Question to Radhanath Swami: I am a student of science. I believe in science. Still I have not got a proper theory or explanation about life and its aim. How will you explain life and its aim scientifically? Another thing: people are trying to explain behavior of life by mathematical model. Do you think it is possible to do that?
Radhanath Swami: What is your definition of Science?
Student: It’s the logical way of thinking in which we put forward the theory, we predict, we observe and get the result.
Radhanath Swami: Bhakti Yoga can be understood as a science by your definition. First of all, the logical thesis. The thesis of Bhagvad Gita is, “You are not this body, you are an eternal soul.” Is it logical? Krishna explains very scientifically that from boyhood to youth to old age, although the body and the mind are going through so many changes, we remain the same person. Then, at the time of death the soul enters the other body according to our desires and our experiences in this life.
And, what is more logical? To consider that everything comes from nothing or that everything comes from something?
Student: Everything comes from something.
Radhanath Swami: Have we ever seen anything that has comes from nothing?
Student: No
Radhanath Swami: So, why should we think that ultimately everything comes from nothing? There’s no evidence. It’s logical that everything comes fromsomething. And that something is God. God is a logical thesis. Yes? It’s scientific.
And then, we have something called sadhana: the practice by which we realize and directly experience the presence of the soul in relationship with God. That’s what spiritual practice is about. We chant the holy names, we read the Holy Scriptures, we perform seva, we engage in moral ethical activities, we try to transform our greedy and proud nature into a nature of humility and service, and through these processes we taste God, we see God, we experience God, and we love God.
And it happens to be that so many great personalities in all religions and all traditions throughout the world have said the same thing. Are all these great saints’ liars when they are talking about their vision of God, their love of God? These are the most compassionate people who have lived on earth historically. Are they all liars? Isn’t it logical that what they are seeing and what they are tasting is real?
Student: Yes, I agree. What you are saying is logical. But what about the mathematical model?
Radhanath Swami: I am not a mathematician. But Einstein was a good mathematician. He was unanimously accepted as a great mathematician. And his conclusion after a mathematical investigation was that there is no way that the universe could mathematically exist the way it is unless there is a supreme brain behind it. That is God. So it’s easier for me to accept Einstein’s mathematical genius than to try to be a mathematician myself and figure it out.
