India on the moon Chandrayaan-3 success – A Bhagavad-gita perspective

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This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So, before we… Hare Krishna! India on the moon, Chandrayanthi’s success, a Bhagavad Gita perspective. The whole of India, and much of the world, is responding to the, India’s successful, soft landing, on the southern pole of the moon, with Chandrayanthi mission.
While Indians, are understandably delighted, much of the world, is also highly appreciative, of the, not just the technological success, with India becoming the, fourth country, to land a mission, on the moon, spacecraft on the moon, and the first to land, on the south pole, but also the cost-effectiveness, of India’s endeavors. So, with the budget being, much lesser than, many, top Hollywood movies. So, how do we see this event, from the Bhagavad Gita’s perspective? I will, talk from three points.
P-O-D-Pod. We have a space pod, so like a pod. So, P is perspectives.
The Bhagavad Gita, and the wisdom tradition, associated with it, is vast. And, we can draw, different points, and different perspectives, from that tradition, to bring it to bear, on a current event. So for example, the Bhagavad Gita itself, offers this multi-perspective, analysis.
It says that the world, is a place of distress. But at the same time, it also says the world, manifests extraordinary beauty, which is to be seen, as an opulence of the divine. So, misery and beauty, are two distinct perspectives, depending on what the, concerned context is.
So, one perspective, which is, often, taken by those following the Bhagavad Gita, is, especially by those following, the teaching of Srila Prabhupada, may be that, oh, the moon is a higher planet, and we can’t go to the moon. I have another video, the link which is given below, where I’ve analysed, variety of statements, that Srila Prabhupada has made on this topic. And, Prabhupada, was a very sophisticated thinker.
And, he is following the sophisticated nature, of the teachings of the Gita, which offer multiple perspectives on the same issue. So, for example, in one side, the Bhagavad Gita says that, everything in the world, is temporary, and even if one goes to the heaven, one comes back to the earth, and it’s, what is the point of it all? It’s going up and coming down. But, the Bhagavad Gita is spoken to Arjuna, and the same Arjuna, in the Bhagavatam, when he is remembering Krishna, and Krishna’s mercy upon him, in the 15th chapter of the first canto, says how, his attainment of heaven, his rising to heaven in the same body, and his getting the privilege, of sitting on the same throne as Indra, Mahadas in Ardham, Mahadas in the asana of the great soul Ardham, Indra invited Arjuna to sit, on his throne next to him, and he says, this attainment is a mercy of Krishna.
So, from the ultimate spiritual perspective, we might say that, everything material is temporary, but, from the contextual material perspective, certain attainments, can be glorious, even stupendous, and they need to be appreciated. So, Arjuna, is taking that perspective in the Bhagavatam, and is appreciating it as Krishna’s mercy. So, same way, if we start sticking to only one perspective, in looking at, say the moon machine, we may, end up becoming, literalists, who completely miss the subtle, and the sophisticated nature of the teachings of the, broad Gita tradition.
So, for example, in the broader Gita tradition, the earth is considered to be Bhumidevi. Now, if, we say that, if we go to the moon, we don’t see Chandradeva, or any of the higher, heavenly attributes over there, of Chandraloka, and we say because of that, that means we didn’t go to the moon. Then, will we apply the same logic to the earth? We travel all around the earth, and we don’t meet Bhumidevi anywhere.
So, does that mean that, we are not on the earth? Or does that mean, Bhumidevi doesn’t exist? No, it means something more. The earth itself is a multi-layer, entity. It has a multi-layer existence, and Bhumidevi, is a celestial goddess, who, while associated with the earth, exists at a different level.
Being a goddess, she’s not perceivable to our vision. Similarly, whatever is, the heavenly attributes of Chandra, they are not perceivable to us. So, our faith shouldn’t be so insecure, that, every single incident, we see only through one prism.
Does this confirm my faith, or does this challenge my faith? If we just stick to, one single perspective from scripture, and try to reduce, both the complexity of scripture, and the complexity of the world, to that one particular scriptural statement, then we become like a person with a hammer, who wants to reduce, everything in the world, down to a nail, that can be smashed down. But, the Gita doesn’t require us to do that. So, multiple perspectives are available, and we can see, which perspective, is the most conducive, for our devotional upliftment, for, enhancing our remembrance of the Lord, for raising our consciousness, which is ultimately, the purpose of the Bhagavad Gita.
So, now, let’s look at, from an alternative perspective. So PO, we can look at the point of opulence. The Bhagavad Gita states that, everything, glorious, powerful, wonderful, manifests an opulence of Krishna, opulence of the divine.
Therein, it says that, that, that, I am victory, I am adventure. So, the sense of, excitement, and anticipation, and tension, that gripped thousands and millions as, they joined the scientists, who were looking at, the descent of, the Chandrayaan, to the moon. So that, experience of adventure, and then, the experience of victory, Jayasmi, the elation, the delight, that comes on, a successful completion or something.
These are, extraordinarily powerful emotions, and these emotions, these experiences, the Bhagavad Gita says, are also experiences of the divine. Jayasmi, I am victory, I am adventure. So we humans long, for such extraordinary experiences, and when we have such experiences, we can see them as pointers to the divine.
In fact, if, we truly have a devotional, a Krishna conscious vision, then, we need to be able to see, the presence of Krishna, or the potential for connection with Krishna, everywhere. Not just the absence of Krishna, or the challenge to our Krishna consciousness everywhere. When, Hanuman saw the enormous, power, and even the charisma, the powerful personality of Ravan, for the first time in his court.
The first thought in Ravan’s mind was, not that, if Ram is God, then how can Ravan be so powerful? No, his thought was, Ravan is so powerful, if only he had been a virtuous person, he could have been such a great, protector for the universe. He could have been such a great ally for the gods. He could have been such a great devotee.
