Does Life Have Meaning?

Modern day atheistic scientists claim that life has no meaning, other than the meaning we give to it. But if life is ultimately meaningless, why would we feel a need to give it meaning? If existence were meaningless, we would not hanker for meaning. Just as our thirst for water indicates the existence of water, similarly the desire for meaning indicates the existence of meaning.

Before we go jumping on a philosophical bandwagon we should carefully and intelligently consider whether or not sound reasoning is being applied. Our PhD-titled friends proudly proclaim that they are scientists, but so far as I have seen they are blindly accepting Charles Darwin as their savior and propounding another version of dogmatic religion of which are they are the self-proclaimed high priests.

In this connection there is a Bengali saying:

Pagale ki na bole chagale ki na khaya

"What a madman will not speak, and what a goat will not eat?"

These fellows laugh at the idea of a Supreme Being who gives meaning to existence. They find a meaningless existence in which we invent life's meaning to be immensely preferable. But how can we invent life's meaning? We did not invent life, so how can we invent it's meaning? Just as the manufacturer of an item knows the purpose of that item, we will find the meaning of existence only by connecting our consciousness with the source of our existence.

Sharing the ultimate nectar in Köln in the presence of the unlimitedly merciful Lords Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

Unlimitedly merciful Lords Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Köln, Germany

Sankarshan Das Sharing the ultimate nectar in Köln, Germany

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Why Be Culturally Different?...

Why is it necessary to have Indian names to join ISKCON? I find you have also Indian sounding name.

Is it not okay to assimilate ISKCON into the local culture. I see the same thing for dress. Why should somebody wear a dhoti or sari? I feel the best thing to do is to change the mind not the outer appearance. In India, where Hindu way of life is more common it is really very odd when we see a bearded Muslim man or veil clad Muslim woman. I feel religion should not shown by outer appearance but through the mind, thoughts and actions. It would be really fine to see a Sanatan dharmi clad in jeans and with names like Jack, George or Jill in the local American people instead of Indian names and with sari and dhoti.

Regards,

Kishore

Answer: Totalitarianism or Freedom?...

A person does not have to change his name or his dress to practice Krishna consciousness. However, a person who is very serious about advancing in Krishna consciousness will arrange every aspect of his life such a way to facilitate his Krishna consciousness as much as possible. If some persons find that accepting Krishna conscious names and Krishna conscious clothing will facilitate their advancement in Krishna consciousness, why should they be restricted from doing so? Why do you want to impose your cultural preferences upon others? If you can have your cultural rights, why others should be denied their cultural rights? A culture in which one is not allowed to accept what is favorable for their Krishna consciousness is a totalitarian regime. Whereas a culture which allows one to freely practice Krishna consciousness is a culture of freedom. Why are you advocating totalitarianism?

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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