I have been following the dialogue on the apparent inconsistency between the empiric, observable material world and the description of the material world given in the Srimad Bhagvatam, Canto 5. I am in my own procrastinating, undisciplined way, eventually going to write an article about why the two differ, and it will be based largely on the Flatlanders, a book written about a 100 years ago that still is widely used and quoted in physics circles. Here is an animated site with music (which means slow loading for us underprivelidged, miles of copper wire from the fiber optic lines, dialup internet users) that covers the basic premise.
http://www.spiritualpaths.org/flatland.htm
October 18, 2005 at 9:28 pm
Thanks for your blog, prabhu. I find independent minds among Vaishnavas refreshing and always inspiring.
I have also been at my “thinking lab” re the choice one must make to believe that what the Bhagavatam is saying is that the stars we see at night are much closer than we have been told by scientists. All I can say is that the conclusions of science are always tentative; but also the conflict remains. Must I have to choose which I believe?
Your friend,
Tom Rivas
October 19, 2005 at 10:17 am
1.)I don’t think a choice is necessary. Will it really matter in your daily life whether or not you chose?
2.) I think the concept of acintya bheda bheda can also apply here. Both science and relgion can be true at the same time.
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
3.) Yes, true science IS always tentative. Only exploiters are promoting that it is definitive. It is tentavie in its incompleteness.
4.) Empiricism has to do with the limited senses and mind. SB is a poetic work trying to convey larger ideas than the mind can comprehend.
November 22, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Here are two followup posts on the topic:
and
August 31, 2014 at 10:32 pm
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” check box and
now every single time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same
comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Appreciate it!
September 12, 2014 at 9:33 am
you should be able to edit that yourself
On Sun, Aug 31, 2014 at 10:32 PM, View From a New Vrindaban Ridge wrote:
>
December 2, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. However just imagine if you added some great graphics or video
clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this website could
certainly be one of the most beneficial in its niche.
Wonderful blog!