Danda 1995 - Suhotra Maharaja Archives

ATHEISMQuestion from Jahnu dasNovember 12, 1995I'm preaching to some atheists, and some of them have this idea, that anyconcept or idea which is not testable and falsifiable are to be rejected. Theysay that it is unreasonable to believe in God since the idea cannot befalsified.Is there any sense in this? Isn't it like saying that ignorance is superior toknowledge?Answer by Suhotra SwamiNovember 12, 1995I'd start by asking them whether their idea that every idea must be falsified inorder to be accepted is itself falsifiable. You will find out quickly that thisis an axiom, an absolute principle--in other words, it is their ownunquestionable holy atheistic Truth that lies beyond all reason.This is the philosophical principle known as reflexivity. In mundane discourse,any "absolute" refutation of another position bounces ("reflexes") back upon therefutor to refute his own position. Reflexivity is an invariable defect in allmaterial ideologies.Rascals.DISCIPLES GOING TO HEAVENLY PLANETSQuestion from Vijnana dasNovember 14, 1995In this mornings SB class the point arose about devotees aspiring to go to theheavenly planets. One devotee said that he had heard that Srila Prabhupada saidthat Most of his disciples would go to the heavenly planets. I have also heardthat. But cannot remember where or from who. I remember hearing it a lot oftimes though. Do you know if Srila Prabhupada actually said that and where?Answer by Suhotra SwamiNovember 15, 1995I am not aware of that statement. You have Folio, so you can search fordifferent combinations of words (disciple, heaven, ISKCON, heavenly, etc.) andsee what you get. Even if you find something, there are other quotes whichindicate otherwise. Finally, I can't conceive why this statement, which even iftrue is obscure, is beány given so much attention. Prabhupada once said thatjust as airplanes float in the sky because of the petrol in their tanks, so theearth also floats, and if all the petroleum is extracted from the earth it willfall, just as an airplane falls when it runs out of petrol. But shall we makethis quote into a major issue that we present in public lectures? "Petrol givesfloatation power, that is why airplanes fly and the earth is suspended inspace." Is this such a tattvic principle that we must make sure that alldevotees and guests understand it? Bhagavad-gita says that devotees who do notperfect themselves will go to heaven, and then resume bhakti-yoga upon takingbirth on earth again. That applies to certain cases; it is not a generalprinciple that is to be preached in a way that will lead everyone to think,"Anyway, no matter how hard I try to become Krsna conscious, the chances arethat I will go to the heavenly planets. So, why Brother being so strict?" Just