We Accept Evolution, but Not Darwin’s Theory
It is confirmed in Padma Purana that the species of life evolved from aquatics to plants, vegetables, trees; thereafter insects, reptiles, flies, birds, then beasts, and then human kind. This is the gradual process of evolution of species of life.
Los Angeles 9 March, 1970
Columbus, Ohio
My Dear Hayagriva,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4 March, 1970, along with the edited copy of the Foreword to KRSNA. Thank you very much. The few alterations of dates is approved by me, so it is alright.
Regarding your question do the Vedic histories refer to this planet only. No. Vedic history means of this universe. Our history begins from the beginning of the creation because the creation takes place with the birth of Brahma from the abdomen lotus flower of Lord Visnu. Then Brahma gradually creates. He begets so many sons known as Prajapatis who are supposed to be the generators of living entities, and therefore the history begins from Brahma. In the Bhagavad-gita this is confirmed in the 15th chapter. It is said there that the root of this big universal banyan tree is on the top; therefore history begins from the top.
Yes. This planet comes later on. We can take the idea from the tree–the tree grows gradually, and the different fruits, branches, and twigs gradually appear. Therefore it is to be understood that this planet has grown later on. Besides this we understand that although the planet was later on grown up, it was covered with water–pralaya payodhi jale merged into the water after devastation. Then gradually it emerges from water. That we can experience, that gradually land is coming out of the oceans. Because of its being merged into water, it is natural to conclude that the beginning of life was aquatic. This is confirmed in Padma Purana that the species of life evolved from aquatics to plants, vegetables, trees; thereafter insects, reptiles, flies, birds, then beasts, and then human kind. This is the gradual process of evolution of species of life.
But we do not accept Darwin’s theory. According to Darwin’s theory, homo sapiens came later on, but we see that the most intelligent personality, Brahma, is born first. So according to Vedic knowledge, Darwin or similar mental speculators are rejected so far the fact is concerned.
I am so glad to learn that the Gita is going on nicely. Perhaps you know that Mandali Bhadra wants to translate into German, so as you finish one chapter you may send one copy to him immediately for being translated into German.
Mayapur is the birth-site of Lord Caitanya. It is a small village You cannot find it on the map, but near Calcutta you may find the place “Navadvipa,” and Mayapur is part of this Navadvipa district. So far your planning to go to India, not only you, but I think several others, including Kirtanananda Maharaja and other advanced students, will go to India for preaching Krsna Consciousness. That will be a lesson to our so-called “secular” government. I came here with this purpose, so you have to fulfill my desire. I think it is coming to be true by the will of Lord Caitanya.
Acyutananda is getting good opportunities to move amongst enlightened circle in Calcutta, so if some of our advanced students go to India for this purpose, that will be a great achievement. I am thinking of that plan always. In the meantime, let us publish as many books as possible within this year. I wish to go to India for this purpose in the beginning of next year.
So far life-size Deities are concerned, even if you do not go, that can be imported. We have got addresses of supplier, and if you give me the size of the Deity you want, that can be imported. In the meantime you try to construct some temples in New Vrindaban. I want to publish one catalog of our ISKCON movement, giving pictures of all important centers and especially of New Vrindaban. This idea I gave you long ago when I was in New Vrindaban. I have advised Brahmananda also in this connection. So get this catalog printed as early as possible.
Another important thing is our theistic school in New Vrindaban. If you can establish a nice educational center, I know many parents of your country will be glad to send their children in New Vrindaban. But we have to create a nice atmosphere and educational system there. Satyabhama is very much enthusiastic in this connection. So you organize this institution systematically.
Hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS:db
About the Author
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founded the Hare Krishna Movement in 1966 in New York. In only 11 years he spread the movement all over the world. He wrote more than 80 books including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad. Prabhupada's books constitute a complete library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
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what will be your explaination about life for a person who fedup of this world. It is not the case that, the person person struggling to get two times of bread, but still I don’t like this world where each person has to cheat another to earn is daily bread.
I am a computer engineering student and I know Krishna conciousness
philosophy quite well, but still I am struggling to understand this life.
Hare Krishna Vishal
It is very intelligent to be fed up with this world. This world is declared by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita to be a place of misery where there is repeated birth and death. So this is a miserable world and any thoughtful person will not be happy here and will want to get out.
And you have taken to Krishna consciousness which is the practical solution to the problem.
