Letters

Drop the Science

In regards to Sadāpūta Dāsa’s “Challenges Facing Science and Religion” [March/April]: In his thirteen-page commentary on mundane materialistic scientists’ theories, opinions, and speculations, there were perhaps only two paragraphs directly speaking of Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Who needs these atheistic mundane materialists, with their prejudiced guesswork, to verify their faith? (Not to mention that this so-called science is tasteless, unappealing, boring, mundane, and dry.) Kṛṣṅa's creation is amazing, wonderful, beautiful, and incomprehensible. To break it down into little boxes or mathematical formulas is folly. Please stick to pictures of Kṛṣṅa, stories of Kṛṣṅa, devotee stories, etc. Mundane material science is not needed to verify Kṛṣṅa!

Gutai Jevons Rensselaer, NY

Scientists, Not Sentimentalists

I would like to thank you for publishing Sadāpūta Dāsa’s article “Challenges Facing Science and Religion.” At present the concept of God is not intellectually respectable, and it is our job to make it so. We have much work to do in this area, and Sadāpūta’s work is a great step in that direction.

I was reminded of a statement by Śrīla Prabhupāda I’d read recently, in which he expressed his appreciation for the work of his scientist disciples: “The Bhaktivedanta Institute is doing something for the benefit of modern science. It is not an ordinary thing. Discuss like scientists, not like sentimentalists. It will grow more and develop.” (Oct. 27, 1977)

Sadāpūta offered a brief historical overview showing how modern science has divorced itself from the concept that a transcendental person, Kṛṣṅa, controls nature on a grander scale. He also showed that Kṛṣṅa acts within history and deals with people on an individual level. And he pointed out the shortcomings of science and the many areas where science can broaden its scope to more accurately describe the world we live in. There is more to life than meets the eye.

Please keep up the good work in broadcasting the science of God for the benefit of all the people of the world.

Vipralambha Dāsa New York City

Earthquake Lesson

Regarding the Gujarat earthquake and its repercussions: Is this another līlā of the Lord to teach the population of India to wake up from illusion and walk towards reality in life and go back to Godhead?

Hare Krishna Mani Via the Internet

OUR REPLY: Everything is under the Lord’s control, so earthquakes don’t happen without His permission. We can’t know exactly why Kṛṣṅa does a specific thing, but we do know in principle that He sends sufferings like earthquakes to try to get people to realize the folly of material life and turn to Him.

No Mystic Powers?

Your magazine is the best God conscious magazine I have ever read. Hence I have subscribed to it for two years, in spite of protests from my parents. One question my parents ask is, Why do devotees in ISKCON not have mystic powers like yogis and gurus in India?

Jigar Via the Internet

OUR REPLY: Devotees don’t want mystic powers. We are followers of the Gītā, and Lord Kṛṣṅa never says that we should try for mystic powers. You get what you work for, and working for mystic powers is a waste of time. The goal of life is love of God, so that we can return to Him. Mystic powers won’t help us; rather, they will distract us from our real business: awakening our love of God.

Draupadī’s Identity

In the article “Draupadī: Emblem of Surrender” [January/February], Satyarāja Dāsa writes that Draupadī is an expansion of Goddess Lakṣmī. That is incorrect. Goddess Lakṣmī is the eternal consort of Lord Viṣṅu. Draupadī appeared from Agni (Fire).

Rajesh Jaiswal Via the Internet

Satyarāja Dāsa REPLIES: Arjuna is also an eternal associate of Kṛṣṅa, yet he appears in the form of Rāmānanda Rāya in Caitanya līlā. Rāmānanda Rāya is also an incarnation of Viśākhā. These things are difficult to understand, and these personalities are not subject to the same limitations we are. In fact, because they are the Lord’s eternal associates, they are beyond ordinary limitations. Therefore, there is no reason why Lakṣmī can’t have several relationships with Kṛṣṅa. And she can appear from fire or in any other way she chooses.

Inspired by Journey

I was really thrilled to go through the story of the spiritual yet dangerous journey by Dhruva Dāsa to the nine forms of Lord Narsiṁha in South India [January/February]. This article has really inspired me and reinforced my conviction that whenever you leave everything to Lord Kṛṣṅa with true and full faith, He always comes to help you. Please convey my heartiest congratulations to the author for his successful maiden trip to nine forms of Lord Narsiṁha—a rare opportunity in life.

Sanjeev Sharma New Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Correction

In the article about Paraśurāma Kuṅḍa in the last issue, the sage Agastya was mistakenly identified as Atri in connection with the history of the Vindhya Hills.