“This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.10)

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मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः
सूयते स-चराचरम्
हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय
जगद् विपरिवर्तते

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

1. The sun rises exactly on time

“There is no God. The sun rises at basically the same time each day. Factor in some variances based on the seasons. Big deal. That doesn’t prove anything. It must be an accident.”

2. The seasons change

“There is no God. Don’t talk to me about the seasons. The tree suddenly decides to shed its leaves. At some point a few months later it decides to grow new leaves. It knows when to stop, to produce just enough leaves appropriate for the season. This cycle of change continues year after year, such that we can count on it. That doesn’t mean there is some magical figure hiding behind the clouds who is responsible for everything. I don’t see a puppet master sewing everything together. Don’t tell me about some imaginary character who makes all the leaves fall. The Leaf Fairy. See, I can do mythology, too.”

3. The fruits appear

“There is no God. Fruits are part of nature. They are not all the same. If you take the pit of an avocado, that will yield another tree that produces only avocadoes. You can’t expect that pit to grow tomatoes. Have some common sense. You ask why each seed is so specific. Who knows? Probably just a coincidence. Enjoy what nature has to offer. Don’t overthink things. You will go crazy that way.”

4. The flowers blossom

“There is no God. Stop bothering me with your sermons. I have no time for that right now. The pollen count is way too high. My allergies are terrible. I will have to stay inside for at least a month. Why not longer? Well, I know that the flowers will eventually settle in. Pollen is not around all year. They call it seasonal allergies for a reason. Have some common sense. Stop asking silly questions.”

5. The child learns how to walk

“There is no God. Yes, this newborn child will likely learn to walk. On their own. No one to necessarily teach them. They are too young to follow directions, anyway. What is your point? This doesn’t prove anything. It’s the same for everybody. There isn’t some magical touch involved or some crazy inspiration from an invisible figure living within the heart.”

…

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो
मत्तः स्मृतिर् ज्ञानम् अपोहनं च
वेदैश् च सर्वैर् अहम् एव वेद्यो
वेदान्त-कृद् वेद-विद् एव चाहम्

sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham

“I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.15)

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that it is silly to think that such fixtures of nature, working in a predictable manner, in a way that can be studied and categorized into various departments of knowledge known as science, could simply be due to an accident. An accident implies randomness or a consequence without a known cause. If the outcomes are known, how can the cause be unknown?

If we can study the sun, how is the resultant effect of interaction with the sun due to chance or an accident? Only someone with little intelligence would ever dream of indulging such a philosophy. If they do have intelligence and still spout the same speculation, it must be that they are antagonistic.

This is because the honest person understands that there must be someone with intelligence in the background. Someone had to place the sun where it is. If the sun appeared by random collision, then the same type of collision could create multiple suns. This only makes sense.

If we are playing a game on a billiards table, the opening break has the potential to pocket several balls. These are of different colors and numbers. If only one ball were pocketed every single time, in the intentionally random collision that is the break, then there would be suspicion. The players would wonder if something special has been done to the one ball that keeps falling. In other words, they would not chalk up the result to randomness or to the absence of an intelligent controller.

This is the common sense basis for at least acknowledging the presence of God. There is also a scriptural basis, which is tied to authority. People we trust. People who exhibit good character. People who are only interested in the highest welfare for every single being. People whose benevolence is not limited to their friends and family or to their neighbors determined by a geographic boundary.

These people say that there is a God and that He is a person. As a distinct individual, He is responsible for the entire creation. The varieties of creatures found within such creation, the changes that take place, the predictability and the discernable patterns – these are all due to God the person.

If He is responsible, then I have a relationship with Him. I should at least show some gratitude. I would not be able to do anything were it not for His influence. With the proper consciousness, everything that I do can link to Him. Every moment of every day is an opportunity for an offering, in the manner directly recommended.

यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

In Closing:

Why the intelligence to reduce?
That only randomness to produce.

The sun, the moon, and the clouds,
Speculation obvious signals shrouds.

If accident then the same should occur,
Many suns and planets to infer.

But truth that one person as the conception,
Everything working under His direction.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, nature, poem, poems, poetry, science