So, the capacity to see, the positive presence of God, and the positive potential for connection with God everywhere, is what characterizes, a divine consciousness. The Gita says, in the 16th chapter, that a godly consciousness, is characterized by, aversion to fault finding. We can see the absence of spiritual connection, in everything and condemn it, or we can see the potential for spiritual connection, in everything, and appreciate it.
This is what, not just Hanuman, but even Lord Ram demonstrated, when, he, saw Vibhishan. Most of the, assistants, commanders and generals and warriors in Ram’s army, saw that, this is coming from the Rakshasakula. This is coming from, somebody who is rightly the family of Ram, his brother.
How can he be up to any good? But Lord Ram saw, that he has come to me, and he saw the potential, within his heart, for rendering valuable service, and Lord Ram accepted. So, the point I’m making is, the same issue can have different perspectives, and the Krishna conscious vision, is where we can see the opulence of God in everything. In the Bhagavad Gita, 7th chapter Krishna says, I am ability in human beings.
So, the scientists in India, have, demonstrated extraordinary ability, great dedication, and they have achieved something, substantial. And this is achieved after many, after long efforts. The previous Chandrayaan mission was a, was a, it just was a failure at the last moment.
Recently, Rashiya’s mission failed. So, if we are going to dismiss everything as simply hoaxes, then why would, somebody orchestrate a, a multi-million dollar hoax? Why not have it always a success? So, after great endeavor, when something is a success, we see that, success also, as not just human, endeavor, but the human endeavor, that is manifesting the divine opulence. And that brings us to the last point, that is, POD is direction.
That whenever, there is a manifestation of human opulence, does that, human opulence, direct us toward the divine, or direct us away from the divine? Sri Prabhupada, saw in technological advancement, the opportunity for, spiritualization. So, in fact, the first book that Sri Prabhupada wrote, when the space race started, that was the easy journey to other planets. And in that, he dedicated that book to the scientists of the world.
And there, he took a very affirmative stance. So, Prabhupada himself demonstrates this, capacity to see, that events in the world, can sometimes be used to direct our, direct our consciousness toward the divine. So, now, with respect to, the particular incident of, India, landing a mission on the moon, what does this imply? This implies, India’s rising position, on the global scene.
And, the India of the past, of Maharaj Yudhishthir, was not just spiritually devoted, it was also materially prosperous. And, the India of today, if we see this attainment, in its broader context, India has a land, which has a glorious spiritual tradition, a glorious astronomical tradition also, with scientists like, with researchers, observers, scientists like Aryabhatta, and Bhaskaracharya. And, India has, a very, dynamic, living, dharmic, tradition right now.
India is more and more, aligning itself with, many of the dharmic values of the past. Even the scientists who, did this, research, before they, started the Chandrayaan, they went, with Rupati Balaji, and sought the blessings. So, when there is so much potential, for seeing a devotional connection, why should we not see that, and appreciate the devotional connection? So, as India, rises, on the global scene, the increasing self-confidence, that India gets through this, and the increasing, appreciation and admiration, that the world has for India, we can hope, and facilitate, and inspire that, this, rising self-confidence of India, doesn’t just, stay limited to, material accomplishments, but also, spreads to spiritual exploration, and spiritual accomplishment.
India has, a great wealth of spiritual wisdom, in the form of Bhagavad Gita, and various spiritual classics. So, if, the Chandrayaan, and its success, inspires within Indians, a greater, self-awareness, greater awareness, of our own potentials, and not just, potential for material exploration, and advancement, but also spiritual exploration, and advancement, then that, holistic, all-round progress, can be, a true harbinger, for change in the entire world. Changing the world, internally, and externally, for the better.
At the end of the Bhagavad Gita, it is described how, Arjuna and Krishna together, Yatra Yogeshwara Krishna, Yatra Partho Dhanur Dhara, Yatra Sheer Vijaya Bhooti, there, there will be victory, there will be opulence, there will be greatness. So, if India today, infuses itself, with the spirit of Arjuna, and, Krishna, as the, spiritual essence of the, holy land of India, is already there, if, Arjuna and Krishna, can be linked together, in India, harmonizing with its, vital spiritual, essence, then, there can be an era of prosperity, that can come, not only that can come, but India can lead the world, towards that in the future. So to summarize, POD, the three points with respect to the Bhagavad Gita perspective, the Bhagavad Gita tradition can offer us multiple perspectives, on, contemporary issues.
So instead of, only seeing it through the, one particular perspective of it, challenging our faith, and we need to dismiss such events, we can see from an alternative perspective, as, the, the same tradition demonstrates with respect to Arjuna’s rising, the heaven being considered temporary, but Arjuna’s, rising to heaven being considered glorious. Then, what alternative perspective can look at? That is, opulence, that, the, adventure, the victory, the ability, all of these can be seen as, manifestations of the divine, and thus, our spirituality, our devotion is seen, not just in the disconnection, of things with, the divine, but, the potential for connection of things with the divine, as was Hanuman’s vision of Ravan, as was Ram’s vision of, Bhishan. And the last, D, is direction.
While material opulence can intoxicate us, and take us, away, from, the spiritual growth of consciousness, and the divine, it doesn’t have to, especially in the context of, India rising, and India, re, not only growing, materially, but also, becoming more confident about exploring its own spirituality, and its own traditional wisdom. We hope that, India can become more like Arjuna, and, align, with the divinity, that is there in India, that is Krishna, and thus, India can lead the world, towards an era of, progress and prosperity, that will be holistic, both material, and spiritual. Thank you.
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