Why are scriptural figures not absolutely precise?
Answer Podcast
Transcript
This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
Is scripture supported, supposed to be more accurate than science since the measurements vary, measurements between say the earth, sun, distance of as we know by science and as we know by scripture vary? Are we saying that the measurements made by scientists are wrong? Even in directive knowledge science is much more advanced than the knowledge provided in scripture.
Example, the value of pi is given with more precision. Yeah. Here, the point to recognize is that every body of knowledge has a particular purpose.
So, for example, if we go to a doctor and we ask, I am having some fever, what is my temperature? Doctor may use a thermometer and say, okay, your temperature is 100.0. Now, actually speaking, if we had a device with far greater precision, we could say, your temperature should be 100.2100000634789. But that precision is not required for that purpose. Any knowledge, if we lose the sense of the purpose, then we can make a fetish of precision. We can make a fetish of precision.
That means, we can just go into every single thing into so much detail, which will not be required at that particular context for that particular purpose. So, in any device that we use, there is a range which that purpose is going to fulfill and which is enough for that purpose. So, scripture is not giving us micro-precise knowledge of everything.
So, for example, it is not that with they are discussing about what is the exact value of pi. Now, that is not their purpose over there. Sometimes, certain sages may discuss about mathematics and that can give us particular knowledge.
But we have to understand that precision is not just a virtue which exists independent of the context. Precision depends on context. What level of precision is required for what purpose will vary according to time and circumstance.
And scripture is focusing on giving us ultimate spiritual knowledge. And while giving spiritual knowledge, it gives us certain figures also. So, yes, if you consider a mother and consider a physician.
A physician may do a battery of tests on the child. And the physician may know the urine composition, the stool composition, the blood composition, the platelet count, this and that. As a student, the mother may not know any of this.
But who knows the child? It is the mother who knows the child. Now, the mother, first she needs to know is my child healthy or not healthy? You cannot ask the mother. If you do not know the platelet count of your child, you do not love your child.
Now, if that platelet count is a critical thing for the child’s health, the mother may have to monitor that. But you know, keeping round the clock, the platelet count is not the job description of a mother. So, every knowledge comes with a particular context and purpose.
And we do not have to obsess over precision without considering the purpose. So, what determines our attachment, why are some people attached?