The gross materialist may try to approach the anti-material worlds by endeavoring with spaceships, satellites, rockets, etc., which he throws into outer space, but by such means he cannot even approach the material planets in the higher regions of the material sky, and what to speak of those planets situated in the anti-material sky, which is far beyond the material universe. Even the yogīs who have perfectly controlled mystic powers have great difficulty entering into that region. Master yogīs who control the anti-material particle within the material body by practice of mystic powers can give up their material bodies at will at a certain opportune moment and can thus enter the anti-material worlds through a specific thoroughfare which connects the material and anti-material worlds.
Rocket
Srimad-Bhagavatam
SB Canto 2
When the atheists, after being well versed in the Vedic scientific knowledge, annihilate inhabitants of different planets, flying unseen in the sky on well-built rockets prepared by the great scientist Maya, the Lord will bewilder their minds by dressing Himself attractively as Buddha and will preach on subreligious principles.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
CC Madhya-lila
However, when one is situated in his original spiritual body, he can move anywhere and everywhere without difficulty. Within this material world there is a planet called Siddhaloka, whose inhabitants can go from one planet to another without the aid of a machine or space rocket. In the material world every planet has a specific advantage (vibhūti-bhinna). In the spiritual world, however, all the planets and their inhabitants are composed of spiritual energy. Because there are no material impediments, it is said that everything in the spiritual world is one.
Other Books by Srila Prabhupada
Easy Journey to Other Planets
Sri Isopanisad
It is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.23) that the worshipers of the demigods can go to the planets of the demigods. The moon worshipers can go to the moon, the sun worshipers to the sun, etc. Modern scientists are now venturing to the moon with the help of rockets, but this is not really a new attempt. With their advanced consciousness, human beings are naturally inclined to travel in outer space and to reach other planets, either by spaceships, mystic powers or demigod worship. In the Vedic scriptures it is said that one can reach other planets by any one of these three ways, but the most common way is by worshiping the demigod presiding over a particular planet. In this way one can reach the moon planet, the sun planet and even Brahmaloka, the topmost planet in this universe.
Lectures
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
Devotees: Rocket.
Prabhupāda: Rocket, yes. But then, going with great force, but āruhya kṛcchreṇa... Similarly, one can rise up to the Brahman effulgence, but if there is no shelter. Just like these people are going, but they don't get any shelter. But they come down again. Similarly, one, by severe austerities and penances, may go up to the Brahmaloka, but he has no position. He has no position. Because in the Brahmaloka, or Vaikuṇṭhaloka, in the Paravyoma, the spiritual sky, there are spiritual planets. They are called Vaikuṇṭhaloka. Hundreds and millions there are. Very, very big, big planets than these material planets. So unless you get a shelter in one of the planets, then you again fall down.
Indian man (2): I want to know one thing, Prabhupāda. You have just said that in the moon there is a cold atmosphere and there is still a living entity there? You see? But what the Americans have said... Of course, they have sent man there, different rockets there, satellites...
Prabhupāda: So I understand. Your authority is America, and my authority is śāstra. That is the difference.
Indian man (2): But they...
Prabhupāda: That is the difference. That means your authority is America. You say through the words of the American. You have not experienced. Your position: you have no experience. My position: I have no experience. But you accept the Americans, authority, and I accept the śāstra as authority. That is the difference.
Nectar of Devotion Lectures
Indians and Devotees: Rocket.
Prabhupāda: Rocket, rocket. You have not very nice rocket running at the speed of eighteen thousand miles or twenty-five thousand miles per hour. But you may go. If you don't take, if you don't get shelter in some planet... Just as they're going in the moon planet, but do not get shelter and come back, similarly, supposing they are getting shelter, but that shelter is not very secure. They again come back. So without shelter, how long you can fly in the sky? The sky is unlimited. You can fly on your sputnik or capsules, but if you don't get the shelter in some planet, then again you come back to your place.
