Why does mankind care about the how and why this universe originated, including life on earth, when apparently, we are the only ones to intelligently witness reality? Should we focus on the "there", and not the how & why of "there"?

 If the universe with life on Earth was designed, and there’s so much evidence for it that even atheistic scientists concede that it appears designed, why not accept that at face value? Scientists acknowledge that it looks designed, so they try to explain why it looks designed without design. If it only appears designed then why does it appear designed? If they already know that it wasn't designed, then "it appears designed" is something they need to explain. But if they don't already know that, dismissing the appearance of design simply because they reject the design hypothesis doesn't resolve anything.

If it was designed then it’s intelligent to know what it was designed for. What’s the use of having access to a brilliant, complex, highly sophisticated device if we don’t know how to use it or why it was manufactured?

If we assume there is no intention behind the universe, our bodies, and life, then sure, we can find ways to use them but it’s unlikely we will get the most from them if there was intent behind them.

Focusing on the “there” is a great idea, but only once we know why the “there” is there.

If I wake up in a prison cell, it’s one thing to make the bed, sweep the floor and clean the walls, but it’s more intelligent to find out why I’m there and what to do about it. It’s a bit dim if I just focus on the ‘here and now’ and not wonder how I got there. I’m not so passive that I would accept that this is the new reality and there’s no reason to question it. Once I know why I'm there, for how long, and what is expected of me, I can make the cell as cozy as possible, but without knowing that it would be hard to accept all the restrictions.

It’s undeniable that we are restricted in life and we suffer. Of all the species of life only humans can even think about investigating why that is. The other species just go with it. So whether one believes it’s a product of evolution’s blind process to aid survival, or it’s intentional, the fact is that we have it. Dismissing it as unimportant or irrelevant is a great waste and squanders the main faculty that distinguishes us from animals.

Little wonder then that Vedanta Sutra begins with the aphorism:

“Now is the time to inquire about the Absolute Truth.” Vedanta Sutra 1.1.1

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What does Lord Krishna says about death in the Bhagavad Gita?

Lord Krishna says death both exists and doesn’t exist. Bhagavad Gita straddles the two worlds of the absolute and the relative. Krishna speaks transcendent truths but applies them in the temporal, mundane world. This is the role of a guru. He must reveal what is beyond sense perception but through the medium of sense perception. He must explain what reality is, using what is not reality. Krishna says that for the soul there is neither birth nor death. (BG. 2.20) Obviously, for matter, there is no death because it’s not alive. So the soul doesn’t die, and matter doesn’t die, and there are only these two energies in the material world (BG 7.4–5), so what is death?
Read more

Action in Inaction and Inaction in Action as per Bhagavad Gita

Under the laws of karma, every action carries a reaction. Only by having zero personal attachments and desires can one avoid reactions Theoretically, if we don’t perform any action there won’t be any reaction which is what we want right? But it’s not possible to live in this world and not perform any activity. People may sit silently in meditation trying to control and empty the mind, but this is still activity. They must eat something, breath, move around a little, so even though they may appear to be inactive, there are still reactions being chalked up, so they are not ‘inactive’ because reactions are accumulating. So actually they are performing actions even though aiming for inaction. This is the meaning of seeing action in inaction. Another person may be active, but their consciousness is completely devoid of any personal desires or interest in their activity so there will be no reaction. It’s as if they were inactive.
Read more

Difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita

Bhagavad Gita is mainly philosophical. It was spoken by Krishna Himself and is the conclusion of all the Upanisadas. In this unparalleled dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna everything that is important in life is mentioned. In itself it is complete but it is very concise and Krishna deals with one point after another without elaborating. It serves to orient a person so that they know who they are and what they should be doing. While Bhagavad Gita is only 700 verses, Srimad Bhagavatam is 18,000 verses, but the conclusion is the same. The difference between Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita is in the detail. For example, in Bhagavad Gita Krishna says: This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. Bg 9.10
Read more

What is human fallibility and redemption as per Bhagavad Gita?

A human is a spirit soul in a human body. The spirit soul or jivatma is always pure, but due to its tiny size it can fall into illusion and think it is its body. In its embodied state the jivatma is fallible. Once we are under the illusion that we are our ‘human’ body, we are restricted by the limitations of the body. We have imperfect senses, we make mistakes, we fall into deeper illusion, and we cheat. These are the basic failings of humans and the result of them is that we make errors. The theological concept of redemption is to be forgiven and freed from the consequences of these errors. It’s more commonly used in Abrahamic religions. In Christianity I believe Christ is understood to be the redeemer of all mankind by his death. Judaism and Islam don’t agree with that understanding but the core principle of being forgiven and freed from bondage is still present and dependent on the Lord’s mercy. The understanding in Sanatan Dharma is that the Lord can forgive and free the living ent...
Read more