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Transcription :
Transcriber: Suresh Gupta
Edited by: Raji Nachiappan
Question: How to understand the Bhagavatam’s cosmology? This seem to be very difficult to understand.
Answer: This subject is something which I have studied, contemplated, prayed, discussed, for over twenty years. It is not an easy question to answer. There is a five-step reflection to understand this, as described below:
I. Understand the purpose of science
II. Understand the purpose of scripture
III. Understand the scope of science
IV. Understand the scope of scripture
V. See how science and scripture can be harmonised.
I. The purpose of science:
Science, as understood in today’s world is a methodology which is used for getting material explanations for material phenomenon. When Newton saw the fruit falling, he questioned the cause which led to the fruit falling. He could have said god caused the fruit to fall. Yes, while that is true and Newton also believed that the laws of nature came from god, he was looking for a material cause, and not to God as a cause. Science focusses on looking for material explanations for material phenomenon. In the scientific world, this is called as naturalism or methodological naturalism. Science in itself does not make any statements about anything non material and whether it exist or does not exist. Therefore, the purpose of science is to look for material explanations for material phenomenon.
II. The purpose of scripture:
When we consider the Bhagavatam, it is spoken to Parikshit Maharaj when he was about to die in seven days. The purpose of Shukadeva Gosvami speaking to Parikshit Maharaj is to help him to fix his mind on Krishna. The Bhagavatam’s Fifth canto cosmology is also spoken with that same purpose. It is said in the starting of that section in the fifth canto that, while meditating on the universe in this way, one’s appreciation and devotion to Lord Hari will increase. Therefore, the purpose of everything in the Bhagavatam is to help us to fix the mind on Krishna. It is not that Shukadeva Gosvami was giving Parikshit Maharaj knowledge about how he could go on space travel. That was not the purpose. Everything has to be seen in the light of its purpose. The purpose of science is to give natural explanation for natural phenomenon and the purpose of scripture is to help us fix the mind on Krishna.
III. Scope of science:
Science does not offer us reality; it offers us models of reality. For example, there is quantum physics and there is relativity. These are two fundamental branches of physics and both of them are violently contradictory. The model of reality that is offered by quantum physics is very different from the model of reality offered by relativity. This is a technical subject but suffice it to say that these two are just not reconcilable. Scientists use whichever model works. When dealing with the subatomic realm, it is quantum physics that works and for cosmic distance and cosmic objects, it is relativity that works.
Now, what is the nature of reality: is […]
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