Science has started from an intermediate point–not from the original point

Dr. Singh, Los Angeles, May 7, 1973: […] So do you mean to say that science has started from an intermediate point–not from the original point

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, that is it exactly. They are ignorant of the origin. The scientists start from one point–but where does that point come from? That they do not know, in spite of vast research. One has to accept that the original source is God, who is full of all mystic powers and from whom everything emanates.

He Himself says in the Bhagavad-gita (10.8): aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate, “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me.” Our conclusions are not based on blind faith; they are most scientific. Matter comes from life. In life–in the origin–there are unlimited material resources; that is the great mystery of creation.

Modern scientific research is just like Sankhya philosophy, which analyzes material elements. Sankhya means “to count.” We are also Sankhya philosophers to some extent, because we count and analyze the material elements; this is land, this is water, this is air, this is sunshine, this is fire. Furthermore, I can count my mind, my intelligence, and my ego. Beyond my ego, however, I cannot count.

But Krishna says that there is existence beyond the ego, and that existence is the living force–the spirit soul. This is what the scientists do not know. They think that life is merely a combination of material elements, but Krishna denies this in the Bhagavad-gita (7.5). Apareyam itas tv anyam prakrtim viddhi me param: “Besides this inferior nature there is a superior energy of Mine.” The inferior energy is the material elements, and the superior energy is the living entity.

bhumir apo ‘nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha

“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, and false ego–all together these eight comprise My separated material energies.” (Bg. 7.4) Krishna explains here in the Bhagavad-gita that vayu (gas) comes from Him, and that finer than the gases is kham (ether). Finer than ether is the mind, finer than the mind is intelligence, and finer than the intelligence is the soul. But the scientists do not know this. They can perceive only gross things. They mention vayu, but where does the vayu come from? Where does the gas come from?” Full Conversation