his Spiritual master
Conversations
Dr. T. D. Singh & Srila Prabhupada
Dr. T. D. Singh and Srila Prabhupada discussing on various topics from Atom to Life to Cosmos at Laguna beach, USA.
“Suppose, If I were to give you all of the ready-made bio-molecules, DNA, proteins, lipids, sugars, etc., would you be able to produce life within a test-tube by combining these molecules?”
– Sripada Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja
Modern science proclaims that all aspects of life can be reduced to molecules and that through the manipulation of these molecules mankind will ultimately create life. Srila Prabhupada was extremely concerned that the students of the world’s colleges and universities were being misdirected by this materialistic conception. He felt that in the name of scientific and technological advancement, which is primarily motivated by materialism, sense gratification, and profiteering, society was drifting farther and farther away from its actual source of peace and happiness. He wanted to convey to the world’s students and intellectuals that the scientifically based ‘Life Comes From Life’ Paradigm or Bhagavata Paradigm is the better model for attaining peace and happiness in this world. The Bhagavata Paradigm is based on the understanding that life is the ultimate non-material spiritual particle and is distinct from molecules or matter and that the Supreme Lord is the source of both life and matter. It is described in Bhagavad-gita, verse 7.6:
etad-yonini bhutani
sarvanity upadharaya
aham krtsnasya jagatah
prabhavah pralayas tatha
All created beings have their source in these two natures. Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and the dissolution.
Through conversations and correspondences, Srila Prabhupada gave Maharaja many detailed instructions on this spiritual paradigm and how to present it scientifically. He once said, “The evolution theory is there in the Padma Purana. It is not Darwin’s theory. Darwin stole it from the Padma Purana, and he presented it in a distorted way with his own imagination. The soul is wandering within the different species. This is Vedic knowledge.” For over thirty years, as per Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, Maharaja has been presenting this Vedic paradigm of evolution of consciousness versus evolution of species to the students and intellectuals of the world.
Once, while Maharaja was doing his Ph.D. work at the University of California, Irvine, he attended a lecture on the origin of life by the world-renowned reductionist, Professor Stanley Miller. During the time allotted for questions, Maharaja challenged Professor Miller on the basis of Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Life Comes From Life’ paradigm, “Suppose, if I were to give you all of the ready-made bio-molecules, DNA, proteins, lipids, sugars, etc., would you be able to produce life within a test-tube by combining these molecules?” Professor Miller replied, “That I don’t know.” When Maharaja narrated this incident to Srila Prabhupada during a morning walk on Venice Beach, California, SriIa Prabhupada became very pleased. He used to narrate this story frequently to both his guests and disciples emphasizing the imperfect nature of modern science’s speculative theories – the very theories that are misdirecting society’s quest for lasting peace and happiness. Some of the conversations between Srila Prabhupada and Maharaja on ‘Life Comes From Life’ took place on a series of morning walks at Venice Beach, California and are now distributed widely by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust as a book, also entitled, ‘Life Comes From Life’.
“The scientific method includes hypothesis, experimentation, observation and then demonstration. Then it is perfect. But the scientists cannot actually demonstrate in their laboratories that life comes from matter.”
– Srila Prabhupada
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