Bhaktivedanta Institute

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namaḥ

Real science means to approach a bona fide spiritual master and submissively inquire from him about the Absolute Truth in a spirit of sincere service. In this way one can learn the truth through practical realization in a systematic and effective way. Without spiritual knowledge, scientists, philosophers and scholars can only develop educational systems that basically amount to what has been called "intellectual animalism." This means that the result of their knowledge is directed ultimately toward the bodily necessities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. These necessities, common to both men and animals, are met in the animal kingdom without universities. The human society should also take care of these necessities without great endeavor and thus free the human intellect for higher purposes.

Athato brahma-jijnasa, the motto of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, expresses this higher purpose perfectly. The human form of life is meant for inquiring into what I am, what God is, what the meaning of life and the goal of knowledge is. These are the questions of thoughtful men, and one must know the proper process for answering them-tad viddhi pranipatena, by approaching the spiritual master.

Those who simply want to work hard for sense gratification cannot understand that life is a principle distinct from and superior to matter, and that the supreme life is Krsna. All scientific, literary and philosophical research should be directed toward this conclusion, idam hi pumsas tapasaḥ srutasya va sv-istasya sūktasya ca buddhi-dattayoh [SB 1.5.22]. Once having cleared away all doubts by careful understanding that Krsna is everything, vasudevaḥ sarvam iti, then one should fully surrender unto Him, sarva-dharman parityajya, engaging everything in His devotional service. In this way by fixing the mind on Krsna in pure, unalloyed devotional service man-mana bhava mad-bhaktaḥ (Bg.18.65), one can attain the supreme destination of life and go back home, back to Godhead, yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam [Bg 9.25]. The practical achievement of this goal can be realized simply by carrying out the orders of the spiritual master, accepting him as the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord.

We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from you, Srila Prabhupada. Essential truth concisely spoken is true eloquence. In a few words you can eloquently point out that which thousands of years of human speculation have failed to discover. Thus you are the greatest scientist, the most perfect professor, the most learned scholar and our most beloved spiritual father. You are not concerned with the mundane wranglings of inert minds, but you fill our hearts with transcendental knowledge, . Attachment to your lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires. We can feel very secure in carrying out your instructions perfectly. You have mercifully taught us to abandon the grinding mill of arrogant scholarship and to take up the path of humble endeavor in devotional service as the path of knowledge. By your mercy only is our success assured.

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