Dogmatism
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
General Lectures
Conversations and Morning Walks
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Our conclusion is anyone who does not understand Kṛṣna, he has no good qualification. Neither he's honest, neither he has knowledge. Therefore he's a third-class man.This is not dogmatism, this is fact.
Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura:
Prabhupāda: Then? It is stealing. You have not created the river. You do not know who is the proprietor. Therefore it is not your property. So even if you drink a glass of water without the knowledge to whom it belongs you are a thief. So you think, "I'm honest." But factually you are thief. (Speaks to someone in Bengali) Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8]. You must remember Kṛṣṇa that "Kṛṣṇa, it is Your creation, so kindly allow me to drink it." This is honesty. This is honesty. Therefore a devotee always thinks of Kṛṣṇa in all activities. "Oh, it is Kṛṣṇa's." Sarvatra sphuraya tara iṣṭa-deva mūrti. This is honesty. (Speaks to someone in Bengali) So without Kṛṣṇa consciousness everyone is a rascal, is a thief, is a rogue, is a robber, these qualifications. Therefore our conclusion is anyone who does not understand Kṛṣṇa, he has no good qualification. Neither he's honest, neither he has knowledge. Therefore he's a third-class man. Is that correct? What do you think, Girirāja?
Girirāja: Yes.
Prabhupāda: This is not dogmatism, this is fact. (Speaks to someone in Bengali) [break] ...you have understood what is knowledge and what is honesty?
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Yes. By your knowledge. If you are scientist, you are chemist, through chemical challenge you try to glorify the Supreme Lord. If you are physicist, from physical point of view, try to explain. If you are scientist... Anyway, because ultimate... Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. Any knowledge, that is... You have to approve the Supreme. That is real perfect knowledge. And at the present moment men of knowledge they are rejecting. Because they cannot explain, they are rejecting. They do not bother.
Guest (1): Modern science has cleared the deck very much for religion. They are not so dogmatic as the old scientists used to be.
Prabhupāda: What do they say now?
Guest (1): Well, you see, the modern scientific discoveries have led to the stage at which the science can no more say that religion is humbug. Now they say, "Well, we do not know. Honestly speaking, that is the position," they say.
Prabhupāda: That is good.
Guest (1): Yes. "We do not know. We know thus far and not beyond." So that's a great achievement. That's a great achievement.
Prabhupāda: No. At least, they should not teach because they do not know.
Guest (1): Well, the topmost scientists are much saner now. They don't make...
Prabhupāda: Yes. But the best thing will be, they may not talk all nonsense.
Guest (1): They don't talk nonsense.
Prabhupāda: If they admit they do not know, why do they speak so much?
Guest (1): One scientist has said about matter. He says, "Matter is I know not what." This is his definition of matter. "Matter is I know not what." So no more dogmatism. No more dogmatism.Page Title: | Dogmatism |
Compiler: | Serene, Jai, Kanupriya |
Created: | 01 of Dec, 2008 |
Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=4, Con=2, Let=0 |
No. of Quotes: | 6 |