Escaping a Dark Future …
Giriraj Swami: On Srila Prabhupada’s morning walk on November 16, 1975, I told him about a recent interview with a scientist who had said, “We don’t know where the ingredients came from, but we’re sure that there’s …”
“Then why do you talk nonsense?” Prabhupada challenged the scientist. “You do not know. Then what is the use of talking nonsense? You do not know from where these ingredients have come. Our answer is—Krishna reveals—aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate: ‘The ingredients come from Me.’”
“When the reporter asked the scientist where the things come from, he said he doesn’t know, but he’s sure that he doesn’t …”
“Still, he is scientist,” Prabhupada said sarcastically. “He doesn’t know. Still, he is scientist. Just see the contradiction. And we have to hear from him—the unfortunate position. We say, ‘Go for scientific knowledge to a person who knows, who has seen.’ And this rascal says, ‘I do not know; still, I am scientist.’ Then what he replied?”
“He doesn’t know, but he’s sure that they don’t need God to explain it.”
“That he knows—how to deny God. That he is expert. And the newspaper reporter accepted this?”
“No. He didn’t express his point of view, but you could see he wasn’t satisfied. Then he asked the scientist about the future.”
“The future is darkness,” Prabhupada said, “because these are scientists. He doesn’t know; still, he is scientist. The future is darkness, because a person who doesn’t know has become leader. Andha yathandhair upaniyamana. If a blind man becomes the leader of other blind men … So, the reporter was not satisfied?”
“No,” I answered. “Then he asked the scientist about the future. And the scientist said the population will go on increasing more and more, and there won’t be enough food, so everyone will starve.”
“Then what your scientific knowledge will help?” Prabhupada again challenged the scientist.
“Then the reporter asked him what his personal plans were for the future. So he said he likes one girl and wants to get married, and that’s all.”
“Increase the population,” Brahmananda joked, and the devotees laughed.
Then Prabhupada gave the final, perfect conclusion: “Our plan is the best: before meeting such catastrophes, go back home, back to Godhead.”