This is the conclusion of a conversation that took place between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and biochemist Thoudam Singh, Ph.D., in Bhubanesvara, India, on February 3, 1977.
Dr. Singh: Nowadays it seems everyone has his "view."
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Every rascal will give his own "view." But we don't have to accept this.
"Modern world" means "I think," "in my opinion," "in my view." This is going on. But we don't accept this.
Dr. Singh: We hear these very words all the time from so-called scientific authorities. "In my opinion." "In my view."
Srila Prabhupada: In your opinion. In your view. But first of all, who are you? A soul shackled inside a material body, totally under the control of the material laws. So what is the value of your view?
This is ahankara, false ego. Ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate: one wants to give his view when he thinks, foolishly, "I am this big, proud material body. I am something." Kartaham iti manyate: he thinks, "I am doing such great things." But actually he is vimudha, a great ass. He does not understand that in fact he is not the material body, and that material nature not he is carrying out his so-called great activities.
In fact, material nature is pulling him around by his ear: "Come here. Lie down and sleep." And he has to lie down and sleep. He's so independent. So what is the value of his "view"?
Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. As Lord Krsna explains, "The spirit soul bewildered by false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that in reality are being carried out by the modes of material nature." He doesn't realize that he is totally under the control of nature.
Now, you rascal scientists, just try to understand. From the spiritual world you have fallen into this prison, this material world. You have your prison uniform, this material body. So shall I have to accept your view? You are a fallen criminal, and I have to accept your view? What is the value of your view?
Dr. Singh: These rascal scientists are so arrogant. They won't listen.
Srila Prabhupada: Make them listen. "What is the value of your proud view? You have become a criminal. You are being punished. And we have to accept your view?"
Again, what is the value of this materially imprisoned living entity's view? No value. At least we Krsna conscious, God conscious, people will not accept it. This position we shall maintain. "No 'view' from you, sir. Only Krsna's view shall we accept only God's view."
That's all. "Who are you to propound some view, rascal scientist? Your view? We don't give your view any value." Stick to this point. And maintain it scientifically. Then it will stand. Don't compromise.
Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya. "I am the supreme truth," the Lord says. "There is no truth superior to Me." This is the Supreme's view. The Supreme's view we shall accept.
Why accept some puny rascal's view? We are getting knowledge from the supreme person nobody is greater than Him; nobody is equal to Him. So why shall we accept some puny nonsensical rascal's view?
All over the world, people are becoming godless cats and dogs in the mere dress of human beings. So para-upakara: we have to rescue them from this nonsense and make them truly happy restore their God consciousness. The first step is to disprove their nonsensical pseudoscientific "view" that life comes from matter, with no need for the soul or the supreme soul. This is simply incorrect.
Dr. Singh: How true. This materialistic view is incorrect. So we are holding these nonsensical ideas this pseudoscience under the light of honest scientific scrutiny. And we're showing that it is all wrong.
Srila Prabhupada: That is required. Now, as you say, sometimes scientists bring data to amplify the God conscious understanding. And that is nice. We can employ their data to restore people's sense of God.
Dr. Singh: Yes. Unfortunately, pseudo-scientists often use the phrase "the laws of nature" to imply a universe without a lawmaker. So to suggest the lawmaker, we can say, "the higher laws of nature."
Srila Prabhupada: Oh, yes. These so-called scientists they do not even know all the laws of nature.
Dr. Singh: They don't know all the natural laws. They know only a few,
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And they do not know who the lawmaker is. They do not know that the laws of nature can be changed by the lawmaker. It is just as we see in ordinary, mundane governmental affairs: today something is the law, but tomorrow the government can change it. So this is the real meaning of God: the supreme governor, the person who makes the natural law and who can change it.
Krsna says, daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya: "No one can overcome My natural laws." And then He goes on to say, "But anyone who surrenders unto Me he can cross beyond My natural laws." That is the difference between the ordinary being and the supreme being. God can change the laws.
For example, Krsna's natural law states that if you have sinned, you must suffer. Now, you and I are not God; so if we break His law and commit sin, we must suffer. That's all. But Krsna can change the law and say,aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: "Even though you have sinned, I will deliver you from the resultant suffering. Don't be afraid. Simply surrender to Me."
How can Krsna say this? He can say this because He is the Supreme. So here is God realization. Here is the supreme science: to realize, "Yes, all around me I see so many natural laws that no one can change. Certainly I cannot change them. I am under the laws of nature. Therefore, let me search out that one person who is above the laws of nature that one person who made the laws and can even change them. I must make Him the goal of my life."
Dr. Singh: That's why it seems best to say "the higher laws of nature."
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And be sure to mention the highest law of nature: God, the lawmaker who can do anything, even change the laws requests us, "Just become My devotee and surrender to Me. I'll protect you."