Sri Brahma-samhita Lectures
Prabhupāda: But the modern terminology, that is not, that is not a principle.
Indian man: No, but they say it is a rocket way to God.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Indian man: They say it is a rocket way to God, doing prāṇāyāma.
Prabhupāda: What is it?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: A rocket, rocket ship way to God.
Indian man: Rocket.
Prabhupāda: But we don't find so long yogis and prāṇāyāma wallas know anything about God. We have tested so many. They remain the same rascal. I have seen it.
But we don't find so long yogis and prāṇāyāma wallas know anything about God. We have tested so many. They remain the same rascal. I have seen it. They do not... Ask him, any yogis, "What do you know about God?" Ask him. You can ask. You are press reporter. You can ask, "What do you know about God? Describe Him." So what is the rocket? Rocket means you should go immediately. But if you do not know, then what is the use of this rocket? If you do not know what is God, then what is the use of this rocket? Just like they are going to the rocket planet, moon planet. Now the American government stopped announcing this rascaldom. You know that? Yes. So if you actually have got rocket, then you must approach that you must know the thing. But simply waste your money and come back. So any sensible man will not allow this. This is good, prāṇāyāma. Rocket process, it may be. But we don't think that it is rocket process at the present age.
Indian reporter: No. They compare it to rocket only because of the two stages that a rocket has to drop. They say by doing prāṇāyāma you'll drop material stages, that you...
Prabhupāda: That's all right, but we have to see practically what he has become. Simply talking will not do.
Indian reporter: Talking. Talking won't do.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Simply talking will not do. That, that... Just, these boys, they did not practice prāṇāyāma system, but bring anyone who knows about God better than him. Bring anyone. Any yogis, bring, and talk with them. They are neophytes. They are simply practicing three or four years. And talk with them.
Yes. Simply talking will not do. That, that... Just, these boys, they did not practice prāṇāyāma system, but bring anyone who knows about God better than him. Bring anyone. Any yogis, bring, and talk with them. They are neophytes. They are simply practicing three or four years. And talk with them. And what he knows about, he knows it will be proved. That is not rocket system. This is rocket system: Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. (laughter) That is not possible. That he cannot find out a secluded place to practice yoga. Where is secluded place in the city? Whole day and night, these cars are going and there is huge sound. Where is secluded place? And, and it is recommended in Bhagavad-gītā, secluded place and sacred place. And he should remain alone. Where is such yogi? Find out. Where is such yogi? He should remain alone, and in a secluded place and a sacred place. And he should not change his āsana. Then he becomes a yogi. These are the preliminary things. But who is practicing these preliminary even? They cannot.
Philosophy Discussions
Hayagrīva: But they have sent rockets off into space and by...
Prabhupāda: That is childish. I have already explained.
Hayagrīva: Yes.
Prabhupāda: That is childish.
Hayagrīva: But...
Prabhupāda: They cannot go.
Hayagrīva: By use of, what is this radio, what do they call it? By radio waves they try to listen to messages from outer space.
Prabhupāda: That's all right, but what benefit we will get? Suppose it is not very important thing. If you hear how the persons in other plant are talking, so what benefit we will get?
Hayagrīva: He gives and example that's something similar to the Vedic. He speaks of "a center from which worlds shoot out like rockets in a fireworks display, provided, however, that I do not present this center as a thing but as a continuity of shooting out. God thus defined has nothing of the already made. He, that is God, is unceasing life, action, and freedom."
Prabhupāda: It is just like a wheel. A wheel is rotating. There are spokes, there are rims, there is a hub, and in the center, what is they call that, that supports the hub?
Hayagrīva: Axle.
Prabhupāda: Spindle, axle, axle. So He is the axle. So the round is going on, but He is the center. Everything is going on but He is the center. Aham ādir hi..., what is called? Devānām. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo (BG 10.8). So the central point is God, and other things are just like a big wheel, and the big wheel has got so many parts. The, it has got the rim, it has got the spokes, it is going in force, but the axle is the same, always in the center.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Amogha: Very soon the United States is sending up one rocket and Russia is sending up another rocket and they are joining in space and they think this is progress. They'll join together up there. They hope someday they'll be able to stay in a station like that and then go out to some planet.
