Moody about the Moon
BTG reader, Damodara, had a series of email exchanges with us on the proper representation of science in Krishna consciousness. We published his letter earlier, (See “Why Make Fun of Science?” Letters, March 2009).
Here we are publishing some excerpts from his subsequent letters along with our replies.
Damodara: I am grateful to you for replying to my mail. Our society (ISKCON) is against atheistic science and you told me that you will raise voice against such non-religious people, but at the same time you are not raising your voice against India’s moon-landing mission. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam it is not possible for a man to go to the moon in his lifetime. You have the truth but are not telling society. You raise voice only in the temple; but do not make this point clear in the public.
Our Reply: Regarding the moon landing, our point is mentioned in the editorial of the March issue.
Damodara: Publishing in BTG is not paramount. You should have written a column in one of the national newspapers. Publishing in BTG means you are restricting the truth to our ISKCON members only. You should bring the truth to the whole of society, not just the ISKCON society.
Our Reply: BTG magazine is not for ISKCON members only; it is for the general public. We don’t have any tie up with any national newspaper. You have the article; you may go ahead and print it in the daily of your choice.
Damodara: I requested you to write an article exposing the moon-landing issue in a national paper because you are senior whereas I am just a beginner in ISKCON. Secondly, you have knowledge of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam and you can support your views with relevant scriptural points.
Recently, when I told my friends about the moon concept (the moon is very far from earth and it is not possible to land there etc.), they asked me why ISKCON wasn’t coming forward to expose the truth and defeat the illusion. You should conduct seminars so that people will be aware of the truth.
Our Reply: The astrological views mentioned in the Puranas are difficult for most to comprehend. Efforts are underway to make them understandable according to modern astrological findings. Srila Prabhupada also wanted to present the Vedic astronomy in a planetarium in Mayapur, the world headquarters of ISKCON, where all the different planets and universes will be depicted according to the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Then we can present the concepts properly to the entire world. Why stop just at a newspaper article? What you want us to do will be done, though it may take some time.
Secondly, moon landing is not an important issue. It doesn’t make any difference to the suffering masses whether we went to the moon or not. More important is to help them come to Krishna and land on Goloka from where they cannot come down.
You may choose to discuss the positive aspects of Krishna consciousness like devotion to God, the information about the soul, workings of the mind, sense control, meditation, proper character and behavior, ISKCON’s efforts in propagating Vedic culture globally, etc. These will appeal more to your friends than needless controversies. For more details see Caitanya Carana’s article in this issue.
Wasting Money on the Moon
The editorial “Ten objections to India’s lunar mission lunacy” (March 2009) should serve as an eye-opener to all. All space missions, including the lunar mission are utterly foolish acts and exercises in futility.
Srila Prabhupada himself had refuted time and again, the claim of man landing on the moon and called the scientists cheaters trying to fool the people.
Billions of dollars being wasted on such ignominious and useless missions can best be utilized for arresting global warming or eliminating terrorism which are international threats, and also for spreading Krishna consciousness through construction of ISKCON temples the world over, which is the greatest service to mankind.
(R.M.Manoharan Chennai)
Replies to the letter were written by Murari Gupta Dasa.
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