could personally supply the coconuts to the competition, as He owns everything already. Upon victory in the competition, His fame would spread throughout the three worlds.

This is more than just a theoretical example. There are real-life, historical incidents described in Vedic literature. Those works are in the Sanskrit language, which means they are preserved in the original form, lasting through to today. Cheaters can get to work on translating and interpreting, but the original sounds are still there, limiting the potential damage.

In the case where a saint has added on to the descriptions, in the language of their choice, even those original words are preserved. The verses are composed in such a way that they can be sung, making them easier to remember and distribute to others. Another way to understand God is that the best poetry and song is used to glorify Him; hence the name Uttamashloka.

He is Adhokshaja because His features cannot be measured by blunt instruments. In the incarnation of Shri Rama, He lifted the inconceivably heavy bow of Lord Shiva. This bow could not even be moved by the supposedly most powerful princes on earth. As Shri Krishna, He lifted Govardhana Hill, whose circumference is several miles. Through His expansion He keeps the planets in orbit, without effort. That is to say there is no struggle, as the image of Krishna holding Govardhana Hill is with the pinky finger resting on the left hand. This is the weakest finger on the typically non-dominant hand.

Since His strength and ability are beyond understanding, He can surely rescue everyone in the entire universe simultaneously. He can hear every prayer offered to Him in earnest, and He can arrive at any space, in the personal form, with an interest to intervene, through the sounds of His names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Contestants playing a game,

Of “I can” the name.

Lifting coconuts in crate,

Each person bid to state.

But knowing limitation the key,

Also in other ability to see.

Supreme Lord in competition suppose,

Know Him from strength juxtaposed.

Five Different Ideas People Have About God

"The first syllable of the word bhagavan is bha, which means ‘sustainer’ and ‘protector.’ The next letter, ga, means ‘leader,’ ‘pusher’ and ‘creator.’ Va means ‘dwelling’ (all living beings dwell in the Supreme Lord, and the Supreme Lord dwells within the heart of every living being). Combining all these concepts, the word bhagavan carries the import of inconceivable potency in knowledge, energy, strength, opulence, power and influence, devoid of all varieties of inferiority." (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi 2.10 Purport)

Mention the word “God” and you get a variety of responses. In some places there might be universal acceptance, with smiling faces abound. In other areas the frown is the immediate change. They’ve got their arms up, in a ready position. They are prepared to argue the invalidity of the idea of creation and an intelligent designer.

The lack of uniformity in responses is due to the different ideas people have about God.

1. The Almighty

This person has a lot of strength. That person has tremendous ability. That guy reigns over an important tract of land. He has the final say in what happens to the people. He is in charge of protecting.

God should be more mighty than everyone else. He is the Almighty, so no one can surpass Him in strength, influence and ability. That is the whole point to worshiping Him. If He didn’t hold this title, He wouldn’t be able to save us.

2. The Supreme Being

We see many beings around us. The Vedas describe that every living thing is a being, bhuta. Some are moving. Some are nonmoving. Some have four legs, while others have two. Some can talk, while others can fly. Some live for a day, while others last beyond one hundred years.

The variety is due to the modes of nature covering up what is known as the spirit soul. The individual souls are equal in quality. They are not the same identity, but they possess the same qualities. There are so many beings, but only one can be supreme. This is another idea of God. He must be different from the rest.

3. The one watching over us

• That guy was obviously guilty. There is no question about it. He got off because of a technicality in the legal system. Now he is free to roam the streets, despite the questionable past.
• That politician took home classified documents and may have shared them with people not authorized to see them. While others go to jail for similar behavior, she did not get punished at all.
• That leader of the nation secretly spied on one of his political rivals. Yet today he is still relatively popular, with supporters thinking he was great.
• That guy lied about so many important things, but no one seems to care.

There is also the positive.

• No one saw me help that old lady cross the street.
• That massive donation to the charitable institution was done anonymously.

Will I get credit for these sacrifices? Will the bad guys eventually receive punishment?

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

Another idea of God is that He watches over us. The extreme on one side says that He is sitting in judgment, just waiting to punish the sinners. The more rational argument, supported by authorized sacred texts, says that there is an inherent system of fairness in play. The work is karma, and the phala, or fruits, arrive at the appropriate time. The consequences are commensurate with the deeds. That is to say if someone did something really bad, the punishment will be equally as intense. God must be the person managing this.

4. The concept that explains the unexplainable

How does a new life actually enter this world? Sure, we have the scientific explanation. The union of the man and woman, the gestation period, the exit from the womb. We understand that, but who created the rules in the first place? Who made it so that from a tiny seed you could get a giant tree that bears fruit? God must be that which is beyond explanation. He must be the person who will be able to answer questions that can never be answered in this life.

5. The origin

Along the same lines, there is no definitive proof of the what, when, and where relating to the origin of the universe. Even if there were secret surveillance video footage available to consult, there is no way to validate the date and time. The sound and images also don’t explain the past. That is to say there is always a beginning to a beginning and an end to an end. God must be that origin. He must be the person who is beyond time and space. The concept of infinity must apply to Him.

…

These are different speculations and ideas in the right direction, as man’s true purpose is to approach higher topics like life and death, the variety in species, the reason for living, and ultimately who is behind the forces of nature that seemingly have total control over us.

While the different ideas lead to different religions, and thereby conflict among the factions, there is a way to get a clear picture. This comes from the Vedic tradition, which describes God in so much detail. It covers the different conceptions, even applying specific names to them. Some of the features are contradictory. Some are beyond our ability to understand.

The key revelation is the concept of personhood. God is a person, but a different kind. He is a being like us, but without a distinction between spirit and body. He has definable attributes, and so a good name for Him is Bhagavan. This is more than a generic term like Ishvara or the commonly invoked “God.”

Bhagavan is the complete idea about the Divine, covering other features that aren’t as complete. Not that God is ever lacking anything, but in some manifestations He chooses not to reveal everything. This is to match the desires of the specific audience, who may not be ready for the in-person meeting yet. When they are, they get to continue to stay connected in the constitutional engagement known as bhakti-yoga, to which many lifetimes can be spent studying and trying to understand.

In Closing:

Classroom exercise making,

Teacher poll of students taking.

Different conceptions of God to give,

Like the one who forever to live.

In judgment over others standing,

Most powerful, universe commanding.

Vedas with picture clearest,

Bhagavan to soul dearest.