Prabhupāda: They could not mix in this planet, they are going to mix in another planet.
Srutakirti: They'll probably have some argument in outer space. The astronauts will get into a fight.
Prabhupāda: The rascal could not compromise here, they're going in the sky. All mental concoction.
Madhudviṣa: When they go up in the space ship there is such a force holding the rocket ship down, they must have...
Prabhupāda: That is everything. Everything, everything will fall down on the ground, but the controlling power is the air. If the air is adjusted, then it will not fall down.
Madhudviṣa: That's why when they go into outer space they become weightless, they can float without any airplane.
Prabhupāda: That, what they're doing (indistinct). But we see that if you can make adjustment in the air, just like we see the heavy cloud bearing many million tons of water, they do not fall down, they float. Where is the law of gravity?
Paramahaṁsa: Even if they wanted to stop this space project, they couldn't stop because they've already spent billions of dollars for making equipment and rocket ships and launching pads and rocket bases and so many employees. If they stop, then so much would be wasted, so many people would be unemployed. So they have to continue even if they know that it's a bluff.
Prabhupāda: That is the way of falsehood. If once you speak something false, then to protect that falsehood you have to take to so many other falsehoods. This is the way of falsehood.
Paramahaṁsa: One lie leads to another.
Prabhupāda: (break) ...are going to Venus, Americans and Russians combined together?
Siddha-svarūpa: I don't think they're sending any more rockets to the moon.
Ambarīṣa: Yes, they're finished now. There's too much litter up there.
Prabhupāda: So, useless.
Siddha-svarūpa: (break) ...a campaign that...
Prabhupāda: That will take place. Otherwise, how they will be killed?
Ambarīṣa: They're calling it a limited nuclear war.
Prabhupāda: They are accumulated so much sinful load that must be killed. That is sure. (break) ...the massacre. That will take place.
Revatīnandana: This von Braun is a big rocket scientist from the old days. He designed the V-2 missile in Germany during World War II, and then he designed the American missiles during the space program.
Prabhupāda: What benefit he has done?
Revatīnandana: Well, he's recently said... He retired, and he said now he thinks the only purpose of life is to research about God, to find out about God. He's very famous, so...
Prabhupāda: That is good. They have finished already science. Now if they do not come to God, then they are finished. They have nothing to say any more. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. That is Vedānta. Now they have finished all their so-called talent. Now they have to come to brahma-jijñāsā, inquiry about the Supreme. That is their concern now. Now they have cheated public and bluffed them, they are going to this, going to this, but they are all failures. Now they are anxious how to keep their position. That is the problem.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: For example, they find the laws of motion, Newton's laws of motion. They utilize that concept in shooting rockets. And they use exactly some mathematical formula and apply it.
Prabhupāda: That's all right, but sometimes the shooting of the rocket missing.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: No, what we are saying is that the law that they find out by their own effort is working...
Prabhupāda: So you effort is limited. How you can conclude?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: So inductive knowledge is true to a certain limit.
Prabhupāda: Certain extent, that's all. It is not conclusion.
Harikeśa: He invented those rockets in Germany.
Paramahaṁsa: Yeah, he was actually captured. He used to work for Hitler. He invented the V-2 rockets that bombed London, or was one of them.
Bahulāśva: He gave a very nice talk in San Francisco.
Prabhupāda: Oh. About?
Bahulāśva: He said that from his scientific studies he is feeling frustrated. So he made a public statement that he is going to give them up for studying God. He says that he feels that everything indicates in the universe that there must be a supreme intelligence behind the workings of the universe.
Prabhupāda: Very intelligent man. He is intelligent. As soon as one denies the existence of God, immediately he comes within the category of four classes of men: sinful, rascal, lowest of the mankind and knowledge taken away by māyā.
Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, another field of study that Werner Von Braun is considering is unidentified flying objects. Now, this previously was not acknowledged by scientists, but he recently stated that when they have sent rockets into outer space they filmed objects that there's no explanation for. They think that they're spaceships from other planets.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that's... There is Siddhaloka—without any aeroplane they can go from one planet to another. They are so perfect.
Paramahaṁsa: So these, what they think are spaceships, perhaps are demigods?
Prabhupāda: Spaceships there are in every planet.
Paramahaṁsa: Last week, Prabhupāda, you may have read that the Russians and the Americans sent up two rockets that met in outer space.
Prabhupāda: Hm, so what is the benefit?
Paramahaṁsa: Well, this is the point, is that... It was called the Soyez flight. In any case, they have announced... They made a joint speech where they said, "Together we can conquer outer space. That is the purpose." So now the Russians and the Americans are trying to get... to combine in their efforts to conquer.
Prabhupāda: Bora bora goye gala rasatala, vetta gore bole katha jala(?). There is a river. The horses, they can swim. So the river was so ferocious and many horses drowned. So one vetta gora, means third-class horse, he said, "How was the water? Let me try."
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Pradyumna: Venus is covered by clouds. So no one can see what is there. There's clouds all around the planet. Heavy, what do they call, so that no one can see. So they sent a rocket inside or something to go through the clouds to see what is there. Russians also tried. Fermament. In the Bible, they say that on earth there was also..., above the earth there were all clouds at one time according to the Bible. And then at that time men used to live very, very long, and then the clouds went away at some point. They call it a firmament. So the same thing is on Venus. No one can see what the planet is like, no one has ever known. That is also a heavenly, we say also... That is Śukrācārya's place?
Prabhupāda: Not Śukrācārya's, just Śukra.
Pradyumna: Just Śukra.
Prabhupāda: May be Śukrācārya's place. What benefit they will have? Nothing. This is science. Without any aim, without any objective.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Hari-śauri: But they'll argue that "We're building the rocket ships, and we're sending... We watch them go off..."
Prabhupāda: What you have done? You could not go and live there. You say the atmosphere is different. We deny this. Atmosphere cannot be different. It is within this material world. We can see. Why atmosphere should be different? If the atmosphere is different, how you can see a solid, very bright thing? I can see. Why there is a bright thing? Why it should be different?
Prabhupāda: Rocket bus?
Dr. Ghosh: Ha, from Siliguri to Calcutta. It usually takes twelve hours, but the road was so bad that it took sixteen hours to come to Calcutta. From Siliguri to Calcutta. Then Calcutta we were delayed. We couldn't get the first flight, second flight... Couldn't rest. With greatest difficulty, third flight we came this morning. Otherwise we would have reached yesterday, last night.
Prabhupāda: (Bengali)
Dr. Ghosh: Our name was in the waiting list. They would not give, do it. Anyway, we have reached.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Anyway, now it is good that you have come.
Dr. Ghosh: You should measure his urine.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We do. We do that. We have kept a record for two months now of everything that he takes in and passes out.
Prabhupāda: You can show him the record?
Correspondence
1972 Correspondence
(8) In Ch. 31, the progress from subtle to gross elements is just like sometimes a rocket is thrown in the sky, bursts, and so many lights & illuminations come. Exactly how, that is artist's work.
(9) Baby in the womb prays to 4-handed Narayana. Actually, the baby remains with hands folded as if praying until he is born. Narayana is inside.
(10) Time mixes with the material energy just like a flower bud: in due course of time the bud fructifies and comes into flower, or like a time bomb: in due course it bursts out.
| Page Title: | Rocket |
| Compiler: | Rishab, RupaManjari |
| Created: | 04 of Apr, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=1, CC=1, OB=2, Lec=9, Con=12, Let=1 |
| No. of Quotes: | 26 |