I can't decide whether ignorance or arrogance is the correct word for the summary title of this piece. Now I have to say that I take this book completely on its own merits, and I make no secret of the fact that I am still reading up on many different religions, but this book reads like a petulant child looking around the room searching for the slightest tenuous link to back up his tantrum. The only 'evidence' that I can find within the book appears to be quotes from "His Divine Grace" (is that a title or an opinion?) A.C Bhaktivdanta Swami Prabhupáda, founder-Acárya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Let me quote some of his great teachings:
The Science of Reincarnation Is Unknown to Modern Scientists
This science of transmigration is completely unknown to modern scientists. So-called scientists do not like to bother with these things because if they would at all consider this subtle subject matter and the problems of life, they would see that their future is very dark.Srímad-Bhagavatam (4.28.21)
Excuse me? Now I'm not a scientist, but I'm pretty sure that if I was, I would find that pretty damn offensive. And is it just me or does that read like a threat? Yes scientists, that's right. In return for all your hard work in helping to protect the human race (which, according to His Divine Grace, is the highest of 8,500,000 life forms living on this planet) and providing invaluable insights into the history of the our planet, you will most likely return in the next life as an amoeba.
Or how about this cracker, from a section entitled Ignorance of Reincarnation Is Dangerous:
Modern civilisation is based on family comforts, the highest standard of amenities, and therefore after retirement everyone expects to live a very comfortable life in a well-furnished home decorated with fine ladies and children, without any desire to get out of such a comfortable home.Srímad-Bhagavatam (2.1.16)
Read it again. Actually, I know you probably already have. I certainly had to. My guffaws on the train once again attracted unwanted attention, such was my inability to keep a straight face while reading this chapter (chapter five, The Soul's Secret Journey, for anyone wanting a good laugh). EVERYONE expects to live a very comfortable life in a well-furnished home decorated with fine ladies and children! Now admittedly it does sound good, but I can't say this has ever come up in the conversations I have had with friends about their retirement wishes. Hell, I'll be happy if I even MAKE it to retirement...
I don't know why I'm surprised. I recently picked up a copy of book called something like Why There is a God in a well-known bookstore. There were the inevitable pages of waffle, but a page near the start said something like "...if you want proof immediately, jump to page 89." Of course I did this without hesitation. And there was the answer (not verbatim):
Look at that horizon. Look at all of those colours. How could that have been created by anything other than a supreme being? Are you honestly telling me that something like this could be caused by accident?
Err... not quite. It's called natural selection, and thought may be inaccurate to call it an accident, it's certainly not intelligent design. You may have heard of natural selection, even if you walk around with your hands over your ears refusing to believe anything that inconveniences your bigoted beliefs. Yes, that's right, I called YOU bigoted. There cannot be a more perfect example of the definition of the word than someone who rejects evidence (note the difference between evidence and hearsay here, dear reader) to maintain an entirely unsubstantiated viewpoint.
Anyhow, I've slipped off-topic now. Needless to say, at two-thirds of the way through this 150-page 1982-edition book, I'm yet to come across anything that could be described as evidence. The whole book seems to be based around the fact that His Divine Grace says so, therefore it must be true. Oh, and there's some stuff about how when we dream, we can be in places that we've never been to before. Therefore that memory must have come from a former life.
I could go on forever picking holes in this book but it's already feeling a little tedious. So for now I'm going to stop worrying about the fine ladies I desire for my retirement, and I'm off to live my life for a bit.
You only live once - make the most of it.