Don’t try to make some arrangement in this world to make it a happy, comfortable place. We will never be happy or comfortable in this world.
This material world is not our home. We are by nature spiritual. This material body we are currently covered by is not us. We are the spirit soul within the body. The body is simply an outer dress. The body is made of matter and the soul is made of spirit. Matter is temporary. Spirit is eternal.
So the soul which is spiritual, eternal, full of knowledge, full of bliss and eternally youthful is stuck within a material body that is getting old and will die, that is getting sick, that is full of ignorance and full of anxiety. So while we are misidentifying with the body, thinking “I am Indian, I am Australian, I am American, I am a man, I am a women, etc…,” and with this misconception trying to be “happy” in the material world, how can we ever expect to be satisfied?
This material world is not our home. We are spiritual, our home is the spiritual world. That is a completely different nature. It is like if you take a fish out of the water and provide him with a very nice house and a nice car and a beautiful wife he can never be happy, because out of the water he can not breathe… So here in the material world we are just like that fish out of water. We can not breath here, we are being suffocated here, but maya is convincing us, “If you just find a beautiful girl you will be happy,” “If you just get more money you will be happy…”
We will never be happy in the material world. You need to accept this and come to terms with it and simply use this human form of life for serving Krishna so that you do not have to come back to this material world again.
The most important thing is what we remember at the time of death. Krishna tells us in the Bhagavad Gita that whatever state of consciousness we have at the time of death that state we will attain in the next life without fail. So if at the time of death we have no thoughts other than Krishna, not attachments except Krishna, then naturally, at the time of death, our only thought will be “Krishna.” And if we remember Krishna at the time of death we will be transferred back home, back to Godhead. We will go back to our real home in the spiritual world with Krishna.
So we have to practice for death. Because death is coming for us all. And it is coming quite quickly. Our life here is very short and we have a great opportunity in the human form of life that we can understand the importance of Krishna consciousness and we can chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
So my advice to you is that you should take this Krishna consciousness more seriously. Krishna consciousness is not a hobby or a religion. It is not something we do on Sundays. It is not a few prayers we say in the morning and a few prayers we say before going to bed. No. It is a completely different way of living. A completely different lifestyle from the materialistic lives most of the people are living on this planet.
Chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily and strictly following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex life, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] is the starting point. These things must be done, otherwise how can we expect to remember Krishna at the time of death.
Krishna consciousness is not something that can be achieved very easily. We have to be prepared to dedicate our lives to Krishna, to surrender to Krishna. We have to live our lives for Krishna. We should not have any other purpose in our lives except serving Krishna.
So you are very intelligent, you have seen through the illusion of happiness in the material world. Now please take Krishna consciousness more seriously by reading all of Srila Prabhuapda’s books and putting into practice in your life what you find there.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa dasa prabhuji. If Krsna Consciouness is not a religion as you in the sentence it is not a religion or hobby then what is it. Religion means knowing that Krsna(God) exista and follow the laws of God and more. So what do you mean by Krsna Consciousness is not a religion. I know it is not sectarian religion but it is religion. Plus one more question if someone asks me what is Krsna Conscious a religion then what should i say. I said it is not a sectarian religion it is just love of god. Can you tell me how to express properly as i don’t know if this is the proper way or not.
Hare Krishna Harischandra
Krishna consciousness is most certainly not a religion. Your definition of religion is incorrect. From dictionary.com we find ‘religion’ defined as: “a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.” So the word religion really has no actual connection with God at all. It just defines a set of beliefs agreed on by a group of people. There are so many religions that have absolutely no connection with god at all. Krishna consciousness is not a religion at all. Krishna consciousness is not a set of beliefs agreed on by a group of people.
With religion you can change it. One day you can be a Hindu and the next day you can change your religion and become a Christian. Krishna consciousness is nothing like this. Krishna consciousness is our original consciousness. It is ‘sanatana dharama’, it is our eternal occupation. Krishna consciousness is permanent, eternal and it can not be changed.
So to understand these things in truth you have to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. He is teaching the science of Krishna consciousness in his books and if you want to learn it then you have to take the time to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. It is a course of study and if you want to understand it you have to undergo that course of study…
But Krishna consciousness is not a religion, it is nothing like Hinduism or Christianity. It is something completely different. It is eternal, it can not be changed, it is our eternal occupation, sanatana dharma…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa